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In January, dangerous windstorms and wildfires converged in Southern California, leaving a profound impact on our communities and presenting challenges for our customers. Edison International (EIX) and Southern California Edison (SCE) extend our heartfelt condolences to all those impacted by the wildfires and Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS), and we remain committed to supporting our communities through this difficult time. Our top concern is the safety of our customers, communities and team members.
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1 | SCE Supports Restoration Efforts
2 | Assisting AFN Customers
3 | FAQ: When PSPS is Utilized
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4 | FAQ: Billing for Affected Customers
5 | Downed Wire Safety
6 | EIX Commits $1 Million for Relief
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Restoring Power to Our Communities
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SCE remains committed to supporting those impacted. In the coming weeks and months, we will continue working alongside first responders, local officials and community organizations to help restore and rebuild affected areas. During the extreme weather events and over the past few weeks, through Jan. 31, more than 3,500 SCE crew members, contractors and mutual assistance personnel worked around the clock to:
- Clear debris from roads
- Rebuild critical grid infrastructure
- String 400,000 feet of power lines, or about 75 miles
- Set 1,265 poles
- Replace 380 transformers
SCE opened 24 customer service locations helping over 10,000 customers who visited in person. Our community-based organizations also helped thousands of customers to augment our efforts. We deeply appreciate the dedication and resilience of our crews, first responders and community partners, who have worked tirelessly to restore power and provide critical resources to those in need.
*Statistics as of 2/3/2025
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At Edison, transparency is a reflection of our values. We work to uphold these principles every day, committed to serving you, the 15 million people who rely on us.
When we encounter inaccuracies and misinformation about our business, we are dedicated to providing you with the facts. This is our promise to you.
Click here to read more about the corrections we've made to recent media articles, online content and social media posts.
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One critical tool Edison uses to prevent wildfires is the PSPS, in which we may temporarily shut off power to your neighborhood during dangerous weather conditions to prevent our electric system from becoming a source of ignition. In 2012, the California Public Utilities Commission gave the electric IOUs authority to shut off the electric power to protect public safety. "We only use PSPS as a last resort during extreme fire weather conditions to prevent a spark from our equipment starting a significant wildfire. While California continues to expect more intense, unpredictable weather events, we are committed to doing everything we can to reduce the need for PSPS and improve our operations and communications” said Jill C. Anderson, SCE Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
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Assisting Those with Access and Functional Needs
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To support individuals with Access and Functional Needs (AFN) during a PSPS, SCE develops its annual “AFN Plan” with assistance from regional and statewide AFN stakeholders, representing a broad spectrum of expertise.
Committed to addressing the needs of individuals with AFN before, during, and after a PSPS, SCE has established a partnership with the AFN Collaborative Council and the AFN Core Planning Team to seek guidance and address the “Why,” “Who,” “What,” and “How” to better mitigate risk and support individuals with AFN. SCE offers several resources and support to serve the diverse needs of our customers during PSPS events.
- Accessible Hazard Alert System (AHAS): Offers PSPS notifications and preparedness information in accessible formats for people who are Blind, Low Vision, Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, or Deaf-Blind.
- 2-1-1 Services: SCE partners with 2-1-1 to provide assistance before, during, and after a PSPS outage. 2-1-1 offers free, confidential services to SCE customers that connect customers to community assistance, emergency preparedness, food pantry, or meal delivery programs, as well as to transportation, public assistance, and other services and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These services can be accessed by visiting 211.org, calling 2-1-1 or texting “PSPS” to 211211.
- Disability, Disaster Access & Resources Program: SCE contracts with the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC) to offer the Disability Disaster Access & Resources (DDAR) program to eligible customers. DDAR will provide support to customers with disabilities or other AFN before, during and after a PSPS outage. To apply for DDAR, please visit the CFILC website here: CFILC DDAR Application.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Question: Under what conditions will SCE call a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) event?
Answer: Strong winds combined with dry ground conditions can increase wildfire threat. These same winds can cause vegetation or other items to blow into power lines and could result in an ignition, possibly creating a significant wildfire. PSPS forecasting is based on weather modeling and input from fire scientists and meteorologists using modeling at a 1 or 2 km granularity. De-energization decisions are made based on data from local (pole-top) weather stations in the field and supported by live field observations.
Under these situations, we may shut off power to customers to keep you and your community safe. We understand that a PSPS event can create hardships for affected customers, and the decision to shut off power is never taken lightly. SCE considers high winds, low humidity, dry vegetation that could serve as fuel, and public-safety risk before implementing a PSPS de-energization as a tool of last resort.
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Question: What will SCE do about customer bills for those that have been affected by the wind or PSPS event?
Answer: SCE recognizes the importance of providing assistance to our customers impacted by the wildfires and power shutoffs, and we remain committed to supporting our communities through this difficult time.
We have put customer bills on hold starting Wed. Jan. 8, for evacuated areas (some bills were sent Jan. 6 - Jan. 8, so unfortunately some customers received bills for usage prior to Jan. 8 during that time). We also have put on hold any late payment charges for evacuated areas. We are providing one-time bill forgiveness to residential customers whose homes have been destroyed or sustained major damage.
Generally, SCE is responsible for losses that occur due to our negligence. However, in most instances, we are not responsible for losses (ex. food loss or property damage) from unexpected power outages due to forces outside our control, such as weather-related conditions including wind, rain, fog, lightning, or extreme heat. Our policy is to respond to claims promptly and fairly. In evaluating claims on a case-by-case basis, we may review records, interview witnesses or employees, and perform a technical evaluation. Customers can help by providing thorough and accurate information and documentation. You can file a claim here.
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Question: What is the PSPS notification process?
Answer: While every effort is made by SCE to notify customers in advance of PSPS events, the sudden onset of unexpected weather conditions may require SCE to de-energize customers with little to no advanced notification to prevent our electric system from becoming a source of ignition. SCE customers can sign up for PSPS alerts in English and other available languages at sce.com/pspsalerts, by updating their alert/notification preferences on their mySCE account, or by visiting: sce.com/customer-service/faqs/alert-preference-center.
Watch this video for more common questions about PSPS, inspecting equipment for potential hazards and keeping our communities safe.
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Ask Us Your Questions: If you have a question related to SCE and our electrical service, please send to us in one of two ways:
- Contact your local SCE Government Relations Manager and pose the question.
- Send the question directly to our communications staff at SCE.LocalPublicAffairs@SCE.com.
We will go through all questions and answer them in priority order, based on the most popular or frequently asked. Answers will appear each month in this newsletter. Thank you for your interest and engagement with SCE Local Public Affairs!
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New Construction Rebates for EV Charging
SCE’s New Construction Rebate Program for multi-family dwellings is accepting applications through July 12, 2025. This program offers rebates of up to $3,500 per port for the installation of customer-side electrical infrastructure work and Level 2 (L2) EV charging stations that exceed CalGreen code requirements. This is a fantastic opportunity for developers of new multi-family housing to build a green energy future. Don’t miss out on this chance to reserve rebate funds before the program concludes. For more information, please reach out to chargeready@sce.com or visit the New Construction Rebate program website.
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Edison International Commits $1 Million to Relief Efforts
In response to the devastating, wind-driven wildfires sweeping through Southern California, EIX commits $1 million to support relief and restoration efforts:
- $150,000 to the American Red Cross
- Up to $100,000 to match contributions made by Edison employees to three local nonprofits: Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Pasadena Humane and YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles
- $100,000 to a fund administered by America’s Charities to assist impacted employees
To read more.
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A Weekly Newsletter captures all the Edison digital stories published during the week.
A Wildfire Mitigation Newsletter brings you the latest on SCE's efforts to reduce wildfire threats to the communities we serve.
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