With the recent wildfires now extinguished, utility companies in Southern California reflected on their efforts to mitigate further risk.
On Jan. 7, high winds and low humidity fueled a fire in the Pacific Palisades, which consumed more than 23,000 acres. Hours later, the Eaton fire erupted in a canyon east of downtown Los Angeles, destroying 14,000 acres.
As the third-most destructive wildfire in California history and the 10th-deadliest, the Palisades fire caused widespread power outages in addition to its destruction. Though no exact cause was identified, Southern California Edison was suspected of being responsible for the spread of the Eaton fire.
CNN reported that security footage from an Eaton Canyon gas station captured a power line operated by Edison sparking, with nearby vegetation engulfed in flames within minutes.
Like many other utility companies operating in California, Southern California Edison faced the risk of its equipment sparking wildfires during high winds, prompting liability concerns and prevention measures. In response, many companies adopted Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). Power outages, which began on the day of the Palisades fire, were part of this emergency measure—first implemented in 2008 and proposed by San Diego Gas & Electric—to reduce fire risk under severe weather conditions.
Electrical companies across the state conducted PSPS at different times throughout the month in counties including San Bernardino, Orange, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Diego and Ventura.
Corona resident Ed Chauvin endured a 48-hour power outage, leaving him without internet, appliances or lights due to the high winds.
Sarah Schober, senior architecture major, was without power for even longer.
“I lost my power for like four days and was without internet for two. It really impacted my family since I have a large family and lots of pets, so not having access to heat or anything made everything a lot more difficult,” Schober said.
Tens of thousands of people experienced power outages intermittently throughout the month, often with little warning. Circuits or zones lost power in rotation, based on risk assessments that used weather models and government data tracking wind speed, humidity and vegetation dryness.
For those in and around Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power conducted PSPS in response to the Palisades and Eaton fires. In counties such as Orange, power shutoffs were caused by the Santa Ana winds. To prepare for unexpected power outages, LADWP provided an emergency preparedness page for residents.
