KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
Acton and Agua Dulce residents voiced their concerns over Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) during recent high wind events in a town hall Wednesday.
Senator Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, and Assemblymember Christy Smith, D-Santa Clarita, joined hundreds of residents to discuss Southern California Edison’s planned power outage policies.
“If we don’t have power, it can be dangerous,” said Brylee Flores, an event organizer. “People in our area rely on power for water pumps. Without it, we have no water.”
SoCal Edison offered to bring a water truck into affected areas during power shutoffs, but that is only a temporary solution, according to Flores.
“It is not just water too. Some residents rely on power for medical devices as well,” Flores said.
The town hall meeting came on the heels of a State Senate hearing on the policy of mandatory Public Safety Power Shutoffs attended by Wilk on Monday.
See Related: Lawmakers Fight To Keep The Lights On During Planned Power Outages
That Senate hearing was attended by representatives from SoCal Edison, who provide electricity to the majority of Southern California.
Wilk called out SoCal Edison for billing customers during the power outages, which the utility is expected to issue refunds to customers.
The PSPS initiative was implemented by the California Public Utilities Commission in an effort to reduce the risk of wildfires during high-risk conditions.
“Overall Edison did not answer the big questions we had, but was more open to recognizing the problems PSPS is causing than at the Acton Town Council meeting and taking small steps to address them,” Flores said.
These mandatory shut-offs were implemented recently during the Tick Fire; however, some residents raised concerns about the consequences of the shutoffs in the aftermath of the fire.
Among the complaints raised were the inability to use on-site wells, potential dangers from unpowered medical equipment and potentially immobilizing disabled individuals when their battery packs run out, according to officials from Wilk’s office.
For more information on the PSPS policy, visit the California Public Utility Commission’s official page here.
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I wonder if its not really that the grid system is underpowered during the high winds that SCE has to come out and shut down power under the guise of “public safety” When wind goes over 50 mph all the windmills shut down, and if its like 15% of the total power.. maybe that’s why.. Just a thought.. prior to “green energy” we’ve had way higher wind speeds and storms and never had issues with the power going out!
SCE is aware that power shutoffs turn of fire sprinkler system s in our homes but they don’t have an answer for that. Our fire danger is greatly increased when the power is shut off. Also, landlords can be sued if tenants don’t have power or water because it is “necessary” does that mean we can sue SCE?
Sounds like we need a backup generator either natural gas or propane. Easy fix but costly.