Due to aggressive Santa Ana Winds, power shutoffs affected both Northern and Central California, and Southern California might be next. In an attempt to prevent fires similar to those that devastated California last year, Southern California’s primary electricity supply company, Southern California Edison, has warned roughly 120,000 customers about a possible power shutoff in the coming days.
Although the cause of last year’s Woolsey Fire, which destroyed 1,500 homes and killed three people, was linked to Edison’s equipment, many residents are still not convinced that shutting the power off is the right decision.
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While some residents are worried about the inconvenience, there are real concerns about the ways this precaution will affect some of the more vulnerable citizens.
“Our concern here is the unattended consequences of shutting off the power that come with it… Residents who are dependent on medical devices… Senior citizens, people with disabilities, people who have mobility challenges,” Matt Myerhoff, the Media Information Officer for the City of Malibu stated.
USC student Everest Brady lost her home in the Woolsey fire last year and questions the utility company’s decision to shut off the power.
“It is an unexpected burden on the community,” Brady said. “[Shutting off power] is a precaution on the [part of] electric companies but it is not a solution.”
Many business owners are worried about the possible negative impact on their businesses due to the shutoff. Zoe Katz, a restaurant owner, expressed concerns about the cost and length of time it would take to fully restock food after the shutoff affected their refrigerators.
“[With] the power being out we lose all of our food,” Katz said. “We would have to reorder everything. This is quite a process.”
“For people with businesses, it's not fair. We have refrigerated foods. The vets [obviously need] refrigeration,” Sherman Baylin, a dog groomer, said. “I truly feel like the electric companies are punishing us.”
Even with these concerns, Southern California Edison is likely to shut down power in the near future. A shutoff at this scale may be the first of many in the future for Southern California as the state seeks to be more proactive with fire prevention.
The shutoff is likely to affect the cities in Northwest Los Angeles county. To see what cities are affected or are in consideration, Southern California Edison’s website features a comprehensive list.
This article has been updated to include ATVN video coverage related to this story.