SC Edison Plans Blackouts Without Talking To County Fire, Chief Says

Southern California Edison officials have not made any plans at all with the L-A County Fire Department … have not met with local fire officials about what will happen when electricity is shut off during heavy winds inthe local area.

That fact and several others clearly upset officials from five cities … including Malibu … who met with power company officials yesterday.

It was a regional meeting to discuss the utility’s plans to shut off electricity during high wind events.

And officials from the other citires … and Malibu … were not happy.

The meeting was open to the public … KBUU was there.

One of the big questions was over what will trigger the power outages.

Edison government affairs officer Rudy Gonzales.

NEWSCART 77827 EDISON COG AAA  :13

QQQ:  IT GOING TO BE SEVERAL FACTORS.

“It’s going to be extreme winds … I think we’re talking about 40 to 50 mile an hour type of winds.

“But winds are going to be one type of factor.

“It’s going to be the humidity …. temperature … it’s going to be several factors.”

40 to 50 mile per hour Santa Ana winds ihappen all the time inMalibu … and local officials have voiced concern that has set up its own criteria but it will not share the details.

And an assitant chief with the L A County Fire Departmetn questioned why Edison was bypassing National Weather Service and the fire department fire weather forecasts .

The L-A County fire chief said Edison has not consulted with the fire department about what the blackouts will mean for Malibu and the four cities along the 101 freeway corder.

Malibu city Councilwoman Laura Zahn and officials from other cities ask the Edison officials what will be done for the elderly who need air-conditioning … stair lifts … C-pap machines or other Electric devices particularly during hot Santa Ana winds.

Again Edison spokesman Rudy Gonzalez.

NEWSCART 77826  EDISON COG BBB :31

QQQ: MOBILE GENERATORS IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

“We are going to communicate to them so that they are aware of the pending possibility of this, so they can be relocated if it’s possible.

“And if they can’t, some of the things that we are looking at are  – and this in the area for customers affected by PSPS — we would eb uh

“We could possibly deploy community power trailers to provide assistance and relief, and then for essential use customers,  we will consider providing assistance by providing mobile generators in certain circumstances.”

Malibu city manager Reva Feldman and city councilwoman Laura Rosenthal blasted that.

They said they have real concerns that Edison has not notified affected people … and has not work with local fire department or sheriffs department officials.

Feldman noted that Malibu … Hidden Hills … Calabasas … Agoura Hills … Westlake Village and the unincorporated areas of the Santa Monica Mountains are all in the blackout zone.

Feldman noted that all five cities … Plus the mountains … are served by one sheriff Station.

That deputies would be asked to patrol the evacuated western end of LA County at the same time it was dealing with the evacuations themselves.

Again Edison spokesman Rudy Gonzalez.

NEWSCART 77825  EDISON COG CCC :33

QQQ: IF WE HAVE TO IMPLEMENT THE PROCESS
“So one of the things that we’ll work with, working with local public safety agencies, is getting feedback from your organizations on facilities that are essential, to say. to fight a fire.

“Unless out facilities are completely burned down, there may be an option to re-energize a portion of a circuit in order to accommodate a pumping facility that is needed for fighting the fire.

“We can work with you on that.

“And that’s why we are going to be in constant communication if we have tio implement this process.”

The problem … Edison is already been given the green light to turn off the power in heavy winds.

But fire departments … the sheriffs office … and the local cities have not been consulted about what the actual impact will be.

On eofficial from Hidden Hills says they have been asking for two weeks about which fire hydrants Will go dry because Edison will cut off water to electric pumps … and have gotten no answer from utility.

The LA County fire department said it does not know which Malibu water tanks will go dry… and if the County water Department we’ll be able to supply any water to Malibu at all… during the blackout.

The Edison officials said they will work on those issues.

No Santa Ana winds are in the forecast for the next week.

This note: Zuma Beach FM Broadcasters … licensee for KBUU-LP … has challenged the legality of the Power outages in a legal filing with the California Public Utilities Commission.

That presents KB UU with a enormous conflict of interest … which we acknowledge with a commitment to cover the issue in our newscasts fairly and accurately.