Southern California’s main electric provider took proactive measures by intentionally cutting off power overnight to tens of thousands of customers as the Mountain Fire continues to grow in Ventura County. Southern California Edison implemented a Public Safety Power Shutoff plan, resulting in 69,931 customers being affected, with 23,603 of them located in Ventura County.
The decision to turn off power was made in response to the potential risks posed by the wildfire. In the past, wildfires have been attributed to fallen power lines that remained energized, leading power companies to adopt preventative measures such as preemptive power shutoffs to mitigate the risk of such incidents occurring again.
SoCal Edison has indicated that additional power shutoffs affecting up to 180,000 customers are currently under consideration as the wildfire situation evolves. By proactively cutting off power to areas at risk, the electric provider aims to enhance public safety and reduce the likelihood of power-related incidents contributing to the spread of wildfires.
