CC SR 20230606 04 - SCE Power Outages SR
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 06/06/2023
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to receive a report from Southern California Edison
(SCE) regarding frequent power outages in the Grandview Estates neighborhood.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Receive and file a report from SCE on its short-term and long-term action plan and
timeline for correcting power outage issues in the Grandview Estates
neighborhood.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Karina Bañales, Deputy City Manager
REVIEWED BY: Same as above
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. April 4, 2023 staff report
BACKGROUND:
In early 2023, the Grandview Estates neighborhood experienced extreme weather
resulting in extended power outages, lasting up to two days. The City received numerous
calls and emails from the area residents, expressing frustration and dissatisfaction with
the unreliable power supply. More importantly, many residents were expressing concern
for elderly neighbors unable to stay warm and those relying on operable medical devices
and homes with young children. Such frequent power outages posed significant financial
impacts and health risks to the community.
On April 4, 2023, the City Council received a presentation by SCE and its response to
frequent power outages in the Grandview Estates neighborhood (Attachment A). That
evening, the City Council and the residents of the Grandview Estates neighborhood
requested that SCE apply corrective measures that will permanently resolve the recurring
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power outages by developing a short-term and long-term action plan and timeline for the
City Council’s consideration at tonight’s meeting.
DISCUSSION:
Staff has communicated with Celina Luna, interim Government Relations Manager for
SCE Local Public Affairs. Ms. Luna has shared the following information on what has
transpired since April 4.
Since this meeting, SCE has completed vegetation inspections to proactively remove any
vegetation in the right-of-way and near power lines. SCE operations have replaced 1,500
feet of wire with a covered conductor, which is insulated wire to mitigate a potential outage
or public hazard that falling debris or other vegetation that comes into contact with a power
line may cause. SCE has been installing covered conductors across its service territory
and has seen improvements in the occurrences of outage events and a reduction in
potential wildfire risk.
SCE is also proposing the installation of Remote Automatic Reclosers (RARs) in the
Grandview Estates neighborhood by the end of 2023. The RAR is a protection device that
is designed to intelligently and safely isolate portions of the circuit to sectionalize and
minimize the overall impact of outages. These devices provide flexibility in the circuits to
isolate an outage to the smallest area possible, which should reduce the duration of
outages occurring throughout a neighborhood. The deployment of RARs is a strategy that
is being used to sectionalize the grid and allow portions of the circuit to remain energized
during an outage event.
Tonight’s presentation will focus on these improvements, as well as highlighting potential
long-term solutions as it relates to reliability in the Grandview Estates neighborhood and
Rancho Palos Verdes.
Staff has requested follow-up on the short-term strategies listed below that were
suggested to SCE for its consideration. These items will be addressed during SCE’s
presentation.
• Providing free portable generators to residents, especially the elderly and those
reliant on power-supplied medical equipment, when power outages occur.
• Establishing a direct phone line to dedicated customer representatives familiar with
the area and the recurring problem to ensure the customer service representatives
are trained, knowledgeable, and readily available to provide accurate and honest
responses.
• Honoring claims filed especially for food losses and appliances damaged by power
surges (SCE should provide each household in the neighborhood with the
appropriate forms to complete)
• Applying a reduction or credit to the monthly service bill.
• Providing a financial match to residents considering investing in solar panels or
portable generators.
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CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the City Council receive and file a report from SCE regarding ongoing
power outages in the Grandview Estates neighborhood and its short-term and long-term
action plan and a timeline for addressing power grid issues.
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