Edhat Staff
Update by the edhat staff
12:00 p.m., June 18, 2025
As of noon on Wednesday, SoCal Edison has changed all shut off areas back to warnings.
In Santa Barbara County there are 11,542 households that are currently under shut off warning.
Strong winds and dry conditions are anticipated beginning Thursday, June 19, through the weekend. SoCalEdison states these conditions may result in power shutoffs.
Update by the edhat staff
8:00 a.m., June 18, 2025
As of Wednesday morning, June 18, SoCal Edison has updated its Public Safety Power Shutoff map for Santa Barbara County.
Power is completely shut off from Jalama to just before Gaviota State Park, the area after Gaviota State Park through Tajiguas, and the majority of neighborhoods off Highway 154 from W. Camino Cielo to Painted Cave.
SoCal Edison states power will not be restored until the fire danger lessens which they state could be Friday, June 20, or Saturday, June 21.
“When fire conditions end, restoration is expected to take up to 8 hours but could take longer if we need daylight for safe inspections or if we find damage,” SCE states.
As of Wednesday morning, SoCal Edison states 382 households are currently without power with 5982 households under warning.
The outage map can be viewed here.
SoCal Edison Considers Shutting Off Power for Parts of Santa Barbara County
Written by the edhat staff
June 16, 2025
Southern California Edison (SoCal Edison) is considering a Public Safety Power Shutoff in parts of Santa Barbara County as soon as 12:00 pm on Monday, June 16 through 12:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 18.
The areas include huge swaths of the coastline and foothills from Jalama to Naples, most communities off Highway 154 and Painted Cave, large sections of the Goleta foothills, sections of San Roque, Hope Ranch, Hidden Valley, Upper State Street, Santa Barbara’s Westside, Riviera, and Eucalyptus Hill.
SoCalEdison stated this would affect 11,543 customers in Santa Barbara County.
Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) is tool electrical companies started enacting to prevent wildfires in high risk areas. The companies may temporarily shut off power to neighborhoods during dangerous weather conditions to prevent the electric system from becoming a source of ignition.
“These safety shutoffs are a measure of last resort for keeping you and your community safe,” said SoCal Edison.
SoCal Edison states they base PSPS decisions on data gathered from fire scientists and meteorologists forecasting dangerous wildfire conditions, and on real-time information from their crews in the field.
For more info, call Southern California Edison at 800-611-1911 or visit sce.com
So, I’ve got a crazy thought(a few surely)! What if we were to remove the profit motive from any service that would be considered our “commons”? That is, things that we all rely on to survive these days. I’ll argue that electricity is something we can’t do without (for long). So, why do we pay the high rates we do with a significant portion of that simply going into the pockets of people instead of into maintaining and improving the service? Capitalism can have tennis shoes and microwaves, but utilities should be publicly owned and operated. It makes no sense to me that these things can be profit centers. (Don’t get me started on healthcare and insurance!)
Hear, hear, Preliminari! [applause]
Water and sewer in Santa Barbara is publicly owned and look hoe very expensive those utilities are. We pay significantly more than many other cities in CA and around the country.
Dishonest trash.
Funny, I marvel at how little I pay, in the big picture, for trash, water and sewer services. Especially compared to my not-as-essential phone, internet and tv services!
I’m in the city of SB.
“significantly more than many other cities in CA and around the country” is not a helpful standard for comparison. In fact it’s useless. We also pay “~less than~”. We also pay the same as many other cities in CA and around the country.
Preliminari has it correct, however. If utilities were privatized they would be inferior in quality and cost more, with fewer and completely opaque levers of control, less accountability and far, far less dependability.
Just like SCE.
Not really, considering how well our water is being managed. A person actually resident here should be aware of that.
I’m quite sure you’d pay more and get less if it were private.
Yep.
BASIC – either you didn’t understand the words you are replying to or, despite all your years of whining to the contrary, you actually acknowledge the proven fault of privatizing government agencies. If it’s the latter, good job!
Loving this 3rd World utility infrastructure that requires shutting off power every time it’s warm and windy……
Good thing we all chipped in 45 million for Fatback Cheeto to have a pathetic parade.
I sure would like my taxes going to things that are good.
We can live, or should be able to live, without power for a day or many days, whether due to fire threat or disaster like an earthquake.
I don’t think it makes our electricity infrastructure “3rd World.”
Granted, many days will waste food in our freezers and fridge and make life very difficult. But we should be prepared for that. Fire, earthquake, whatever disaster — We hope it won’t happen in our lifetime. We are not prepared enough. Look into CERT, the Community Emergency Response Team.
https://sbcfire.com/cert/
https://www.countyofsb.org/2746/Get-Involved
https://www.sbcc.edu/emergency/cert.php
https://santabarbaraca.gov/government/departments/fire-department/office-emergency-services/public-outreach
I do agree with mtndriver. It’s all a mess, but I fear and despise fire most of all.
damn, Edison contractor just showed up to trim my ancient backyard tree AGAIN.
They seem to trim it 3 frigging times a year… I’m in San Roque. I better prep my fridge for possible shut off…
Whew, they’re doing only street trees, not yet trimming my tree AGAIN when they last did it 10 months ago, 8/24, though I kept crappy records and they may have trimmed it since then.
It does if it can’t handle heat and wind. Name any other developed country who shuts down power for thousands of people because of moderate weather.
Hey, I’m just not cool with how much I pay in taxes and still have this happening.
The forecast isn’t very moderate.
Nor is the cost to underground current electrical/utility lines!
No one will ever agree to billions to do so, no matter the inconvenience and/or risk.
And that is my point. We can afford to have utility infrastructure that negates these shutdowns, but corporate greed and the opposition to raising taxes (not what I recommend though) keeps us living with these ugly overhead lines.
I remember 20 years ago, having friends from Europe here and they couldn’t believe how such nice homes were riddled with these lines.
I’m all for safety, but this isn’t about safety, it’s about keeping the gas tanks in the CEOs’ yachts full.
You mean how much you pay to the utility companies, not in taxes.
I mean that and in taxes that should be spent on our country’s aging infrastructure, including the subsidies to grid scale utility companies like SCE.
We’re paying 47% more than we did in 2019, but somehow we’re still getting our power shut off every time there’s a wind warning. These PSPS shutoffs aren’t just a hassle — they’re a huge burden for working families, people with medical needs, and anyone trying to live their life.
How long is SCE planning to use power shutoffs as their go-to solution? And why isn’t there backup energy in places that are known to be high-risk? The “resources” they offer don’t cut it. Now people are stuck shelling out for expensive generators just to keep the lights on — and not everyone can afford that.
With fire risks getting worse every year, it’s time for real solutions. We need stronger infrastructure, more transparency on where our money’s going, and real CPUC oversight.
Over a century later, California may need another revolt against its utility companies
More than a century after California voters created the Public Utilities Commission to keep powerful companies in check, the commission has lost its way, and Californians are fed up.
Read in CalMatters: https://apple.news/APDq7ALevRG6MDgU-IiCSwA
Yep! Always stockholders first.
Since 6/11 the San Marcos mountain communities have been without power >50% of the time
with no significant “wind events”.
They call it “Public Safety” but really it’s about avoiding lawsuits should a fire break out ,due to the lack of maintenance of their infrastructure. And in more densely populated areas, the cables should be underground, but of course that costs money. Temperatures not very high here in the foothills, and so far nothing but a slight breeze. And the forecast is for possible gusts to 30mph. That’s enough to turn off the power to thousands of addresses.
Even given that the motivation is losses due to lawsuits, it’s good that SCE is being a little more proactive. Too bad litigation and fines seems to be the only counter to corporate greed, and happens after the fact.
Just for the conversation and viewpoints (I’m just not as against it as Sacjon. The Painted Cave /Paint fire was a defining, traumatic event for me and I had moved out of the mountains a few months before! A dear friend lost her place at Modoc/Hollister. I was familiar with the people and conflicts that led to the Paint Fire arson.):
https://www.quora.com/Do-any-other-states-or-countries-for-that-matter-proactively-shut-off-electricity-when-its-windy-or-are-California-utility-companies-over-reacting
AI says: “While public safety power shutoffs (PSPS) were pioneered in California, other states are now implementing them to prevent wildfires during extreme weather conditions. California, Oregon, Hawaii, Idaho, and Colorado are among the states where utilities have used or are considering PSPS events.”
https://ein.az.gov/public-safety-power-shutoff
https://www.civilbeat.org/2024/05/more-states-are-turning-off-their-electrical-grids-to-prevent-wildfires-but-its-a-delicate-operation/
Again, here’s the current SCE notice re: current and considered PSPS:
https://www.sce.com/outages-safety/outage-preparedness/outage-types/public-safety-power-shutoff-psps
I think we probably all agree the shutoffs are a good thing, given the many fires that have sparked due to something in the electrical grid in the past few years. But if the infrastructure was better maintained, some of those fires would not have happened. Those who sue don’t win the cases unless the utility is found to be at fault.
Pleae register to join one of their “Community Safety Meetings” to ask them tough questions and voice your concern over the use of PSPS as their only solution to preventing fires in high prone areas.
https://www.sce.com/outages-safety/wildfire-safety/community-safety-meetings
If you really need power all day everyday, buy a Generac.
BASIC – Oh, so simple, yeah? Dude, your the guy who loses his/her mind every time there’s a weather alert, but now it’s who needs electricity anyway….. right? Derp.
Just here to complain even though you know you agree with everyone else.
Yeah, and spew exhaust that will make for even worse conditions in the near future.
They are loud and they stink. Every time we have a power outage, my neighbor’s diesel generator kicks in. As well, most people who buy diesel generators don’t have the ability or inclination to maintain them correctly.
Just get battery and solar systems.
Generals don’t run on diesel. Very little maintenance required. They don’t smell at all. Yes, they are noisy. So you’re about 1 for 4 on that one. Battery-solar systems are great, but not for everyone of course.
You must live right up next to the diesel neighbor. Bummer. Diesel does stink.
Ah, thank you for the correction, LP then Of course that creates another risk point if there is a fire. Took a look at Generac, looks like they also have diesel models for commercial standby. They do also require regular maintenance, battery and solar don’t. I’m sure there is a percentage of people whose standby generators fail when needed due to lack of maintenance. Batter and solar not so much.
The innovation of the Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) is a testament to the failure of power companies (SCE, PGE, etc…) to maintain their infrastructure.
Only since the recent billion dollar lawsuits holding them accountable did the PSPS start.
Electrical power distribution industries have historically been able to deny financial responsibility of their substandard infrastructure that has caused 100’s of billions of dollars of fire damage, all while profiting 100’s of billions of dollars.
There is no other public utility that is a “fair weather” provider – not natural gas, not cable, not water, not internet, not gasoline, television, telephone, U. S. mail, email, your local trash guy, or any other service.
If it is possible to walk on the moon and fly to Mars, it should be possible to run wires to houses safely on Earth. And if the current providers are not willing or capable of providing reliable service, the PUC controlled monopoly should be given to another entity.
I have been getting swamped with alerts – land line phone, mobile phone, text messages and e mails – warning of shutdaowns yet the winds have been remaining absolutely calm.
Added to that, SCE has notified me that they will be shutting off my power for 4 days during the next 2 weeks for maintenance! That is excessive and really impacts us. But there is no way to contact anyone that can intelligently discuss what is happening.
register here to attend the community meeting TODAY at 6pm and voice your concerns!: https://www.sce.com/outages-safety/wildfire-safety/community-safety-meetings
I’m fine with the power shutdowns during red flag warnings. Save our community from a massive, devastating wildfire that burns down tons of homes vs. making sure your fridge stays cold and TV stays on?
No one opposes using shutdowns themselves to avoid burning down our communities.
The frustration lies with the fact that, in a state like CA in country like the USA, we still don’t have utility infrastructure that is reliable enough to withstand wind and heat. The fact that our “safety measure” is to just cut off power to thousands of residents is ridiculous.
You seem happy with crap infrastructure, but not me.
You’re living in utopia if you think we have the money in the county and city budgets to bury all of our power lines. But hey…maybe you’re rich and think everyone else can afford it too? At the cost of everything else we need to keep doing. Sure.
Much of the required money could be repurposed from what is currently paid to the executives and shareholders.
BASIC – why do you assume the utilities don’t have to pay anything for that?
You really need to stop depending on the government to constantly pay your way through life.
Why do you ignore the fact that the utilities will just pass the cost right on to us? It seems obvious.
Ignoring your own previous post implying the county and city would pay.
Indeed, he’s arguing directly with himself.
And anything that seems to be obvious to BloviatingIdjit is bound to be wrong. Utilities are regulated and cannot ” just pass the cost right on to us”.
And when, as we see so often, this claim is made about unregulated corporations, it is also false because of something called the law of supply and demand (but right wingers no longer believe in free market economics, if they ever did). e.g., when people claim that corporations will just pass on increased taxes, they never stop to wonder why they don’t just “pass on” higher prices *in the absence* of a tax increase. Why not just charge an infinite amount, regardless of actual cost? And who is it that funds the propaganda that corporations will just pass on taxes to the consumer? It’s the corporations themselves, who don’t want to be taxed.
Hear! Hear!
Sacjon, Going by your quote, I think you might be starting to get it!!
“You really need to stop depending on the government to constantly pay your way through life”
Sacjon
6-18-25
Yea! I agree 100%. : )
Sailbody doesn’t understand sarcasm.
I’m glad they shut off the Painted Cave swath – according to the prior County Fire Marshall that is the highest risk for another fire based upon burn histories across the front country. It’s the zone that’s had the longest time since the last burn (Painted Cave Fire 1990), approx 35 years of brush growth now. And it also resulted in one of the biggest if not the biggest fires in our area in terms of property damage.
They need to quit the affordable service, charge what is necessary, and harden the grid.
Yeah, RUBY go blame the poor….
3 points:
1- The free market works best with keeping costs down.
2- The government does not know best.
3- It’s about control.
Anyone who knows economics knows there’s no such thing as a free market.
Companies want you gullible folks to think that, so they can avoid regulation and maximize profits, customer be damned.