Southern California utilities consider cutting power due to fire risk

Two Southern California utility companies said they are are considering cutting off power due to fire risks, which could leave many families without power on Thanksgiving. 

Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric have warned their customers they could experience public safety power shutoffs (PSPS) to reduce the fire risk from power lines. 

“Due to weather conditions, some communities in our service area are under consideration or have been de-energized due to a Public Safety Power Shutoff,” tweeted Southern California Edison, which has more than 150,000 customers. 

Due to weather conditions, some communities in our service area are under consideration or have been de-energized due to a Public Safety Power Shutoff. Visit https://t.co/92PrWPowua for resources and locations of our Community Crew Vehicles and Community Resource Centers. pic.twitter.com/MbXlcB0nof

— SCE Public Affairs (@SCE_PublicAff) November 24, 2021

The National Weather Service warned of ideal fire conditions Wednesday through Friday.

“Today the @NWSSanDiego issued a Fire Weather Watch from Wed.-Fri. for inland OC & Thurs.-Fri. for San Diego mountains & valleys. We’re hoping Mother Nature cooperates, but in an abundance of caution, we’ve asked our customers to prepare for potential PSPS,” San Diego Gas & Electric announced on Twitter. 

Today the @NWSSanDiego issued a Fire Weather Watch from Wed.-Fri. for inland OC & Thurs.-Fri. for San Diego mountains & valleys. We’re hoping Mother Nature cooperates, but in an abundance of caution, we’ve asked our customers to prepare for potential PSPS. https://t.co/Le0KbQrTnp pic.twitter.com/z3ayQvz6aK

— SDG&E (@SDGE) November 23, 2021

The electric company serves more than 40,000 customers. 

California has experienced multiple massive wildfires this season that have destroyed thousands of buildings and forced thousands of people to evacuate.