Utility executives have warned of a further 20% to 40% increase in the frequency and length of these shutoffs, citing factors like below-average rainfall and prolonged periods of high winds.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has increased its oversight of SCE’s outage management.
Affected residents can manage and report outages through the following official SCE channels: Check Outage Status - SCE socal-edison-power-outage-report
In early 2026, the CPUC fined SCE $7.8 million for failing to meet notification requirements during January shutoffs in Riverside County, which impacted local schools.
Localized repairs in Santa Ana required the installation of temporary generators in February 2026 to bridge a five-day service gap following major equipment failure. Utility executives have warned of a further 20%
To prevent its electrical equipment from sparking wildfires during high-wind events, SCE significantly ramped up its Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) program in late 2025.
Investigations continue into the handling of December 2025 shutoffs, with regulators monitoring SCE's progress in reducing the impact of planned outages. Recent Outage Events (Spring 2026) Localized repairs in Santa Ana required the installation
While SCE has spent billions on grid hardening, the utility maintains that extreme weather conditions necessitate de-energizing circuits to ensure community safety. Regulatory Scrutiny and Financial Penalties