Unplanned electrical outages, an on-again, off-again problem for decades in several areas of La Cañada Flintridge (LCF), have spiked once more in 2024 and in 2025. The issue of outages surfaced most recently during the wind event in early November 2024 when Southern California Edison (SCE) instituted a sweeping Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) leading to some residents and business having no power for well over 24 consecutive hours.
SCE’s repeated unplanned power outages are more than just a recurring nuisance to City residents; they threaten public safety and quality of life more generally by impacting the operations of other essential service providers, burdening the City’s educational institutions, imposing economic losses on City businesses, and disrupting the increasing number of residents who work regularly or occasionally from home.
In the continued effort to work with SCE on addressing reliability issues, the City will be hosting a town hall with SCE Senior Executive on Monday, July 28, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers at City Hall to discuss critical electricity reliability issues and future improvements. The event will be open to all residents and stakeholders, with a particular focus on addressing concerns for those served by the Haskell circuit.
City of La Cañada Flintridge – Efforts to Urge SCE to Improve Power Reliability
For over a decade, the City has actively pushed SCE to improve the reliability and safety of electrical service in La Cañada Flintridge. Efforts have included formal evaluations, consultant reports, policy advocacy, and direct engagement with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
Highlights of City Actions:
- 2015-2017: SCE reviewed circuit reliability; the City hired an independent consultant (PMCM Engineers) to assess SCE’s infrastructure. The findings led to recommendations for improvements.
- 2018–2020: SCE responded with planned upgrades and committed to regular updates. City staff tracked implementation and improvements to restoration processes, communication, and infrastructure maintenance.
- 2019-2021: The City supported undergrounding utilities in fire-prone areas and filed a formal CPUC complaint following persistent outages.
- 2023-2024: The City continued urging action from the CPUC and requested investigation updates. SCE presented detailed reliability updates showing improvements, new investments, and plans for grid modernization, including long-term undergrounding projects for circuits like Haskell.
Looking Ahead
In November 2024, the City Council directed staff to work with SCE to organize a citywide town hall focused on the Haskell Circuit. The event will provide updates on system upgrades and offer residents the chance to speak directly with SCE representatives. View the City Council Meeting Staff Report on “Discussion on Southern California Edison Power Reliability Issues and Consider Possible Action Alternatives”
2017 All Circuits Map
