The safety of our communities is paramount and because there is an elevated risk of fire, SCE initiated a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), de-energizing power at 1 p.m. in parts of our service territory:
o Inyo County (715)
Unincorporated areas including the communities of Aspendell, Round Valley, near Silver Canyon and west Bishop
o Mono County (13,809)
o Mammoth Lakes and unincorporated areas including the communities of Benton, Benton Hotsprings, Lake Mary, Owens Valley, Toms Place, Swall Meadow, Willow Springs and from Rush Creek to Agnew Lake, near Lee Vining, and near Tuolumne Meadows
We shut off power to a total of 14,524 customers as a precautionary measure to mitigate the fire risk. We understand these PSPS actions are disruptive to our customers and communities and we do not take these decisions lightly. We will restore power to these customers as soon as conditions permit and crews have inspected the lines to confirm that it is safe to re-energize.
For additional PSPS background information, please refer to the documents in the links below:
- PSPS Fact Sheet: https://newsroom.edison.com/_gallery/get_file/?file_id=5cf985132cfac270c053f595&ir=1
- PSPS FAQ: https://www.sce.com/safety/wildfire/psps
Power Outage Safety Tips
- If you see a downed power line, do not touch it or anything in contact with it. Call 911 immediately.
- Power outages in the area may impact traffic signals so motorists should use extreme caution and treat all intersections as four-way-stops.
- Remember to check emergency supplies to be sure you have a battery-operated radio, a flashlight and fresh batteries.
- Use flashlights instead of candles to avoid fire hazards in your home or business.
- If you’re in a vehicle with a fallen power line on it, stay in the vehicle and remain calm until help arrives. It is OK to use your cellphone to call 911. If you must leave the vehicle, remember to exit away from downed power lines and exit by jumping from the vehicle and landing with both feet together. You must not touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time. Then proceed away from the vehicle by shuffling and not picking up your feet until you are several yards away.
- If you use a generator, place it outdoors and plug individual appliances directly into it, using a heavy-duty extension cord. Connecting generators directly to household circuits creates “back-feed,” which is dangerous to repair crews. Please consult the manufacturer’s manual for operating the generator.
From Mammoth Lakes Tourism
- They won’t re-energize until the sun comes up and an SCE rep has their eyes on all the lines to make sure there are no tree branches fallen over, etc. SCE would hate to have an instance where they re-energize and then end up starting a fire anyway.
- Once weather conditions improve is when they will start the steps for re-energizing. Our red flag warning goes into this evening, so there is a strong chance this will be going to last through the night so please be prepared for all possibilities.
- SCE offices are currently ordering extra crews for the area so that once the re-energizing process is ok-ed, they can move quickly to get things restored.
More information on the Mono County Sheriff Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/
We hope this email finds you well. Please stay safe and warm this evening! If you have any questions, please contact Southern California Edison 1-800-655-4555.
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From Caltrans
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is notifying residents of a Public Safety Power Outage in Mono and Inyo County. Southern California Edison has de-energized approximately 32 circuits in the two counties, affecting 14,524 customers. The power outage is due to a weather event and could be expanded to Kern County if it persists.
Due to the power outage, traffic signals may not be working as programmed and have gone dark. Caltrans would like to remind motorists if they encounter a traffic signal without power, to treat the intersection as an all-way stop.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) would like to notify the traveling public of a rest area closure in Mono County. Due to a Public Safety Power Shutdown, Caltrans has closed the Crestview Rest Area, located seven miles north of the U.S. Highway 395/State Route 203 interchange.
While it is closed, motorists will still be able to access the parking lot at the rest area. However, facilities at the rest area have been closed and locked. The Crestview Rest Area will reopen only after Southern California Edison has ended the Public Safety Power Shutdown.
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High-profile vehicle prohibition
Inyo and Mono Counties- The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has announced a high-profile prohibition on U.S. Hwy 395 between Bishop and the California/Nevada state line due to high winds. U.S. Hwy 6 is the recommended detour route. Travel is prohibited for campers, trailers or permit loads.
Caltrans and other agencies are busy keeping the traveling public safe on our roads. Debris and sand, blown by winds can pose a significant threat on the roadway. The traveling public is advised to drastically slow down and proceed with caution.
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For the latest highway information please visit the Caltrans QuickMap site at quickmap.dot.ca.gov or call the Road Condition Hotline at 1-800-427-ROAD (7623).
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From MCWD
Mammoth Lakes, California – September 16, 2019 –SCE initiated a Public Safety Power Shutoff for Mammoth Lakes and throughout Mono County due to adverse weather conditions that may create the potential for elevated fire risk.
The Mammoth Community Water District (MCWD) will provide water and sewer service throughout the SCE power outage. MCWD is presently utilizing our emergency generation equipment throughout the service boundary, including sewer service in the Lakes Basin.
As a reminder, hot water is dependent on the customer’s water heater. If you have any water or sewer interruptions, please contact MCWD at 760-934-2596.
I like this. People dont die from fires. Kids are not gaming but going out doors, or on their phones, but talking face to face. Like we did when we were kids. Wow reality what a concept.
Tinner….are you a trump worshiper ?
Worshiper? No, but it’s questions like that are the reason Trump won and will probably win again. Every time a you use words like that you discredit everything the democrats are running on, but go ahead, you’re just beating yourself and insuring a second term for Trump. Are you an… Read more »
Tinner……not MY president..who sits in the oval office has no bearing what-so-ever on my life and lifestyle,other than being mid to lower middle class,having to pay more federal taxes while the rich get richer…I’ve actually enjoyed a lot of what’s going on with trump….the laughs we’re getting from it…the downright… Read more »
Yawn.
……and with my above post,if it ever did happen again,and the president happened to get involved with any of it,they’d all have a few rolls of paper towels thrown their way too…..
There it is, that was your longest rant without referring to your President.
….My friends in Mammoth and Mono County….welcome to the “new America”….where the “authorities” seem to be in total charge (or think they are,but in this case,looks like they actually are,with little anyone can do about it)…warnings on speculation and fear….evacuations when they’re sometimes not needed…rules and regulations on something that… Read more »
David Dennison, your theories are harming your mind, body and soul.
Tinner….here’s ANOTHER theory…..if you want to camp and sleep on the ground…..do what I do,once I got past 60….pitch a tent….throw about 2 or 3 sleeping bags folded in half inside the tent,using them as kind of a mattress…throw one real warm good one on the top,along with one of… Read more »
The wind blows at least as bad as yesterday in the Mammoth Lakes area often. Was this a one off, or should we expect this to become normative?
I’ve been wondering the same thing. It blew pretty hard, but we usually see several “wind events” every year that are much stronger. It’s going to be a real nuisance if a power outage accompanies them all. I think SCE should give some thought about “hardening” critical danger points instead… Read more »
Tinner….and when a well fed lawyer does get involved,and SCE gets sued and loses,to the tune of millions of dollars…..guess who ends up paying the bill ?…..you,me and other customers with an increase in rates…
I thought the power outage was great. I can’t sleep on the ground anymore so I haven’t been camping for a while, I dusted off the camp stove, made a burrito, drank a few beers and a couple shots of tequila, went to sleep on a BED (by myself I’m… Read more »
The most disturbing part for me is why my cell service provider was also MIA. ATT went down but Verizon did not. That meant ATT customers were without power or a means of communication. Not a good provider to be with up here. I am switching ASAP!
What a Scam….
Fear now animates the Home of the Brave. Afraid of global warming even though average temperature in North America hasn’t changed since 2005? Set your hair on fire and castigate anyone who does not share your panic. Afraid that you’ve been a negligent, incompetent utility? Send your customers back to… Read more »
Panic? I didn’t see or hear any panic. A tad inconvenient maybe. However it was less than a year ago a fire caused by downed power lines was responsible for 86 deaths – the deadliest wild fire in California history. Not to mention the numerous other fires and deaths attributed… Read more »
Had you educated yourself a little, you would have learned that the Paradise (Camp) fire to which you allude was the result of incompetence on the part of the utility, which has admitted its liability and which knew about the equipment problems well before the fire and did nothing. Perhaps… Read more »
As an Arm Chair Expert, I’m sure you’re aware that one major factors in PG&E’s “incompetence” was their failure to follow through with their own plan to shut the grid down ahead of the widely forecasted wind event. Had they done that the Camp Fire would never have started to… Read more »