In response to a state probe that determined Southern California Edisonhampered a safety investigation into poles that snapped in the fierce windstorm of 2011, the utility on Monday night defended its actions, saying in a statement that restoring power “had to take precedence” given the sheer magnitude of the damage.
In a report released earlier on Monday, the California Public Utilities Commission found that at least 21 poles were unstable because of termite destruction, dry rot or other damage before tumbling over in wind gusts of up to 120 mph on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 2011.
But more than 75% of the 248 Edison poles that were knocked down in the storm were destroyed by the utility before they could be inspected, a violation of commission rules that hampered the investigation.
On Monday, the state Public Utilities Commission issued a report on Southern California Edison's preparation and response to the Big Wind of 2011, and not surprisingly found them deficient in preparation and planning, and chided them for destroying evidence as the PUC was investigating.
Our content partners at the Pasadena Sun have been all over this one:
1. State commission takes SoCal Edison to task
A report issued by the California Public Utilities Commission on Monday found that some power poles maintained by Southern California Edison were faulty and too weak to withstand the gale-force winds that struck the San Gabriel Valley region in 2011, leaving thousands of people without power for days.
The commission’s Consumer Protection and Safety Division found that at least 21 downed poles and 17 wire supports jointly operated by Edison and various telecommunications companies did not meet safety requirements.
2. State investigators: SoCal Edison failed to preserve fallen poles for windstorm investigation
A state probe into 2011 windstorm-related power outages in the San Gabriel Valley was unable to determine whether many toppled utility poles had met safety standards becauseSouthern California Edison destroyed most of them before they could be inspected, according to investigators.
A report released Monday by the California Public Utilities Commission found that at least 21 poles were unstable due to termite, dry rot or other damage before falling over during gusts of up to 120 miles per hour on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.
But more than 75% of the 248 Edison poles that toppled over were destroyed by the utility before they could be inspected, a violation of commission rules that govern utilities.
“At the onset of [power] restoration efforts, preservation of failed poles was not made a priority by Southern California Edison,” the report states.
3. Local lawmakers chide SoCal Edison over state probe into 2011 windstorm response
Local lawmakers on Monday took Southern California Edisont o task after a state probe into the widespread power outages caused by a furious 2011 windstorm showed investigators were unable to determine whether toppled poles met safety standards because the utility destroyed most of them before they could be inspected.
A windstorm-driven measure requiring power companies to update emergency plans and coordinate better with local governments has passed both houses of the state legislature and is awaiting consideration by the governor, according to Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D- La Cañada Flintridge.)
The bill would require the California Public Utilities Commission to set preparedness standards for utilities and compel utilities to meet with local agencies every two years.
Portantino introduced the bill after strong windstorms in the fall of 2011 knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of San Gabriel Valley residents, with some in the dark for a week.Southern California Edison was heavily criticized by Portantino and other lawmakers after the storms, and is still awaiting a PUC report that could result in financial penalties.
A tree completely blocks the 3500 block of E. California Boulevard in Pasadena on Dec. 1. A study commissioned by Southern California Edison showed 70 ways the utility could improve its response for the next disaster. (Raul Roa / Pasadena Sun / December 1, 2011)
By Adolfo Flores and Bill Kisliuk Pasadena Sun
A study of Southern California Edison's response to the fierce windstorm that ripped through the region last fall found 70 ways the utility could improve its response to the next disaster.
The study, commissioned by Edison and released Wednesday, determined the utility responded appropriately in some ways to the windstorm, which knocked out power to more than 220,000 Edison customers, toppled thousands of trees and 250 power poles and caused tens of millions of dollars' worth of damage to businesses, cars, homes and government property.
But it found Edison must ramp up its emergency planning and communications efforts, including making emergency planning a top-level executive priority.
A report commissioned by Southern California Edison and released Wednesday found the utility could have handled last fall's major windstorm more quickly and determined the utility must be more prepared for major storms.
On Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 windstorms reaching hurricane force whipped through the San Gabriel Valley, downing power poles and causing outages that in some cases lasted more than a week. The outage is the subject of an on-going California Public Utilities Commission probe, which could result in fines or penalties for Edison.
Wednesday's report by Davies Consulting said Edison could’ve shortened restoration time by at least one day and up to two days by preparing better on "blue sky days." It also commended the power company for preventing injuries to workers or customers.
Southern California Edison officials tried to strike a conciliatory tone on Thursday during a California Public Utilities Commission hearing about the company’s response to power outages in the San Gabriel Valley caused by fierce winds on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.
“We can’t control the weather, but we can — and will — improve our response to it,” Edison President Ron Litzinger told commissioners and some 200 residents who gathered at the Temple City High School auditorium.
Many of those in attendance heckled commission members and Edison officials, angry that the company’s explanations remained unclear. A Sheriff's deputy moved to calm a man who shouted that Edison and commission officials were hiding information from the public.
Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) and Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) called on Gov. Jerry Brown today to seek federal disaster funds for San Gabriel Valley cities that sustained damage during the powerful wind storms late last year.
Their appeal comes on the heels of a letter sent Friday by Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard and leaders of six neighboring cities that called on Brown to authorize windstorm clean-up reimbursements under the state Disaster Assistance Act.
At around $40 million, estimates for wind storm damage and clean-up costs have fallen short of the $50-million mark required for disaster reimbursements.
Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Altadena) looks at a destroyed home on the 100 block of W. Cedar during tour of Pasadena to survey wind damage on Tuesday, December 27, 2011. (Raul Roa/Pasadena Sun)
By Adolfo Flores Pasadena Sun
Southern California Edison was hammered Thursday for being underprepared and “tone deaf” in its response to a fierce windstorm on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 that knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of area residents.
Edison leaders joined an array of local, state and federal officials at a hearing at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals building in Pasadena Thursday. Representatives of publicly-owned utilities in Pasadena and Glendale spoke at the meeting, which was called by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank).
Denise Tyrrell, a representative for the California Public Utilities Commission, said Edison and other agencies failed to provide adequate information to residents who asked about repair times in their neighborhoods.
“The utilities’ response was to say to the public, ‘We can’t tell you because we’re fixing the problem first,’ and that is not acceptable,” Tyrrell said. “Informing the public is just as important as fixing the problem.”
The federal government has reopened a windstorm loan outreach center in the Pasadena Fire Department administration offices at 199 S. Los Robles Ave., Suite 550 (northwest corner of Los Robles Avenue and Cordova Street).
Closed for the holidays, the center is open again from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through Jan. 20.
Homeowners can apply for up to $200,000 to repair or replace damaged primary residences. Homeowners and renters can apply for up to $40,000 to replace damaged personal property, including vehicles.
Businesses and non-profits can apply for up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged real estate, machinery, equipment, inventory and other assets.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) will bring together local, state and federal officials to discuss the windstorms that cut off power and damaged homes and businesses on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.
The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday in Courtroom 3 in the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals building, 125 S. Grand Ave, Pasadena.
Panelists include Schiff, Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard, South Pasadena Mayor Michael Cacciotti, and representatives from Southern California Edison, Glendale, the Crescenta Valley, San Gabriel, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other agencies.
The California Public Utilities Commission has scheduled a public hearing in Temple City as it investigates Southern California Edison's response to widespread and prolonged power outages caused by the overnight windstorm on Nov. 30.
Gusts of 80 mph or more downed trees and caused severe power outages around the San Gabriel Valley on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, with more than 440,000 customers losing power, some for more than a week
The commission, which regulates investor-owned utilities, will take testimony from the public on how they were affected by the outages at the meeting from 4 to 9 p.m. on Jan. 26 at the Temple City High School auditorium, 9501 Lemon Ave., Temple City.
