Heads Up, Ventura County: Be Prepared for More Power Outages This Fire Season

(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — Ventura County residents could soon see more frequent and longer-lasting power shutoffs—even on days that don’t feel especially extreme. According to a June 23 article published on Southern California Edison’s wildfire safety website, Energized by Edison, the utility has updated its wildfire protocols, including lowering the wind speed thresholds that trigger Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). These changes are already in effect for 2025 and could lead to longer, more frequent shutoffs across areas like Simi Valley, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks.

At a Legislative Advocacy Forum hosted by the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce on June 25, Heather Sumagaysay, spokesperson for the City of Simi, said “We could potentially see more public safety power shutoff events,” she said. “That will impact our valley related to frequency and potentially the duration in terms of shutoffs.” She added that the city continues to advocate on behalf of residents.

Sumagaysay said the city had advance notice about SCE’s planned outreach and emphasized the need for clearer communication due to potential hardship for residents—especially the elderly, children and medically vulnerable.

On its wildfire safety site Energized by Edison, the utility states that its updated criteria “could result in longer, more extensive outages, including in areas that historically have not experienced PSPS.” SCE also notes that the changes reflect a broader shift in wildfire prevention strategy: “This year, more locations are considered High Fire Risk Areas (HFRA), which means more of SCE’s power lines are now in scope for PSPS.” That includes 32 additional circuits and 47,000 newly added customers. Another 123,000 customers living on the border of HFRAs may also be affected depending on weather severity.

According to a July 2025 PSPS Working Group presentation obtained by CLAIR, SCE confirmed that its updated de-energization thresholds are already being used in 2025. The presentation outlines specific coordination with cities in the LA Metro and Coastal Region—including Simi Valley, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks—to identify critical infrastructure, develop resiliency zones, and support vulnerable residents.

These proactive shutoffs, combined with other grid-hardening efforts, are designed to prevent utility-caused ignitions and improve system reliability during high winds and storms. Historically, shutoffs were triggered when wind speeds matched National Weather Service advisory levels—typically around 39 mph sustained or gusts over 58 mph. But with the updated criteria, some neighborhoods could now lose power when winds reach just 30 to 40 mph, particularly when conditions are dry. Some circuits have even lower thresholds due to past fire activity or equipment vulnerability. Each circuit is evaluated individually using data about fire risk, fuel conditions and weather patterns.

To reduce wildfire risk, SCE has also invested in long-term infrastructure improvements. The utility is undergrounding select power lines, wrapping overhead wires in protective coating (known as covered conductor), stepping up vegetation inspections and installing fire weather technology. “Public Safety Power Shutoffs save lives,” said Tom Brady, SCE’s principal manager of Wildfire and PSPS response, on the company’s website. “We have seen numerous examples of damage to our equipment following these dangerous wind events and each of those could have resulted in an ignition if the power was not shut off.”

SCE is also planning more customer-facing support. According to its PSPS Working Group materials, the company is working with cities to scale up Resiliency Centers and Community Crew Vehicles in high-risk areas. These mobile units provide cooling, phone charging, and real-time information during shutoffs. SCE is also promoting battery storage and generator rebate programs and evaluating microgrid solutions for critical facilities such as senior centers and water utilities.

For homeowners with generators or solar-powered battery systems, there are options—but for renters and others on tight budgets, outages can be far more difficult. SCE says it is developing targeted support for multifamily housing, mobile home communities, and customers who are unable to install backup power.

Locally, Simi Valley is seeking grant funding for backup generators, fire hazard mitigation and traffic signal upgrades. Sumagaysay said the city is committed to protecting residents from the most severe impacts of extended outages.

SCE’s safety strategy has evolved over time—but so has public scrutiny. In 2017, the devastating Thomas Fire began in Ventura County when high winds caused Southern California Edison power lines to arc and ignite dry brush, according to the Ventura County Fire Department. The fire destroyed more than 1,000 structures and scorched over 280,000 acres.

In 2018, the Woolsey Fire ignited when equipment on SCE’s Big Rock 16kV circuit malfunctioned and sparked dry brush, according to the California Public Utilities Commission. The fire burned nearly 97,000 acres, destroyed over 1,600 structures and caused three deaths.

In 2023, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice, SCE agreed to pay $80 million to the federal government to settle claims for firefighting costs and damage to public lands, including the Los Padres National Forest. Local agencies were also compensated. In 2019, SCE settled with 23 public entities—including Ventura County and the City of Ventura—for $360 million to cover firefighting expenses, infrastructure damage and emergency services, as reported by Noozhawk.

For many residents, those past events help explain why shutoffs are increasing. But they also raise questions about how much disruption communities should bear—and who will be protected when the power goes out. With wildfire season growing more intense each year, the margin for error is shrinking, and for Ventura County, staying connected may mean preparing to go without.

For details on location and up-to-date information on whether your area is included in the PSPS program, SCE recommends visiting their PSPS Outage Map and signing up for alerts at sce.com/pspsalerts. These resources provide real-time updates and notifications tailored to your location.