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LADWP Power Shutoffs in High Fire Risk Areas: What to Expect

LADWP Power Shutoffs
  • Mike
  • November 2, 2026

What LADWP means by de-energizing lines

LADWP says local fire authorities may ask it to de-energize power lines as a preventative measure, to help prevent wildfires and protect communities. In high fire risk areas, LADWP warns of extended outages, potentially lasting over 48 hours.

LADWP does not call this a Public Safety Power Shutoff, and we will not either. Its wildfire mitigation plan describes de-energizing on a case-by-case basis during an incident. An earlier version of the plan (version 1.2) said LADWP had weighed pre-emptive shutoffs and judged the harm to customers to outweigh the benefit. In practice, that means LADWP does not publish a fixed schedule of warnings the way some other utilities do. Treat its notices as the source of truth during an event.

This guide is about wildfire de-energization only. It is not about shutoffs for unpaid bills, which many “LADWP shut off” searches mean.

Who is affected (Tier 2 and Tier 3 areas)

LADWP says the customers affected are those in Tier 2 and Tier 3 elevated and extreme high-risk fire areas. Its notices link to a fire risk map, so you can check whether your address falls in one of these areas.

The January 2025 event shows what this looks like. LADWP issued its guidance while a Red Flag Warning was in effect through 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan 21. In its update, LADWP reported 17,962 fire-related outages as of 7 a.m. on Jan 15, after restoring 342,371 customers since the start of the storm. It said the remaining outages were in fire-impacted areas, about 17,000 customers in Pacific Palisades, Encino and Brentwood. That event involved active fires as well as wind. Every event is different, so check LADWP’s current notices.

How long it can last, and why power may not return automatically

LADWP warns outages in high fire risk areas could last over 48 hours. It also says its crews may not be able to automatically re-energize the power lines serving your home or business.

LADWP gives these reasons:

  • It will not re-energize power lines in high fire risk areas until its crews have patrolled the entire circuit.
  • Equipment must be inspected and repaired before power returns.
  • In January 2025, equipment had been coated with fire retardant and needed cleaning before lines could be re-energized.

LADWP’s wildfire plan adds one more detail. When the Los Angeles Fire Department issues a Red Flag Alert, LADWP blocks reclosers on Tier 3 distribution circuits unless abnormal system conditions make that imprudent. A recloser is a switch that normally restores power on its own after a brief fault. When it is blocked, someone has to check the line before power comes back.

LADWP’s tips for an extended outage are simple:

  • Keep your phone and a portable charger fully charged.
  • Keep a flashlight and extra batteries nearby. Never use candles.
  • Switch off all lights except one, so you know when power returns.
  • Keep the refrigerator closed.
  • Check on vulnerable friends and neighbors.
  • Assume any downed wire is live. Stay away and call 911.

How to get alerts and check status

  1. Log in to your LADWP online account, or create one at ladwp.com.
  2. Open the Outage Alerts tab and follow the prompts.
  3. Choose text, email or both, and English or Spanish. You can receive alerts for up to three neighborhoods.

LADWP says these alerts cover major outages. They tell you when a significant outage happens, when new information is available and when power is restored. You may get an alert even if your own home is not affected, because an outage can cover only part of a neighborhood.

To check status, use LADWP’s Power Outage Map at ladwp.com/outages or follow @LADWP on X. To report an outage, call 1-800-DIAL-DWP (1-800-342-5397). The TDD line is 1-800-432-7397. LADWP also posts updates at ladwpnews.com.

There is no promise of a set number of days of warning. LADWP’s plan notes that, for incident-based shutoffs, some notifications will come after the de-energization. Sign up now, not when the wind picks up.

Help for medical equipment

LADWP’s Life-Support Equipment Discount is for customers who regularly need an essential life-support device, such as a motorized wheelchair, a respirator or a dialysis machine. Applications go through a medical review by LADWP’s medical director, and the discount needs periodic re-certification. The application is a paper form you mail in, and LADWP’s discount page does not describe outage services or backup power.

A 2017 LADWP notice also tells customers who depend on electrical life-support equipment to ask to be placed on its Critical Care list, which gives priority attention during an outage. Call 1-800-DIAL-DWP to ask what applies to you today. Do not rely on any utility as your only backup plan. Ask your doctor about what to do if power is out for days.

What solar plus a battery does

In a long outage, the issue is not just how long it lasts. It is whether your home can run during it.

If you have solar but no battery, your panels shut off when the grid goes down, even in full sun. The U.S. Department of Energy says grid-tied solar is designed to switch off if grid power cuts out. We explain why in Do Solar Panels Work During a Power Outage?

Add a battery and a backup gateway, and your home can disconnect from the grid and run on its own. Tesla says a Powerwall, together with a Backup Gateway or Backup Switch, powers the home during a grid outage. The Department of Energy says solar with storage can keep delivering power, even at night. EnergySage says one battery typically keeps essentials like a refrigerator, a Wi-Fi router and a few lights running for a day or two, and whole-home backup generally takes two or more.

That matters when LADWP says an outage could pass 48 hours. HomeLink Solar installs solar and battery backup with our own crews, under CSLB license #1117534. [CONFIRM with Mike before publishing: HomeLink installs in LADWP territory. Do not name any LADWP program or rebate unless Mike confirms it.]

See our Los Angeles solar installation page, or read the complete guide to solar battery backup in Southern California. For general outage lengths, see how long power shutoffs really last. Get a quote for your LA home.

FAQs

Does LADWP use PSPS?

LADWP does not use the term. It says local fire authorities may ask it to de-energize power lines as a preventative measure, and its wildfire plan describes handling de-energization case by case during an incident.

Who is affected by LADWP preventive shutoffs?

Customers in Tier 2 and Tier 3 elevated and extreme high-risk fire areas. LADWP links a fire risk map in its notices so you can check an address.

How long can an LADWP outage last?

LADWP warns of extended outages in high fire risk areas, potentially lasting over 48 hours.

Will power come back automatically?

Not always. LADWP says its crews may not be able to automatically re-energize lines in high fire risk areas, because it will not re-energize until crews have patrolled the entire circuit and equipment has been inspected, cleaned and repaired.

How do I get LADWP outage alerts?

Log in to your LADWP account and open the Outage Alerts tab. You can choose text, email or both, in English or Spanish, for up to three neighborhoods. Status is at ladwp.com/outages.

Does solar keep my home running when LADWP shuts off power?

Solar by itself does not, because panels shut off with the grid. Solar with a battery and a backup gateway can power the home during an outage.

Sources

HomeLink Solar Install Crews at working

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