SCE Power Shutoffs: Notices, Maps and What to Expect

What an SCE shutoff is

Southern California Edison (SCE) calls it a Public Safety Power Shutoff, or PSPS: a temporary shutoff of power to reduce the risk of its equipment causing a fire. SCE decides based on fire weather, such as strong winds, dry vegetation and low humidity.

SCE sends alerts as early as three days ahead and shows affected areas on its outage map, at sce.com/outagemap. This guide covers PSPS only. It is different from an unplanned outage or a shutoff for non-payment.

Customers in high fire risk areas are more likely to be affected. So are customers on circuits that cross those areas, even if their own location is not windy.

How much warning you get

SCE describes a sequence of notices. These are the windows from SCE’s PSPS page:

When	What SCE does
4 to 7 days ahead	Predictive modeling begins. The PSPS Weather Dashboard shows forecast impacts up to seven days out.
3 days ahead	SCE notifies potentially affected customers and shows potential impact areas on the Outage Map.
2 days ahead	SCE narrows the affected circuits. If conditions persist, it confirms the PSPS and expected timing.
1 day ahead	SCE keeps refining the circuits and estimated outage timing.
1 to 4 hours before	If SCE estimates power could be shut off within one to four hours, it sends an expected shutoff notification. After that, a shutoff can happen at any time during the event.
At shutoff	SCE notifies public safety partners and customers.

There is one big caveat. SCE says there might be little to no notice before power is shut off when conditions change suddenly, such as when winds rise quickly. In that case it notifies customers as soon as possible after the shutoff.

Alerts are available by text, email or voice call. You can manage your contact details and language preferences in your SCE account. Anyone can also sign up for address-level alerts at scepsps.com. Check that SCE has your current phone number and email now, not when the winds pick up.

How to check your address and the outage map

Go to sce.com/outagemap and enter your address.
Look at the shaded areas. They show circuits that could be affected, and the map separates areas where power is shut off from areas under consideration.
Check the PSPS Weather Dashboard for the forecast up to seven days out.
Sign up for address-level alerts at scepsps.com, so you do not have to keep checking.

SCE notes that map updates may be delayed, so check the map again if you are waiting on an update. For an example of how the numbers moved during a recent event, see our recap of the October 2026 Southern California power shutoffs. SCE’s outage map showed 40,531 customers shut off on the afternoon of Oct 15, and 69,746 customers without power by 7 a.m. on Oct 16.

How long a shutoff can last, and why restoration takes time

SCE says PSPS events may last over 24 hours. The shutoff itself lasts as long as the dangerous weather does. After that, restoration takes time, because SCE inspects every circuit before it turns power back on.

Here is the process SCE describes:

Conditions improve and SCE decides the PSPS is no longer needed.
Crews inspect the power lines for damage. Drones may be used, day or night.
SCE notifies customers when inspections begin.
Circuits are restored after inspection, so not every area comes back at the same time.
SCE sends a final notice when power is restored or the event ends.

SCE says inspections typically take up to eight hours, and can take longer if crews need daylight for ground or aerial patrols, or if they find damage. When power comes back, turn off or unplug appliances that could restart on their own. If you see a downed power line, call 911 first, then SCE at 1-800-611-1911.

Help for medical devices

If someone in your home relies on electrically powered medical equipment, two SCE programs matter.

Medical Baseline Allowance. A household qualifies when a full-time resident regularly uses electrically powered medical equipment or other qualifying devices. Devices used only for therapy, and not medically required to sustain life, do not qualify. The program gives you an additional 16.5 kWh of electricity per day at the lowest baseline rate. During a PSPS, SCE tries to reach enrolled customers by their preferred contact method, and if it cannot, a technician may visit your door. You can enroll online, where your medical professional receives an email to sign, or by mail. Recertification is required every two to four years. Start at sce.com/mbl.

Critical Care Backup Battery program. SCE offers free portable batteries to power medical devices. To qualify, you must live in a high fire risk area, be enrolled in Medical Baseline Allowance and use qualifying electrically powered medical equipment. Renters may need the owner’s written permission. The battery comes with a three-year warranty and delivery, setup and training, and there is an optional solar panel kit. SCE says service is first-come, first-served until funding runs out, and the program can change or end without notice. Check eligibility at sce.com/ccbb.

Rebates for portable power

If you live in a PSPS-affected area, SCE says rebates are available in the SCE Marketplace for portable power stations and portable generators.

SCE’s PSPS page lists those two items. It does not list home battery rebates. A separate state program, SGIP, has incentives for some households. We cover it in How to Add a Battery to Existing Solar in California.

What a home battery does in a shutoff

A portable power station or generator can run a few things. A home battery can back up your house.

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.

Because SCE says a PSPS may last over 24 hours, size matters. EnergySage says one battery paired with solar can typically keep 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. What you can run depends on your batteries, your loads and how much of the home you back up.

HomeLink Solar’s Power Choice program pairs solar with a Tesla Powerwall 3 for homes in SCE areas. Our own crews do the installs, under CSLB license #1117534. See how Power Choice adds backup.

For the full picture, see our complete guide to solar battery backup in Southern California.

FAQs

How much warning does SCE give before a shutoff?

SCE sends notifications up to three days ahead. When a shutoff is expected within one to four hours, it sends an expected shutoff notice. If winds rise suddenly, there may be little or no notice.

When does SCE shut off power, and will it shut off mine?

SCE shuts off power when fire weather, such as strong winds, dry vegetation and low humidity, raises the risk of its equipment causing a fire. Customers in high fire risk areas are more likely to be affected, along with customers on circuits that cross those areas. Enter your address on the outage map to see where you stand.

How long does an SCE shutoff last?

SCE says shutoffs may last over 24 hours. After the winds subside, crews inspect every circuit before restoring power. Inspections typically take up to eight hours and can take longer if crews need daylight.

How do I check if my address is affected?

Use SCE’s outage map at sce.com/outagemap. SCE shows affected areas and areas under consideration, and you can sign up for address-level alerts at scepsps.com.

What help is there for medical devices?

SCE tries to reach Medical Baseline customers before a shutoff, and a technician may visit if it cannot. Its Critical Care Backup Battery program offers free portable batteries for medical devices to eligible customers. Eligibility is at sce.com/ccbb.

Are there rebates for backup power?

SCE lists rebates in its Marketplace for portable power stations and portable generators. Home battery rebates are not listed on SCE’s PSPS page.