Planned Power Outage: Are You Ready For the Lights to Stay Out?

If you haven't opened up that piece of mail from Southern California Edison—the one that the energy company used to notify you about the Monday night blackout—you could be in for a surprise come Tuesday morning.

SCE has a planned power outage from approximately 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., so that it can replace equipment, including at least two transformers in Rancho Santa Margarita.

It is expected that 286 households will be affected in the Arroyo Vista area, according to an SCE spokeswoman. Sgt. Frank Nin of the Orange County Sheriff said that there will be an increased police presence in the area.

RSM residents can call 888-759-6056 with any questions it has for SCE.

Below is some information provided by SCE on how to prepare for an outage, in which power may on off for less time, or more time, than expected.

Some things you can do before and during an outage:

• Learn how to manually open your security gates and garage doors.
• Notify any security companies that monitor your home.
• Protect your computers, televisions and other sensitive equipment by unplugging them.
• Make sure food stays as cold as possible by keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed and placing blocks of ice inside.  For more information visit sce.com/foodsafety. If your business has no backup power supply, consider renting a generator.
• If you use a backup generator and have not registered the information with SCE, let us know before the outage so we can protect our employees from electrical backfeed.
• Those customers dependent on electrically operated medical equipment should make back-up power arrangements in case a power outage affects that equipment.

HOW TO BE SAFE DURING AN OUTAGE

• If you see a downed power line, don’t touch it. Call 911.
• During very hot days, SCE and other entities open community Cool Centers in targeted community buildings during extremely hot days.  Cool centers are for everyone, especially those at risk for heat-related illness. More information is at www.sce.com/coolcenters.
• Watch for traffic signals that may be out. Approach those intersections as four-way stops.
• Make sure you have a battery-operated radio and flashlights. Check the batteries to make sure they are fresh. Use flashlights for lighting during a power outage; do not use candles because they pose a significant fire hazard.
• Do not use equipment designed for outdoor heating or outdoor cooking inside.Such equipment can emit carbon monoxide and other toxic gases.
• If you use a generator, place it outdoors and plug individual appliances directly into the generator, using a heavy-duty extension cord. Connecting generators directly to household circuits creates “backfeed,” which is dangerous to repair crews.
• Leave the doors of your refrigerator and freezer closed to keep your food as fresh as possible.  Place blocks of ice inside to help keep food cold. Check food carefully for signs of spoilage.
• Check on your neighbors to make sure everyone is safe.