Southern California Edison and HASC are continuing a unique partnership designed to keep facilities informed when weather-driven shutoffs threaten electrical power supply.

The association has worked with the utility for several years since the rollout of Public Safety Power Shutoffs designed to prevent wildfire during high-wind events.

A wind event on Jan. 18-20 brought gusts of 50-90 mph to mountain and canyon areas — directly causing thousands of customers to lose power and threatening tens of thousands of others with precautionary Public Safety Power Shutoff events. 

Widespread damage and shutoffs did not occur — but HASC and SCE made a special effort to reach hospitals and health care providers. Heightened concern existed — due to the refrigeration requirements of COVID-19 vaccines in hospital freezers across the region.

An article published on SCE’s website Jan. 19 referenced the cooperative arrangement — and recognized HASC for its partnership and support. 

“Hospitals are ready to deploy backup power as part of their mandated resiliency plans and, in some cases, SCE is also working to shift some of the facilities to less vulnerable circuits to help avoid possible shutoffs,” the item reported.

Mark Gamble, HASC’s Chief of Advocacy and Operations, coordinates the association’s work with the utility. The Jan. 19 item quotes Gamble on the critical nature of the recent wind event – during the height of the recent pandemic surge.

“As our hospitals continue to contend with a raging surge of COVID-19 patients, our continued partnership with SCE has never been more valued and appreciated,” Gamble said. “The ongoing support and communication between SCE and HASC has minimized the impacts of PSPS events on hospitals during the worst public health crisis in generations.” 

Read the complete Jan. 19 SCE item here.

Contact:
Mark Gamble
(213) 538-0760
mgamble@hasc.org