SCE Power Outage or Public Safety Power Shutoff? How to Check the Map, How Long It Lasts, and How to Keep the Lights On

SCE's outage map at sce.com/outagemap is the single fastest way to tell whether your dark house is an unplanned equipment failure or a deliberate Public Safety Power Shutoff — the map color-codes both types and shows estimated restoration times for each affected area. If the map shows a PSPS tag on your circuit, the restoration clock doesn't start until dangerous weather passes and SCE crews have inspected every mile of line, a process SCE says takes up to 8 hours under good conditions and longer when daylight is required.

Last verified: October 2026 by Helios Energy Global.

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Two different outages, two different maps

Not every dark house in Southern California is a PSPS. While many outages in high fire risk areas are caused by PSPS events, outages can also occur for other reasons including equipment failure, vehicle collisions, weather damage, or scheduled maintenance. Knowing which type you're dealing with changes everything about how long you'll wait.

Unplanned outage — equipment failed, a car hit a pole, or wind snapped a line. SCE dispatches crews to repair it. You can track outages in your area with SCE's online tools and stay informed on current outages and estimated resolution times.

Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) — SCE deliberately de-energizes circuits to prevent its equipment from igniting a wildfire during extreme fire weather. According to SCE, a PSPS is when an electric utility temporarily shuts off power to reduce the risk of a wildfire caused by electric infrastructure during extreme weather conditions. Power will not return until the weather improves and inspections are complete.

Where to look:

What you need	Where to go	What you'll see
Is there an outage at my address?	sce.com/outagemap	Map pin with outage type and estimated restoration time
Is a PSPS active or planned?	sce.com/psps	Affected circuits, shutoff status, CRC locations
5-day fire weather outlook	sce.com/pspsweather	Circuits under watch up to 5 days out
Wildfire situational awareness	sce.com/wildfire/situational-awareness	Camera feeds, weather overlays
Report an outage	sce.com/outage or 1-800-611-1911	Confirmation number, alert sign-up

The outage status tool lets you search by address, outage number, or meter number; note that it may take up to 30 minutes for reported outages to appear on the map.

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How to report an outage to SCE

You can report your power outage online, by phone, or through the SCE mobile app to receive updates and resolution times. The fastest path:

• Online: sce.com/outage → "Report Home or Business Outage" — have your street address and ZIP ready.
• Phone: 1-800-611-1911, available 24/7.
• SCE app: Log in, tap "Report Outage."

For an electrical emergency such as a downed power line, call 911 immediately. Never touch or approach a downed power line. Stay at least 100 feet away.

To report a safety issue including an object caught in a power line, call 1-800-611-1911.

Once you report, SCE will send estimated restoration updates to the phone number or email on your account. You can select an icon on the outage map to learn more about the outage and SCE's estimated restoration time.

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How long does an SCE outage last?

For unplanned outages, restoration time depends on the nature of the damage — a tripped breaker restores in minutes; a broken pole can take hours. The outage map's restoration estimate is your best real-time guide.

For a PSPS, the timeline is different. When the weather improves, SCE inspects its lines for damage before restoring power. This is expected to take up to 8 hours but could take longer if daylight is needed for safe inspections or if damage is found.

Per the Malibu City PSPS FAQ, a PSPS event will last as long as the dangerous fire weather conditions exist, plus the amount of time it takes for SCE to check its power lines, which could take hours or days depending on the size of the area.

For a deeper look at typical PSPS durations by event size and season, see our guide How Long Do SCE PSPS Outages Last? — duration varies widely and that page owns the numbers.

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How SCE notifies you before a shutoff

SCE's notification sequence, per the utility's own accessibility FAQ, runs like this:

• 4–7 days ahead: When extreme weather is forecast, SCE begins planning up to a week in advance and posts information to its weather awareness map.
• 3 days ahead: Initial notifications go to local governments, emergency officials, first responders, hospitals, and critical infrastructure providers. Affected areas appear on the Outage Map.
• 2 days ahead: Initial notifications go out to customers; updates go to local governments and agencies.
• 1 day ahead: Updated timing information is sent to all customers.
• 0–4 hours ahead: Whenever possible, SCE sends notifications that power is likely to be shut off within that window.
• Important caveat: Erratic or sudden onset of weather conditions may affect SCE's ability to provide advance notice.

SCE sends alerts by text, email, and/or voice call before, during, and after a PSPS when possible.

Anyone, including tenants and caregivers, can sign up for alerts for a specific address at sce.com/pspsalerts or by calling 1-800-655-4555.

SCE's expected shutoff notification states: "It's likely we will shut off your power in the next 4 hours due to wind-driven fire conditions in your area." That final alert is your last window to fill water containers, charge devices, and confirm your battery is ready.

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SCE programs active during a PSPS

Community Resource Centers and Community Crew Vehicles

SCE's Community Resource Centers (CRCs) and Community Crew Vehicles (CCVs) provide customers with on-site PSPS information, water, light snacks, resiliency kits, mobile device charging, and portable medical equipment charging. SCE offers in-language support and accommodations for customers with disabilities and other access and functional needs.

SCE operates eight mobile Community Crew Vehicles to support customers in communities without CRCs. CCVs provide similar services to CRCs and can be quickly deployed to various locations based on developing weather conditions.

The Outage Map shows which CRC and CCV locations are open and their hours of operation. SCE posts this information one day before sites are expected to open, or when site details are confirmed within that one-day window.

Critical Care Backup Battery Program

If you or someone in your household relies on electrically powered medical equipment, SCE has a specific program worth knowing about. SCE's Critical Care Backup Battery (CCBB) program offers free portable backup batteries that can power medical devices during an outage or emergency home evacuation.

Customers who reside in high fire risk areas, are currently enrolled in SCE's Medical Baseline Allowance program, and require the regular use of electrically powered medical equipment or another qualifying medical device are eligible for the Critical Care Backup Battery program.

Participants receive a portable, rechargeable, clean-energy backup battery backed by a three-year warranty, which plugs into a regular electrical outlet to charge, plus a solar panel kit for additional charging capability.

Battery delivery and setup, including training in the use of the battery, are provided at no cost.

Learn more at sce.com/ccbb or visit our battery backup guide for SCE customers.

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October 2026 Red Flag period: what SCE's own notices showed

This page is published during an active Red Flag period. Here is what SCE's official notices and the National Weather Service stated — no customer impact estimates from news sources are used here.

Southern California Edison placed four Malibu circuits — Cuthbert, Galahad, Maguire, and Merlin — under PSPS consideration beginning October 15, 2026. The National Weather Service Los Angeles issued Red Flag Warnings across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, with relative humidity forecast as low as 5% to 10% and offshore wind gusts reaching 55 to 70 mph.

The warning was issued across LA County, the Santa Monica Mountains, and Malibu, citing extremely dangerous fire conditions due to Santa Ana winds from 6 AM Thursday, October 16, through 10 PM Friday, October 17.

The Red Flag Warning was subsequently extended to Saturday, October 17, at 8 PM, and SCE Public Safety Power Shutoffs remained possible in Malibu in the days following.

SCE noted that circuits and timing change frequently and directed customers to check outage status at sce.com/outages-safety/outage-preparedness/outage-types/public-safety-power-shutoff-psps.

For the full explanation of what conditions cause SCE to pull the trigger on a shutoff, see our dedicated guide What Triggers an SCE Public Safety Power Shutoff — that page owns the trigger rules and goes deep on the decision criteria.

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Solar alone vs. solar + battery during a shutoff

This is the most common misconception we see from homeowners in SCE territory: rooftop solar panels by themselves produce zero power the moment the grid goes down. This is a required safety feature — grid-tied inverters shut off automatically so that live electricity doesn't flow back onto lines where SCE crews may be working. See our full explainer: Do Solar Panels Work During a Power Outage?

A home battery changes the equation entirely:

Scenario	Grid outage	PSPS shutoff
Solar only (grid-tied, no battery)	❌ No power	❌ No power
Battery only (no solar)	✅ Runs until depleted	✅ Runs until depleted
Solar + battery	✅ Runs + battery recharges from panels	✅ Runs + battery recharges from panels during daylight

How much backup does a battery provide? A single Tesla Powerwall 3 holds 13.5 kWh — enough to run a refrigerator, lights, phone charging, and a Wi-Fi router for roughly 24 hours, or longer if paired with solar that recharges it during the day. Installed cost for one Powerwall 3 runs approximately $14,500–$18,500; two units run $24,000–$30,000. The Enphase IQ Battery 10C installs at approximately $13,000–$15,500. See Tesla Powerwall installation in Los Angeles for the full breakdown, and our batteries page to compare all models Helios installs.

No federal tax credit in 2026. The 30% federal residential solar and battery tax credit expired December 31, 2025. There is no federal credit for a system purchased in 2026. California's SGIP battery rebate program has residential funds waitlisted in 2026 — check with Helios for the current status when you get your quote.

For a head-to-head comparison of whole-home generators versus battery backup in the SCE service area, see Generator vs. Battery Backup in California.

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SCE territory vs. LADWP: the utility matters

If you live in Santa Monica, Culver City, or unincorporated LA County, you are almost certainly on SCE — and NEM 3.0 (the CPUC Net Billing Tariff) applies to new solar interconnections. SCE's average rate runs approximately 34–35¢/kWh, with peak charges of roughly 48–58¢/kWh during the 4–9 PM window on time-of-use plans, which makes battery dispatch during peak hours especially valuable.

If you live inside the City of Los Angeles, you are on LADWP, which is a municipal utility not subject to NEM 3.0. LADWP still offers retail-rate net metering and charges an effective blended rate of approximately 28¢/kWh (ranging about 26–31¢ depending on tier and season). LADWP runs its own outage map at ladwp.com — not sce.com — and its own PSPS-equivalent protocols, which differ from SCE's.

For a map of which Southern California neighborhoods sit in SCE's High Fire Threat District, see our High Fire Threat District map guide.

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How to prepare before the next shutoff

The time to act is before a Red Flag Warning, not during one. Our full checklist lives at How to Prepare for a PSPS Power Shutoff, but the short version for SCE customers:

• Sign up for PSPS alerts at sce.com/pspsalerts — add every adult in the household, including renters.
• Bookmark sce.com/outagemap and sce.com/psps on your phone's home screen.
• Know your circuit name. SCE's PSPS notices name circuits (e.g., "Cuthbert," "Galahad"). Your address's circuit name appears in your My SCE account.
• Keep devices charged when a watch is posted — the 0–4 hour notification may be your last.
• Medical equipment users: Apply for the CCBB program now, not during an event.
• Consider a home battery if you're in a High Fire Threat District or have had multiple PSPS events in the past two years.

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Frequently asked questions about SCE outages and PSPS

How do I tell if my outage is a PSPS or an equipment failure?

Go to sce.com/outagemap. You can visit SCE's Current Outages page to view the outage map and estimated restoration times. For information about Public Safety Power Shutoffs, visit SCE's Public Safety Power Shutoffs page on sce.com for impacted areas and other helpful information. PSPS outages are labeled separately from unplanned outages on the map.

How do I report an outage to SCE if their website is down?

Call 1-800-611-1911 around the clock. You can also report your power outage through the SCE mobile app to receive updates and resolution times — download it before an outage so you have it ready.

How far in advance does SCE notify customers before a PSPS?

SCE sends initial notifications to customers two days ahead of a potential shutoff, updated timing information one day ahead, and — whenever possible — a final notification 0–4 hours before power is likely to be shut off. Sign up at sce.com/pspsalerts so SCE can reach you.

Will my solar panels keep running during an SCE PSPS?

No. Grid-tied solar inverters are required by code to shut down when the grid goes down, including during a PSPS. Only a battery-backed system with an automatic transfer switch can island your home and let solar continue charging the battery. See Do Solar Panels Work During a Power Outage? for the technical explanation.

How long does it take SCE to restore power after a PSPS?

When the weather improves, SCE inspects its lines for damage before restoring power. This is expected to take up to 8 hours but could take longer if daylight is needed for safe inspections or if damage is found. Larger events affecting more circuits take longer.

Is there a free battery program for medical equipment users during a PSPS?

Yes. SCE's Critical Care Backup Battery program offers free portable backup batteries that can power medical devices during an outage or emergency home evacuation.

Eligibility requires living in a high fire risk area and being enrolled in SCE's Medical Baseline Allowance program. Apply at sce.com/ccbb.

Does LADWP have the same PSPS rules as SCE?

No. LADWP is a municipal utility and is not subject to the same CPUC rules that govern SCE's PSPS program. LADWP has its own outage protocols and its own outage map at ladwp.com. If you are on LADWP, you are also not on NEM 3.0 — LADWP still offers retail-rate net metering for new solar customers.

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Next steps

• Book a free consultation and custom design — get a no-obligation proposal sized for your home, your utility, and your backup power goals.
• Compare home battery options for SCE customers — Powerwall 3, Enphase IQ, FranklinWH, and more with installed price ranges.
• See Tesla Powerwall 3 installation details for Los Angeles — specs, costs, and what the installation involves.
• Understand NEM 3.0 and how it affects your solar value on SCE — export rates, battery pairing strategy, and bill math.
• Solar vs. battery under NEM 3.0 — which combination makes sense for your usage profile.
• How to prepare for a PSPS shutoff — a full checklist for SCE customers.
• Explore all Helios service areas in Southern California