With snow forecasted for the San Bernardino Mountains this weekend, residents who have gone for days or weeks without power are frustrated and concerned, especially as winter weather arrives.
To reduce wildfire risk, power to the region was shut off, leaving thousands across the Inland Empire struggling to live and work.
Southern California Edison said power shutoffs typically occur “during dangerous weather conditions to prevent our electric system from becoming a source of ignition. These safety shutoffs are a measure of last resort for keeping you and your community safe.”
Although power was restored to some communities, residents say shutoffs can happen anytime, with no communication about when it will be restored. With snow on the way, locals are worried the shutoffs will happen during dangerous winter weather.
Many residents, like Michelle Caulkins, a Lake Arrowhead resident, are demanding answers from SoCal Edison executives.
“I’d invite [the executives] to my house to come endure the snow with me with a power outage when it’s going to be below 30 degrees,” Caulkins said. “Come and enjoy it with me without a generator, without a stove, and figure out how to stay warm with us.”
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A main road is covered in snow in Running Springs, a community in the San Bernardino mountains. (KTLA) -
Residents prepare for snowfall forecasted to arrive in San Bernardino mountain communities. (KTLA) -
An open letter form the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to Southern California Edison about resident frustration over widspread power outages in mountain communities due to wildfire threats. (KTLA) -
Residents in Inland Empire mountain communties are frustrated over widespread power outages due to wildfire threats in January 2025. (KTLA) -
A main road is covered in snow in Running Springs, a community in the San Bernardino mountains. (KTLA)
Caulkins said she understands the need for safety precautions, but living each day not knowing when power will be restored is frustrating and potentially dangerous.
“It’s a difficult fine line because I understand the fire danger, but at the same time, for us up here in rural areas, to turn the power off at night is putting a lot of us in a really bad position with these freezing temperatures.”
Heather Paul, who owns a gift shop in Running Springs, said the lack of electricity resulted in a 25% drop in revenue compared to the same time last year because she couldn’t open up for business.
“I believe we’ve had probably six days loss of business due to power outages,” Paul said.
Locals who own Airbnbs said angry guests left without power during their stay have been demanding refunds, as well. Many are wondering whether long-term solutions are in the works.
“If this is going to be a thing, this can’t be the new normal,” Paul said. “It’s crazy. Are we going to put the wires under the ground?”
SoCal Edison said public safety shutoffs are typically a last resort that depend on several factors including wind speed and surrounding vegetation. As for the incoming snowfall forecasted this weekend, officials could not confirm whether power would be shut off as they continue monitoring real-time conditions.
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SoCal Edison said its Public Safety Power Shutoff occurs “during dangerous weather conditions to prevent our electric system from becoming a source of ignition. These safety shutoffs are a measure of last resort for keeping you and your community safe.” -
SoCal Edison said its Public Safety Power Shutoff occurs “during dangerous weather conditions to prevent our electric system from becoming a source of ignition. These safety shutoffs are a measure of last resort for keeping you and your community safe.” -
Thousands of residents across the Inland Empire have been living without electricity in the wake of the deadly wildfires across Southern California and continuing high wind warnings. (KTLA) -
Generators that Edward Vuljak, a Jurupa Valley resident, is using to power his home after spending nearly two weeks without electricity. (KTLA) -
Thousands of residents across the Inland Empire have been living without electricity in the wake of the deadly wildfires across Southern California and continuing high wind warnings. (KTLA)
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors wrote an open letter to SoCal Edison over the issue, saying in part:
“Over the past several days, we’ve heard from many concerned residents about Southern California Edison’s (SCE) power outages. Some of these outages drag on for more than a week and people are understandably frustrated, particularly our mountain communities, who rely on electricity to stay warm during these cold winter months.
The outages are exceptionally harsh on our seniors. Unfortunately, the county has no control over these events due to current state-imposed regulations and that give local jurisdictions zero control over energy resources during such circumstances. We certainly understand the threat of high winds, which can put significant strain on our energy infrastructure and increase fire danger and we are very fortunate to not have experienced any devastating emergencies, unlike our neighbors in Los Angeles County.
However, it’s clear that there are many issues with how SCE has managed this wind event. Many residents who live well outside the fire-prone areas are experiencing lengthy outages. In many instances, there has been little communication by SCE to its customers about when power will be restored. The lack of useful information by SCE has been alarming. SCE needs to have greater flexibility built into their circuits to minimize the number of customers who are impacted.
In addition, the State of California continues its premature push for full electrification, which will only amplify the problem. The state needs to realize the impact of its policies on our communities and take action to ensure that what happened during this wind event does not become a new standard in our county.”
Complaints and concerns about SCE can be filed with the CPUC online here. Since the state oversees Edison, we also encourage you to engage your state representatives on this matter.”
A San Bernardino County website providing resources for residents during extreme wind events and outages can be found here.
Residents can check if their neighborhood is under a Public Safety Power Shutoff by visiting SoCal Edison’s website.
