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4 | October 18, 2018 | Malibu surfside news news malibusurfsidenews.com Power shutoff protocol puts public at odds with SCE Southern California Edison details plan at community meeting Michele Willer-Allred Freelance Reporter burglary From Page 3 Tensions ran high Oct. 9 at an informational meeting hosted by Southern California Edison. The meeting, held at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas, was held to discuss SCE’s plan to shut off power in high fire risk areas such as Malibu during extreme weather conditions. The meeting turned into a heated exchange when residents from Malibu and surrounding communities accused the utility company of choosing profits over people’s lives. SCE officials began the meeting with a presentation on the Public Safety Power Shutoff Plan, which they called a “rare practice of last resort” during extreme fire conditions. SCE officials said the PSPS plan isn’t intended to blackout the entire city of Malibu, and that only a couple of circuits may experience an outage during a threat. Advanced weather monitor systems have been installed to watch conditions, workers would patrol the Malibu area to ensure conditions are right, and input would be received from fire authorities and emergency management personnel before power is cut off. At least 48 hours’ notice would be given to the community before a power shutoff. SCE has identified that 33 percent of its service territory falls within high-fire risk areas, including the entire city of Malibu. SCE officials said that in that territory, they estimate they would use the PSPS plan four times per year. They said 48 red flag days were recorded in 2018 in the service area, and the PSPS plan was not used once. They said the plan also is needed during the completion of other mitigation measures, such as system hardening and vegetation management. “This is not something we take lightly,” said Cameron McPherson, SCE’s senior project manager of grid resiliency and public safety. “Edison takes pride with the keeping the lights on.” When SCE officials proceeded with the presentation and started answering questions they thought the community had, the audience grew increasingly frustrated, yelling that SCE is ignoring residents’ concerns, and “sidestepping” the important issues pertaining to the plan. “No we’re not,” the officials responded, leading to jeers by the audience. At that point, Malibu Mayor Pro Tem Jefferson Wagner stepped on stage and but McDonnell would not say what was in the bags, saying it was “too early.” McDonnell also said there was nothing to indicate that Rauda had any accomplices. All of the burglary incidents reportedly took place between 2 and 5 a.m. and involved the theft of food. The most recent burglary occurred at 3 a.m. Oct. 9 asked the audience to remain calm, while also acting as an intermediary between the audience and SCE officials. The officials then agreed to answer questions posed by some audience members, who also took the opportunity to make statements on how they felt about the plan. “I wonder why Edison is so committed to technology from the 1800s?” asked Scott Dittrich, a Malibu resident, who also questioned why Edison wouldn’t consider the more progressive route of undergrounding power lines. Beth Lucas, a Malibu resident and vice president of Lower Las Flores Mesa Property Owners Association, said her neighborhood was devastated by fires in the past. Lucas said it was dangerous and legally negligent for Edison to intentionally put communities and emergency personnel at risk if power is cut off and a fire breaks out, with no means of communication except through cellphones that may or may not still be working. She said that Edison should solidify and make their infrastructure fire and wind safe, install fireproof poles, and also invest in undergrounding wires. Diane Forte, government relations manager for SCE, said to underground wires for the entire Malibu region would be expensive, costing almost $600 million, and at the Agoura-Calabasas Community Center. An additional four allegedly related incidents took place in 2018, one occurred in 2017 and two took place in October 2016, according to police. All of the incidents were in unincorporated areas of Malibu and Calabasas. Malibu/Lost Hills Capt. Josh Thai also spoke at the press conference, saying police will continue to be proactive and patrol the some terrain situations in the area also would make it difficult to implement. She said SCE’s plan to install covered conductors, which are less likely to start a fire if a branch falls into a wire, are more cost-effective and easier to implement. “What is Edison worried about? The cost or people’s lives?” asked Mike Morell, a Malibu resident. “If it is cost, why not underground the most vulnerable lines? We will help pay for that.” Linda Hill, a Topanga resident, said if electricity is cut, everyone will be on their cellphones when an emergency happens, making the networks overloaded and unavailable. McPherson said that SCE continues to work with telecommunications companies on backup service plans and advanced coordination. Holly Kessler, who lives along the Highway 101 corridor, said she was “dumbfounded” that SCE would proceed with this plan in a mountainous area with canyons and few exits. Kessler questioned why they couldn’t just exempt the area, with SCE officials shaking their head no. Another Topanga resident questioned who would manage intermediaries in the event of an emergency, and if the area would be “left in the Wild West” to fend for themselves. SCE officials and a California Public Utilities Commission representative didn’t have an answer to that question. “I think you should all shut up,” another resident said to the audience, adding that he would welcome SCE turning off the power whenever it wanted. Wagner said he would like Malibu and surrounding City governmental agencies to work on a joint statement to SCE regarding their concerns, and to meet with SCE to have their questions answered. Bill Chiu, director of engineering at SCE, said he also would like to set emotions aside and form productive solutions. “We’re very sincere on constructing a safe plan for the community,” Chiu said. McPherson said if there was one thing to take away from the meeting it is that residents should update their contact information with SCE, as well as have a plan and be prepared. He said more power outage preparedness tips are available at www.ready.gov. Discussion of the PSPS plan comes on the heels of state investigators finding that strong winds caused PG&E power lines to touch, which sparked the deadly Cascade Fire in Yuba County last October. Edison also is dealing with multiple lawsuits claiming that their equipment triggered the Thomas Fire on a hot and dry day last December in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Malibu Canyon area. “We’re going to continue our efforts to make sure the public is safe,” Thai said. For more on this and other Breaking News, visit Malibu SurfsideNews.com. From friday, oct. 12 Venice man who struck, killed Malibu landscaper sentenced Lauren Coughlin, Editor Kevin James Hicks was sentenced Thursday, Oct. 11, to 14 years and four months in state prison for his role in the November 2017 death of Malibu landscaper Juan Castillo. The 23-year-old Venice resident entered his plea to “one felony count each of fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s motor vehicle causing death, driving or taking a vehicle without consent with a prior, assault with a deadly weapon and DUI causing injury,” states the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in a Friday, Oct. 12 press release. The incident occurred Nov. 29, 2017, when Hicks stole a car and drove it along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, leading police on a chase. After attempting a stop at Ramirez Mesa Drive, police reportedly ceased their chase. Castillo, 28, of Inglewood, who was walking on the right shoulder in the 27600 block of Pacific Coast Highway was struck a short time later. For more on this and other Breaking News, visit Malibu SurfsideNews.com.
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