Like others quoted in the May 2 edition’s article titled “Residents Decry Constant Power Outages,” I, too, have suffered excessive numbers of power outages.
I live in Flintridge, and our electricity failed a dozen times in April. The outages have continued into May. This is excessive. But, as the article points out, is not new.
Over the years, I have been frustrated trying to meaningfully communicate with SCE. And my previous official complaint to the SCE’s official regulator, the Public Utilities Commission, merely resulted in an email advising me to contact SCE.
Thus, it was great to read that the City Council has communicated its disappointment to SCE.
This has been effective in getting SCE’s attention in the past. And I hope it will again result in some improvement.
By the way, Southern California Edison did not notify us about any of the outages. Not when the power went out. And not when the power came back on. (However, when our power failed again on May 3, SCE did notify us, so perhaps they read the Outlook Valley Sun.) But not for the outages after May 3.
It is not that hard to notify customers about power outages. During each of these outages, we were notified promptly by our internet provider, Spectrum, as well as by our Ting (a home electrical system monitor provided by our homeowners’ insurance provider, State Farm.)
All SCE needs to do is to team up with Spectrum to add SCE’s name to Spectrum’s messages, or team up with Ting.
John Karayan
La Cañada Flintridge
First published in the May 16 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
