Southern California Edison details $5B grid upgrades at 29 Palms City Council meeting

In the heart of Twentynine Palms, city officials gathered under the warm glow of the council chamber lights to discuss vital upgrades to the electrical grid that powers their community. Shane Masood, the government relations manager for Southern California Edison (SCE), took center stage, presenting a comprehensive overview of the utility's ongoing efforts to enhance reliability and safety for the residents.

Masood introduced his colleagues and outlined SCE's extensive service territory, which spans approximately 50,000 square miles and serves around 15 million residents across 15 counties. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a robust electrical infrastructure, detailing the staggering statistics: 5,900 circuits, 1.7 million poles, and 750,000 transformers. With such a vast network, SCE is committed to investing over $5 billion annually to modernize and harden its infrastructure against challenges such as wildfires and equipment failures.

The presentation highlighted five key areas of focus: infrastructure reliability, wildfire mitigation, transmission enhancements, grid readiness for new technologies, and long-term energy policies. Masood explained that about 30% of SCE's service area is classified as high fire risk, making wildfire mitigation a top priority. This includes hardening infrastructure and improving operational practices to prevent potential ignition from equipment.

Masood also addressed the community's concerns regarding power outages, breaking them down into five categories: maintenance, repair, emergency, public safety power shutoff, and public agency outages. He noted that many residents often miss notifications about planned outages due to outdated contact information, urging them to update their details online for better communication.

In a bid to foster emergency preparedness, Masood shared tips for residents, including enrolling in SCE's medical baseline program for those reliant on electricity for medical devices. He also introduced the critical care backup battery program, which provides portable batteries to eligible customers in high fire risk areas.

As the meeting progressed, Masood showcased specific projects in Twentynine Palms, including the recent upgrade of the Old Dale circuit from 4.8 kV to 12 kV, significantly improving reliability and operational flexibility. He also discussed ongoing work on Adobe Road to modernize aging infrastructure and enhance performance, as well as grid automation upgrades aimed at improving fault isolation and reducing outage impacts.

The evening concluded with a sense of optimism as city officials and residents alike recognized the importance of these upgrades in ensuring a safer, more reliable electrical system for the future. As Twentynine Palms continues to grow, the commitment from Southern California Edison to invest in the community's infrastructure promises to keep the lights on and the power flowing.