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Jurupa Valley schedules Edison community meeting after power shutoffs; council discusses microgrids, resident reimbursements and backup power for multifamily
Summary
After recent public-safety power shutoffs, the Jurupa Valley City Council said staff is arranging a community meeting with Southern California Edison and discussed regional microgrid funding, possible city action on multifamily backup power and a request that Edison simplify grocery-loss claims.
Jurupa Valley city officials said they are arranging a community meeting with Southern California Edison to answer residents’ questions about repeated public-safety power shutoffs and the utility’s restoration timelines.
The announcement came during the Feb. 6 council meeting after council members and staff described a wave of outages that affected neighborhoods including Glen Avon, Indian Hills, Rubidoux and Pedley. “We don't want to normalize these power outages in the way that Edison is telling us to,” Councilmember Carmona said, adding that the city is pursuing state-level funding and will prioritize residents’ needs.
City Manager Rod (name in record: Rod) said staff is working with Edison and local school districts to host the meeting on a non‑council Thursday, likely a 6–8 p.m. slot in February or early March, and that Edison has been asked to bring managers who can explain why PSPS events occur, the specific circuits affecting Jurupa Valley, and available customer resources. If Edison cannot commit the requested managers in February, staff said it will schedule the meeting in early March rather than delay further.
Council members also discussed energy resilience work under the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG). Councilmember Silva reported the region has begun allocating funds to workforce development for energy trades and to support microgrids — localized combinations of generation and storage that can keep critical buildings powered when the wider grid is shut off. City staff said microgrids are being considered for critical facilities such as police, fire and city halls and that funding conversations are ongoing at the county/regional level.
Beyond the meeting schedule and regional work, councilmembers discussed potential city actions. During the meeting a council member asked staff to prepare an agenda item requiring multifamily housing developments to provide minimum backup power for emergency lighting and elevator operations; the council asked staff to return with a more detailed proposal. Separately, a councilmember requested that staff prepare a formal letter to Edison urging the utility to streamline its claim process for residents who lost perishable goods during outages — specifically to allow claims without requiring complete, itemized grocery receipts.
Why it matters: The city’s effort to convene Edison and to accelerate microgrid planning follows prolonged outages that residents said caused safety and economic hardships. Council direction to study multifamily backup power could affect new housing projects’ building or permit requirements if the measure returns as a formal ordinance.
What’s next: Staff told the council it will continue to coordinate dates with Edison, will post details when finalized, and will bring back legal and implementation options on multifamily backup power and the proposed letter to Edison for formal council consideration.
Speakers quoted or referenced in this article appear in the record and include: Councilmember Carmona and City Manager Rod.
