Palm Desert seeks to limit planned summer power outages

The Palm Desert City Council is considering a resolution requesting that Southern California Edison (SCE) avoid scheduling planned power outages during the hottest months of the year, specifically from June through early September. The proposal aims to mitigate the impact of electricity loss during periods of triple-digit heat, which is common in the Coachella Valley.

The measure follows a July maintenance outage that was originally scheduled to affect nearly 900 customers. Following concerns from residents and businesses, SCE rescheduled that specific outage for August. City officials noted that some local businesses were unaware of the planned outage, while others faced unexpected costs by renting portable generators to maintain operations.

The resolution does not seek to prevent necessary maintenance but instead asks SCE to coordinate more closely with the city and provide earlier communication. This would allow residents and businesses sufficient time to prepare for the challenges associated with extreme temperatures and power loss.