January 11, 2001

ROSEMEAD, Calif., Jan. 11, 2001-With the possibility of rotating outages looming due to an ongoing Stage 3 Emergency declared today by the California Independent System Operator (Cal-ISO), Southern California Edison reminds everyone that good judgment and safety should be practiced during any power outage.

At the same time, Cal-ISO and SCE are making urgent appeals for all customers to immediately reduce their electricity consumption.

If rotating outages become necessary, please follow these cautionary steps:

  • Exercise extreme caution, especially at intersections where traffic signals may not be functioning; 
  • Use flashlights, not candles, if you are without lights; 
  • Turn off all electrical equipment in use at the time of a service interruption, including sensitive electronic components; 
  • Leave one light bulb turned on to signal that power has been restored; and, 
  • If possible, monitor radio and television news stations to stay informed of developments and safety instructions.

SCE and Cal-ISO, the nonprofit agency that manages 75% of California's transmission power grid and secures power supplies for most of the state's consumers, continue to urge all customers to conserve power during electrical emergencies when a power shortage exists.

If SCE is directed by Cal-ISO to implement rotating outages, the company will have less than 15 minutes in which to comply.  Customers should monitor television and radio programs for the latest developments.

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An Edison International company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation's largest electric utilities, serving a population of more than 11 million via 4.3 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within central, coastal and Southern California.