SCE Update Friday Night

This the latest update regarding the SCE power outage:




6 p.m. PST, Dec. 2, 2011

Contact: Media Relations, (626) 302-2255



Power Restored to 65 Percent of Customers Who Lost Service Due to High Winds; Service to be Restored to Remaining Customers by Sunday Night



Southern California Edison (SCE) so far has restored service to 65 percent of its customers who lost power because of hurricane-force winds and

by Sunday night will have the lights back on for its remaining customers.



Trees and other large pieces of debris have hampered access for crews to equipment. As of 4 p.m. PST today, SCE had 131,591 customers

without service. It is expected to take two more days to restore power to the vast majority of affected customers. SCE expects service to be

restored to 99 percent of its customers by 8 p.m. PST Sunday.



We understand our customers are anxious to get their lights back on, and we're continuing to ask for their patience, said Ron Litzinger,

SCE president. The massive winds that hit Wednesday evening have created some of the worst damage we've seen in a decade and

resulted in some of the most complicated restoration efforts in years. Thousands of trees blew over, damaging thousands of overhead wires and

poles.



Crews are working to restore service as safely and quickly as possible where they have access. There are 217 SCE and contract crews

working to restore service. SCE must wait for local governmental agencies to clear debris where it is blocking access to SCE equipment.



The extremely high winds caused considerable damage to the distribution power grid, power lines, poles and equipment. Some restoration

may require reconstruction of the downed equipment. Customers are asked to stay away from any downed or dangling lines, including

those between homes and power poles. A downed line or dangling wire is dangerous - even if it appears not to be live.



SCE also is asking customers who have downed lines on or near their homes or businesses, both those that run between power poles

and from poles to homes or businesses to call 911 and stay inside to remain safe until SCE crews can repair the lines. Customers

unable to reach a 911 operator quickly can call SCE customer service at (800) 655-4555.