Palm Springs residents worried after prolonged Christmas power outage, fear repeat with rain ahead

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)  - Phillip Zamudio, Palm Springs resident, said a prolonged power outage over Christmas has left him and neighbors uneasy as more rain is expected to move into the region, raising concerns it could happen again.

Zamudio said electricity went out at his home on Christmas Eve just as family and friends gathered for dinner.

He said Southern California Edison (SCE) initially estimated the outage would last about 45 minutes, but power was not restored for roughly 12 hours.

“It was super disappointing and upsetting on Christmas Eve to have no power,” Zamudio said.

He said the outage forced his guests to leave early and disrupted holiday plans, adding stress over food stored in refrigerators and freezers.

While power eventually returned, he said the experience has changed how his household prepares for bad weather.

“Now part of our routine is charging all the battery packs, charging our cell phones," Zamudio said. "We had to go out and buy emergency lights after the last power outage."

With rainy conditions in the forecast, Zamudio said he's worried it could happen again.

“I’m extremely nervous,” Zamudio said.

Jeff Monford, SCE spokesperson, said the Christmas outage was caused by severe winds that brought down a power line and sparked a power pole fire.

“We know that any outage of any length is a hardship," Monford said. "This one was especially difficult not only because of the holiday but because of the length."

Zamudio said as a Palm Springs taxpayer, the lack of communication from the city is disappointing.

"We do a great job about announcing parades or someone getting a star, or an award or the film festival," Monford said. "But when it comes to safety, not a lot of communication."

In a statement to News Channel 3 Kitty Alvarado, Palm Springs Public Information Officer, said responsibility for power outages, including their cause and timing, rests solely with SCE.

"The City of Palm Springs is not notified in advance of unplanned outages and receives the same information as residents before, during, and after these events. For specific details about outages, we encourage residents to contact SCE directly.

We understand that these outages are frustrating for our community, and the City shares those concerns. The City of Palm Springs continues to work to keep SCE engaged and responsive to our residents. The City has hosted several “Power Talk” community meetings with SCE at City Hall and will continue to strongly encourage SCE to meet with residents, provide transparency, and address ongoing issues in our neighborhoods.

We also recommend that all residents sign up for SCE alerts to receive real-time updates on planned and unplanned outages. We have links conveniently located on Engage Palm Springs, our community information website."

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.