How SCE stays ahead of the storm during El Nio
The 2015-2016 El Nio year is one of the strongest on record. While storms cannot be controlled, preparations can be made.
Southern California Edison has taken an initiative to keep the power on when mother nature strikes by bringing together an El Nio Task Force.
Brian McDonald, the Government Affairs Representative of SCE, said the genesis of the task force was in 2012 after wind storms brought the realization there were weaknesses in communication with other agencies. Since then, the social media presence has risen on Facebook, Twitter, and the accessibility on SCE’s free app.
For El Nio in particular, there are a lot of infrastructure upgrades taking place so as better to supply the approximately 100,000 customers that are in the Coachella Valley and High Desert.
The utility company will focus on areas it believes will get hit the hardest, like landslides along the coast. However, vegetation management is an important part of the task force. Referencing palm trees lining Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs, McDonald explained, “these palm trees get close to the lines and palm fronds are highly flammable and can cause damage to the system and can be dangerous to the public.”
Because customer intelligence is the frontline, the app, My SCE, allows the user to report any downed trees, poles, and/or outages. It is available free to download in the Google Play Store or in the Apple App store.
