Santa Ana Winds & Outages: Backup Power for Foothill Homes

Last week's Santa Ana winds put tens of thousands of Southern California Edison customers in Los Angeles County in the dark as SCE cut power on purpose to keep its lines from starting fires. If you live in Altadena, Sierra Madre or along the San Gabriel foothills, that's a familiar fall routine, and it won't be the last one this season. A Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) can last more than a day, and the backup you choose decides whether you lose a fridge full of food or barely notice. We're a licensed C-10 electrical contractor based in Pasadena, and this guide covers how PSPS works, which backup options fit which homes, how to hook a generator up safely, and the SCE rebates that help. Want a backup plan for your house before the next Red Flag Warning? Request a free estimate or call 747-255-8595.

How SCE Power Shutoffs Work in the Foothills

During strong winds, low humidity and dry brush, SCE may shut off circuits that run through high fire risk areas. SCE says it starts sending notices up to three days ahead, then again at two days, one day and one to four hours before a shutoff, but it also warns that fast-changing winds can mean little or no notice. After the winds drop, crews inspect every line before turning power back on. SCE says those inspections typically take up to eight hours and can take longer if they need daylight for helicopter or drone patrols.

That's why one street can have power while the next one doesn't. Your circuit may cross a windy canyon before it reaches your house. Check your address on SCE's PSPS page and sign up for alerts in My Account. Anyone can sign up for address-level alerts, which helps if you own a rental or look after a parent's home.

Pasadena (PWP) vs. Altadena and Sierra Madre (SCE)

Most of Pasadena is served by Pasadena Water & Power, not SCE. PWP's 2025 Wildfire Mitigation Plan says it isn't currently its intent to shut off power preemptively during fire weather, though it keeps the authority to do so in extraordinary circumstances. Altadena, Sierra Madre and the other foothill communities on SCE are the ones that see regular PSPS events. Wind-driven outages from downed lines and branches can still hit any utility's customers. Not sure who serves you? Our PWP vs SCE guide shows how to tell.

Your Backup Power Options, From Small to Whole-Home

Portable power station. A plug-in battery for phones, laptops, a router and a few lights. No wiring needed, but it won't run a fridge for long or anything on 240 volts.
Portable generator with an interlock or transfer switch. The most common upgrade we install in foothill homes. A properly installed inlet and generator interlock kit lets you run chosen circuits, like the fridge, lights, furnace blower and internet, from the panel.
Home battery (like Tesla Powerwall). Silent, no fuel, and it switches over automatically when the grid drops. Paired with solar, it can recharge during a multi-day shutoff. See our home battery backup guide. 911 is a Tesla Energy Certified installer.
Standby generator. Hardwired, fuel-fed, with an automatic transfer switch. Best for homes that can't be without power for medical or work reasons.

The right size starts with a list of what must stay on. We use that list and your panel's load to recommend the smallest system that covers it.

Hook Up a Generator the Safe Way

Never plug a generator into a dryer or wall outlet with a "suicide cord." It can send power back up the utility line and injure the crews working to restore it, and it can damage your wiring and the generator. The safe way is a listed transfer switch or interlock that disconnects your home from the grid before generator power can reach the panel. We install both and help you pick.

A few more rules we follow on every job:

Run the generator outdoors, away from doors, windows and vents, because of carbon monoxide.
Use a cord and inlet rated for the generator's output.
Size the circuits you back up to what the generator can actually carry.
Pull the permit. Generator inlets, transfer switches and home batteries all need an electrical permit.

SCE and PWP Programs That Help Pay for Backup

SCE's Backup Power Solutions page lists these for customers who live in a PSPS-affected area:

Up to $200 toward a qualifying portable power station
Up to $800 toward a qualifying portable generator, with enhanced generator rebates for customers on CARE, FERA or Medical Baseline, through the SCE Marketplace
Free portable backup battery through the Critical Care Backup Battery program for customers in high fire risk areas who are on SCE's Medical Baseline Allowance program and use powered medical equipment. It includes a solar panel kit for charging.

If you rely on medical equipment, enroll in Medical Baseline. SCE says it will try to reach those customers before a PSPS and send someone to the door if it can't.

Inside Pasadena, PWP customers can get $350 per kWh toward a qualifying home battery installed by a licensed C-10 contractor, plus $200 per kWh more for customers on PWP's income-qualified or Medical Assistance programs. Our PWP battery rebate guide covers the rules. These amounts can change, so confirm current terms with your utility before you buy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does an SCE power shutoff last?

SCE says a PSPS can last more than 24 hours. After winds drop, line inspections typically take up to eight hours before power comes back.

Will I get a warning before a PSPS?

Usually. SCE begins notices up to three days ahead and sends another one to four hours before a shutoff, but fast-changing winds can mean little or no notice.

Can I plug my generator into a dryer outlet?

No. Backfeeding through an outlet can energize utility lines and injure line workers. Use a listed transfer switch or interlock installed under a permit.

Does Pasadena Water & Power do PSPS shutoffs?

PWP's wildfire plan says it doesn't currently intend to shut off power preemptively, but it keeps that right for extraordinary conditions. Altadena and Sierra Madre are SCE areas and see PSPS events.

Is a home battery or a generator better for outages?

A battery is quiet, needs no fuel and switches over automatically. A generator costs less up front and can run longer with fuel. Many foothill homes pick based on what must stay on.

Get Your Foothill Home Ready for the Next Shutoff

911 Construction & Electric Inc. is a licensed, bonded and insured C-10 electrical contractor (CA Lic. #1027421) at 1308 E Colorado Blvd Ste 141, Pasadena, CA 91106, serving Altadena, Sierra Madre, Pasadena, Arcadia, the San Gabriel Valley and greater Los Angeles. We install generator inlets and interlocks, transfer switches and Tesla Powerwall systems, and we pull the permit on every job. If your power comes back wrong after an outage, our emergency electricians are available 24/7. Request a free estimate, call 747-255-8595 or visit https://911electrics.com.