What is a Rotating Outage?

The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) manages the California high-voltage electric grid and is responsible for coordinating and ensuring the supply of power used by SCE, PG&E, and SDG&E. 

SCE does not call rotating outages. By state law, we are required to enact them when the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) declares a statewide Energy Emergency Alert Level 3. This occurs when California's electricity demand outpaces available supply in real time or is otherwise unavoidable. CAISO typically orders the state's publicly owned utilities to reduce electrical load immediately. 

To reduce our load, SCE will initiate a California Public Utilities Commission-approved (CPUC) rotating outage plan in which controlled outages (lasting about one hour) are rotated among groups of customers throughout our service territory. Without rotating outages on a relatively small scale, a widespread disturbance to the electric grid could occur, leading to uncontrolled, large-scale outages. 

SCE has identified the circuits available for use in CAISO-mandated rotating outages according to CPUC rules. A circuit is an overhead or underground electrical line that supplies power to a combination of residential and/or commercial customers within a given geographical area. These circuits have been arranged into groups that comprise approximately 100 megawatts of electricity usage each, with each circuit generally serving between 800 and 2,000 customers. The amount of power designated for reduction by Cal-ISO determines the number of groups interrupted at any one time (e.g., if Cal-ISO calls for 500 megawatts, we would interrupt service to about five groups). Interruptions will occur as operating conditions permit, and circuits are spread out across a wide region to ensure that power is not shut off to entire neighborhoods at once. Each outage is expected to last about one hour, after which service will be restored to affected groups and the next groups on the list will be interrupted to maintain the load reduction requested by Cal-ISO. Once power has been interrupted to a group, the group is moved to the bottom of the list. 

A CAISO-mandated rotating outage lasts approximately one hour, depending on circumstances. We manage and rotate the outage (i.e., restore power to one group while turning off power to another) to protect the integrity of our electric system. This ensures no customer is affected more than any other. 

Yes, at least temporarily. One street could be served by two different circuits. A circuit can serve up to 2,000 customers and does not necessarily align with streets, neighborhoods, or community boundaries. However, it is likely the customer across the street belongs to a group also in line for a rotating outage.  

Yes, CAISO may call an Energy Emergency Alert Level 3 at any time, including at night. However, whether day or night, a rotating outage lasts for approximately one hour only. If you should experience an outage of any kind during the night, please consider the safety concerns posed by darkened streets and intersections and take appropriate precautions. 

Learn More

• Search for your rotating outage group by entering your service address, billing address, or meter number on the Outage Map.
• Log into My Account and follow our step-by-step guide.
• If you get a paper bill each month, you will find your rotating outage group printed on the front.
• Call us at 1-800-611-1911.

Once you know your rotating outage group number, consult our Outage Map to see where your group falls within the outage order. 

We cannot guarantee uninterrupted service to any customer. However, our Medical Baseline Allowance program program offers assistance to critical care customers in planning for outages, as well as tips for creating an emergency power-backup plan.

If possible, minimize driving in an outage area. Anyone who must drive through a rotating outage area should be extremely careful at intersections controlled by traffic lights since the lights may not be functioning. These intersections should be treated as four-way stops. 

Turn off all appliances, machinery, and equipment in use when the power goes out. Leave one light on to indicate when the power has been restored. This will prevent injuries that could occur if machinery and equipment were to suddenly restart. It will also prevent circuits from overloading when power is restored. 

Yes. During the summer, the Cool Center program provides safe, air-conditioned facilities where you can relax from the heat and avoid running your own cooling devices at home. Check your county’s website for locations of emergency or temporary cool centers using our locator.  

We will contact the news media, especially radio and television stations, which are encouraged to broadcast the news immediately. We may have as little as 10 minutes after an Energy Emergency Alert Level 3 is declared before we begin rotating outages, which is not enough time to provide individual notifications for affected customers. You can check our Outage Map to find out whether you will be affected.  

The first thing you should do is find out whether your neighbors have electrical service. If neighbors are also without power, report the outage here and we will send someone to investigate. If your neighbors do have service, you might have an isolated electrical problem in your home or business. 

• See our Medical Medical Baseline Allowance program for assistance in planning for outages. 
• Call 911 to report downed power lines. Do NOT approach or touch anyone in contact with a downed power line. 
• Learn more about our energy-savings programs.