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Rotating Outage
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What is a Rotating Outage?
A rotating outage is a brief, controlled power outage mandated by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO). It is enacted by California’s publicly owned utilities, including SCE, to protect the integrity of our statewide electric system by easing demand on the overall electric supply during times of critically high usage, preventing wider, longer power outages. Such an outage is named for the way it alternates evenly throughout our service territory to ensure that no neighborhood is inconvenienced more than any other. It remains rare and lasts only about one hour.
Visit our Outage Map to see if power in your neighborhood is shut off due to a CAISO-mandated rotating power outage, or is under consideration for one.
For more information about CAISO-imposed rotating outages, view the commonly asked questions at the bottom of this page.
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Is Your Group Affected by the Rotating Outage?
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System Status: Normal
There are no rotating outages at this time. For current and forecast energy-demand details, visit the CAISO outlook page.
View Past Rotating Outages Groups
Past Rotating Outage Groups
Below are the customer groups that were affected by a past California Independent System Operator (CAISO) rotating outage. Power has been restored to all groups and they have been moved to the bottom of the rotation.
| Rotating Outage Group | Details |
|---|---|
| A061, A062 | Date: 8/15/2020 Start: 6:43 PM End: 6:51 PM |
| A059, A060 | Date: 8/14/2020 Start: 6:56 PM End: 7:59 PM |
| A057, A058 | Date: 8/14/2020 Start: 6:45 PM End: 7:49 PM |
The Making of a Rotating Outage
A rotating outage is triggered following a sequence of notifications that California's power supply is reaching a critically low level.
Normal
System functioning as expected. No Adverse condition to report
Flex Alert
Typically issued in the summer. Flex Alerts are calls to voluntarily conserve electricity.
Warning
Power outages are expected, and some Demand Response programs could be activated.
Energy Emergency Alert 3 (EEA 3)
CAISO is unable to meet minimum emergency supply requirements. Power outages expected or in progress.
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Note: Customer notification sequence may vary by circumstance.
Receipt of an alert or warning does not mean a CAISO-mandated rotating outage will be called.
For more about CAISO-imposed rotating outages, download the CAISO fact sheet.
Who Calls a Rotating Outage?
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When California’s power reserves reach critically low levels, CAISO may declare an Energy Emergency Alert Level 3 (EEA 3), requiring SCE—along with the state’s other publicly owned utilities—to reduce electrical load immediately by turning off service to customers in a controlled, alternating manner.
SCE may have less than 10 minutes before we must begin CAISO-mandated rotating outages, which is not enough time to provide individual notifications, even to the small percentage of affected customers. We rely on the news media for help, especially radio and television stations, by asking them to broadcast news of the CAISO-mandated rotating outage right away. You can also check our online Outage Map to find out whether you will be affected, and receive updates, and alerts, and monitor statewide energy supply by downloading CAISO’S real-time reporting tool, ISO Today.
Customers experiencing an outage will see their power restored in approximately one hour, after which time the outage will rotate to another set of SCE customers. When power is restored to your neighborhood, our online Outage Map will reflect it.
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Preparing for a Rotating Outage
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To obtain real-time information about whether your neighborhood will be affected by a CAISO-mandated rotating outage, use our Outage Map and search by your service address, billing address, or outage group number. Outage group numbers may be found at the top of your SCE bill (see illustration below), or by calling us at 1-800-611-1911.
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Precautionary steps in advance of a CAISO-mandated rotating outage should include:
- Turning off electronic equipment to prevent circuits from overloading when power is restored, at which point it is safe to turn them back on.
- Leaving one light on to indicate when power has been restored.
- Minimizing driving in an outage area. Anyone who must drive through a CAISO-mandated 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.
Commonly Asked Questions about Rotating Outages
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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.
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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.
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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.
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- 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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- 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.
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Keeping the Power on for Everyone
Your choice to conserve energy during periods of high demand does more than lower your monthly bill. It also helps eliminate the need for rotating outages. Follow the link below for energy-conservation tips and resources that help keep the power on for your home or business, and for millions of Californians like you.
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