TORRANCE, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Calif. Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) and other South Bay state and city officials met Monday with the president of Southern California Edison and the president of the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to continue to push Edison to remedy the high incidence of unscheduled power outages throughout the South Bay. Also present was Assemblymember Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood), Chair of the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee, and a representative of State Senator Ted Lieu (D-Torrance).
The PUC reviewed data provided by Edison and observed that cities and communities throughout the South Bay have suffered excessive power outages in recent years.
“The frequent power outages are not only having an impact on local residents and businesses, but also threatening public safety by causing fires and equipment explosions,” said Assemblymember Muratsuchi. “I want to thank PUC President Michael Peevey for his leadership in bringing together the major stakeholders to address this pressing issue.”
Ron Litzinger, President of Southern California Edison, announced at the meeting that, starting in the first quarter of 2014, Edison will begin posting online data on the frequency and duration of power outages by cities. This action would be in compliance with Assembly Bill (AB) 66, authored by Assemblymember Muratsuchi, which mandates utilities to post such information in order to ensure greater transparency and accountability.
Muratsuchi stated, “The South Bay deserves better electricity service. I look forward to working with Edison and the PUC to make sure that the necessary infrastructure upgrades are made.”
AB 66 was signed into law by Governor Brown on October 7, 2013.
Assemblymember Muratsuchi represents the 66th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Gardena, Hermosa Beach, Lomita, the Los Angeles communities of Harbor City and Harbor Gateway, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Torrance and the unincorporated communities of El Camino Village and West Carson.
Please visit the Assemblymember’s website, http://asmdc.org/members/a66/ for more information.
