Bill Takes Aim at Unplanned Power Outages, Says Muratsuchi

By Nicole Mooradian

A bill designed to draw attention to and possibly avert future unplanned power outages, a frequent occurrence in Manhattan Beach, awaits a signature from Gov. Jerry Brown, who has until Oct. 13 to sign the bill into law.

Assembly Bill 66, which was introduced by South Bay Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi, gives the California Public Utilities Commisson the power to mandate an electrical corporation, such as Southern California Edison, to produce an annual reliability report that provides information on system reliability, including the frequency and duration of interruptions in services. The CPUC would then be expected to use the information to require remediation where repeated deficiencies are identified.

"The recent power outages in the South Bay underscore the need for this bill," Muratsuchi said in the statement. "Businesses, homes, public safety—everyone is affected by these sudden blackouts."

For example, a power outage in Manhattan Beach last week left more than 3,500 residents without power, as well as city hall and the police-fire headquarters facility. Outages were reported around 3 p.m. Service was not fully restored until nearly 4 a.m. the next morning.

With only one dissenting vote, the California State Assembly passed the bill Tuesday—the day after the California State Senate unanimously passed the bill.

"This bill is an important step to solve the recurring power outages in the South Bay and across California," Muratsuchi said. "I urge Gov. Brown to sign AB 66 and give ratepayers a more reliable electrical grid."

• Previously: Mistake at Root of Major Power Outage in Manhattan Beach
• Previously: Power Out to 5,500 SCE Customers in Manhattan Beach
• Previously: Power Out in Downtown Manhattan Beach After Transformer…
• Previously: Power Out in Manhattan Beach
• Previously: Power Outage Impacts Residents, Traffic
• Previously: City Loses Power 2nd Night in a Row
• Previously: Two Power Outages Strike Manhattan Beach Saturday
• Previously: Updated: Power Outage Lingers Into Monday Morning
• Previously: Parts of MB Darkened By Power Outage
• Previously: Power Out in Part of Tree Section
• Previously: Power Outage in Manhattan Beach Impacts Nearly 1,500…
• Previously: Power Back on in Beach Cities
• Previously: Power Outage Continues for Some Residents
• Previously: All Power Restored by 4:15 p.m. Thursday
• Previously: Winds Cause MB Homes to Lose Power
• Previously: Power Outage Darkens Part of City
• Previously: Power Down in Much of City
• Previously: Tuesday's Blackout Was Second this Year