More than 220,000 Southern California utility customers could face power shutoffs as the season's first Santa Ana winds push mountain gusts toward 70 mph.

At the same time, parts of the region are dealing with red-flag conditions, coastal temperatures in the 90s, and a heightened risk that any new wildfire could spread quickly.

Here's what to know

According to the Los Angeles Times, the wind event is expected to peak from Thursday afternoon through the afternoon of Friday, Oct. 16. Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, told the paper that much of Southern California could get sustained winds of 20 to 40 mph and gusts of 40 to 60 mph, with the most exposed mountain spots possibly reaching about 70 mph.

Because most of the rain from Sunday and Monday stayed away from Los Angeles County, vegetation in Los Angeles and Ventura counties remains very dry. Kittell warned that "there's a high risk for any new fires to grow really fast."

By Tuesday evening, Southern California Edison's outage dashboard showed that Public Safety Power Shutoffs were being considered for more than 220,000 customers — about 4.5% of its total customer base — across Kern, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura counties, the Times reported.

For households that deal with consistent power outages, pairing solar with a home battery is one of the best ways to keep the lights on and save money on home energy. Palmetto is currently running an exclusive offer for Southern California residents that allows customers to save an average of 40% on their electric bills with $0 down.

More background

The risk is not the same everywhere. Daniel Swain, a UC Agriculture and Natural Resources climate scientist, said areas west of the 405 Freeway face more danger than communities to the east, which received more rain from post-Tropical Storm Rachel, per the Times. Referring to those western "pockets," Swain said, "this will be potentially a fairly high-end event. So on the western side of the L.A. metro [area], into Ventura, Santa Barbara counties, the risk is still potentially pretty high. ... So there may be public safety power shutoffs."

As extreme weather disasters worsen, they can threaten both safety and finances by raising the chances of fast-moving fires, heat illness, dangerous roads, outages, spoiled food, and sudden costs for backup power or temporary shelter when homes become unsafe or uncomfortable.

In the mountains, the National Weather Service issued wind advisories and high wind warnings, Kittell said, because "the wind itself could cause issues like downed power lines, power outages, road hazards, and general nuisance." Coastal temperatures are expected to stay in the 90s through Oct. 17, which is especially concerning in places where many homes do not have air conditioning.

What's being done?

Officials in Malibu said Southern California Edison may shut off power on four major circuits starting at midnight on Oct. 15, while Calabasas officials said on Oct. 13 that similar shutoffs were also being weighed because of wildfire and wind concerns.

Along with red flag warnings for dangerous fire conditions, the weather service has issued wind advisories and high wind warnings to address the dangers posed by the gusts themselves. The concern goes beyond new ignitions to potential infrastructure damage and transportation problems.

Palmetto's offer stands out for households looking to cut recurring electric costs as weather-related grid threats become more disruptive. With Palmetto's help, the average Southern California resident can save 40% on their electric bills, which can add up to thousands of dollars per year. That kind of savings could make a meaningful difference for families already bracing for higher cooling costs and outage-related expenses.

Where can I learn more?

Wildfire danger and extreme weather can strain both power systems and household budgets in different ways. 

• Across vulnerable communities, extreme heat and storms are driving longer outages and bigger risks.

• In the Carolinas, drought and flooding created heightened fire risk across vulnerable landscapes.

• After devastating California fires, some homeowners faced unexpected obstacles in the wake of smoke damage claims.

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