Point Dume Still Without Power

MALIBU, CA — A Public Safety Power Shutoff has been initiated in the Point Dume area of Malibu. Power is currently shut off around Pacific Coast Highway from Latigo Canyon Drive to Ramirez Canyon Drive in the east, and along the coast from roughly Dan Blocker Beach to Little Dume Beach, and then across to Zuma Beach, according to Southern California Edison. SCE estimated that power will be restored Saturday at around noon.

The tip of Point Dume, though included in the PSPS area, still has power. For a map of affected areas, see the SCE website. An SCE spokesperson could not confirm exactly how many customers were affected, saying the ever-changing situation means final numbers are unlikely to be released until power is restored.

SCE has reported sporadic unplanned outages throughout the day affecting hundreds. As of Thursday evening at 5:35, just one outage affecting 52 people near the Malibu Hindu Temple remains. The cause is unknown.

Earlier in the day, SCE reported two outages affecting a total of 230 customers, as of 9:27 a.m. Thursday. One, along Malibu Canyon Road near Rindge Dam, occurred for unknown reason and has affected 178 customers, while another near the intersection of Piuma Road and Crater Camp Drive, caused by a pole upgrade, is affecting 52. These outages are no longer listed.

At 11:40 a.m. Thursday, an outage affecting 72 was listed in the area near the intersection of Mariposa de Oro Street and Cross Creek Road, just up the hill from the Civic Center. The reason for the outage is unknown, as is an approximate restoration time.

The City of Malibu reported that traffic signals continue to function in the Point Dume area, but are not working between PCH and Piuma Road. Residents are advised to treat malfunctioning traffic lights like a four-way stop sign.

The city has also confirmed that scheduled drive-thru testing at the Malibu Civic Center, which has also lost power, will continue from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. despite the shutoff. Trancas Canyon and Charmlee Wilderness parks are closed through Saturday. The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District said that it will provide extra time for students to catch up on distance learning.

The city was notified Wednesday afternoon of a possible PSPS along the Cuthbert Circuit, a power circuit spanning most of Point Dume from approximately Westward Beach Road to Latigo Canyon and extending inland about half a mile. SCE has initiated PSPS’s all over Southern California - including most of Thousand Oaks and a section of Oxnard - due to a Red Flag Warning in effect due to critical fire conditions that will be in effect through 6 p.m. Friday. Once the threat is over, crews will inspect equipment to ensure that power can be restored, which can take an additional 24 to 72 hours, according to the city of Malibu.

A wind advisory is also in effect Thursday through 3 p.m. in much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, with 15 mph to 30 mph winds forecasted. Gusts of 25-35 mph are expected through Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

Read this city release for comprehensive information on staying safe during a shutoff and how the city is communicating information.

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