Electric Consumer

Editor: Katerine G., Editor & Data Researcher · Research & publishing: Electric Consumer Editorial Team · Data retrieved · Sources named on this page: EIA-861 · How we got these numbers · Report an error

California power outages by utility

19 California utilities report outage minutes to EIA. The state median is 61 minutes a year; the range runs from 11 to 496.

Ranking by outage minutes

California, SAIDI without major event days, 2024; lower is better; 19 utilities.

RankCalifornia utilityOwner typeCalifornia home accountsSAIDI minInterruptions (SAIFI)SAIDI with stormsCalifornia storm sharePrice ¢/kWh
1City of AzusaMunicipal15,599110.14No dataNo data19.08
2City of LodiMunicipal23,751170.27170%22.47
3City of ReddingMunicipal38,170340.26340%17.85
4Modesto Irrigation DistrictPolitical Subdivision103,650430.475826%21.78
5City of PasadenaMunicipal58,551430.45430%25.98
6City of Moreno ValleyMunicipal7,936450.37450%39.87
7City of AnaheimMunicipal105,839460.63460%17.11
8Turlock Irrigation DistrictPolitical Subdivision80,575490.527434%16.34
9Alameda Municipal PowerMunicipal33,174550.88550%22.98
10Imperial Irrigation DistrictPolitical Subdivision142,078610.69610%17.91
11Bear Valley Electric ServiceInvestor Owned23,327640.8010136%30.67
12San Diego Gas & Electric CoInvestor Owned1,364,361710.5415755%32.47
13City of Shasta LakeMunicipal4,26876No data760%19.26
14City of RiversideMunicipal100,450770.61770%20.20
15Southern California Edison CoInvestor Owned4,594,4151000.9015837%28.25
16Los Angeles Department of Water & PowerMunicipal1,410,1911110.661110%23.84
17City of Santa ClaraMunicipal50,9491620.8520923%16.88
18Pacific Gas & Electric Co.Investor Owned5,047,4612761.8250946%31.70
19Liberty UtilitiesInvestor Owned43,9024962.3774333%25.92

California outage minutes by owner type

In California, 93% of 14,217,180 home accounts sit with the 19 qualifying utilities out of 33 in the file. California customer-weighted SAIDI is 164 minutes against a median of 61, and 5 of 19 California utilities exceed the U.S. median of 99. Counting major event days adds a median 0% to SAIDI.

California owner typeCalifornia utilitiesCalifornia home accountsCalifornia median SAIDICalifornia weighted SAIDICalifornia median SAIFICalifornia storm shareCalifornia median price ¢/kWh
Investor Owned511,073,4661001780.9037%30.67
Municipal111,848,878461000.530%20.20
Political Subdivision3326,30349520.5226%17.91

By owner type, Municipal utilities have the lowest median SAIDI in California (46 minutes, 11 of 19) and Investor Owned the highest (100 minutes, 5 of 19).

California utilities that stand out

Why it stands outCalifornia utilityCalifornia owner typeCalifornia accountsCalifornia SAIDI minCalifornia SAIDI rankCalifornia SAIFICalifornia SAIDI with stormsCalifornia price ¢/kWhCalifornia price rank
the most reliableCity of AzusaMunicipal15,599111 of 190.14No data19.086 of 19
the least reliableLiberty UtilitiesInvestor Owned43,90249619 of 192.3774325.9213 of 19
the largestPacific Gas & Electric Co.Investor Owned5,047,46127618 of 191.8250931.7017 of 19
the most storm-drivenSan Diego Gas & Electric CoInvestor Owned1,364,3617112 of 190.5415732.4718 of 19
the most improvedAlameda Municipal PowerMunicipal33,174559 of 190.885522.9811 of 19
the cheapestTurlock Irrigation DistrictPolitical Subdivision80,575498 of 190.527416.341 of 19
the priciestCity of Moreno ValleyMunicipal7,936456 of 190.374539.8719 of 19

Does a higher price buy fewer outages?

Each dot is one of 19 California utilities.

Home price and outage minutes, California utilities02004006001020304050Home price, cents per kWhSAIDI, minutes a yearCity of Azusa: 19.08 ¢/kWh, 11 minCity of Lodi: 22.47 ¢/kWh, 17 minCity of Redding: 17.85 ¢/kWh, 34 minModesto Irrigation District: 21.78 ¢/kWh, 43 minCity of Pasadena: 25.98 ¢/kWh, 43 minCity of Moreno Valley: 39.87 ¢/kWh, 45 minCity of Anaheim: 17.11 ¢/kWh, 46 minTurlock Irrigation District: 16.34 ¢/kWh, 49 minAlameda Municipal Power: 22.98 ¢/kWh, 55 minImperial Irrigation District: 17.91 ¢/kWh, 61 minBear Valley Electric Service: 30.67 ¢/kWh, 64 minSan Diego Gas & Electric Co: 32.47 ¢/kWh, 71 minCity of Shasta Lake: 19.26 ¢/kWh, 76 minCity of Riverside: 20.20 ¢/kWh, 77 minSouthern California Edison Co: 28.25 ¢/kWh, 100 minLos Angeles Department of Water & Power: 23.84 ¢/kWh, 111 minCity of Santa Clara: 16.88 ¢/kWh, 162 minPacific Gas & Electric Co.: 31.70 ¢/kWh, 276 minLiberty Utilities: 25.92 ¢/kWh, 496 min
California, 2024: first 8 of 19 rows
Home price, cents per kWhSAIDI, minutes a year
City of Azusa19.0811
City of Lodi22.4717
City of Redding17.8534
Modesto Irrigation District21.7843
City of Pasadena25.9843
City of Moreno Valley39.8745
City of Anaheim17.1146
Turlock Irrigation District16.3449

19 rows from EIA-861 survey.

CSV

California utilities, change in their own SAIDI

First to last year each utility reported, best change first.

RankCalifornia utilityCalifornia yearsCalifornia SAIDI firstCalifornia SAIDI lastCalifornia change
1Alameda Municipal Power2020 to 2025589-84%
2City of Azusa2015 to 2025102-81%
3Bear Valley Electric Service2016 to 20257258-20%
4Los Angeles Department of Water & Power2015 to 20259289-4%
5City of Redding2016 to 20255049-1%
6Southern California Edison Co2015 to 2024100100+0%
7Turlock Irrigation District2019 to 20255962+4%
8City of Santa Clara2023 to 20256669+6%
9Imperial Irrigation District2015 to 20245361+15%
10City of Riverside2015 to 20256376+20%
11San Diego Gas & Electric Co2015 to 20245871+23%
12Modesto Irrigation District2019 to 20243343+31%
13City of Anaheim2015 to 20243546+32%
14Liberty Utilities2015 to 2024358496+39%
15City of Shasta Lake2017 to 20244976+57%
16City of Lodi2022 to 2025922+137%
17City of Pasadena2016 to 20241543+183%
18Pacific Gas & Electric Co.2015 to 202496276+187%

Analyst note

Storm share stands out in California: a median 0% of SAIDI comes from major event days, rank 39 of 40. Of 19 California utilities with 1,000+ home accounts that report SAIDI, City of Azusa is lowest at 11 minutes a year and Liberty Utilities highest at 496, a 43.3 to 1 spread. The state median is 61 minutes, -39% against the U.S. median reporter. Over each utility's own record, Alameda Municipal Power improved most (58 to 9 minutes, -84%, 2020 to 2025) and Pacific Gas & Electric Co. changed the other way (96 to 276, +187%); 5 of 18 fell. Home price and outage minutes line up at r = +0.19 across 19 California utilities: price tells almost nothing here. That is California's pattern, not a cause.

Questions on California outages

How much do major storms add to California outage time?

A median 0% of SAIDI across the reporters, rank 39 of 40 states.

Which California utility has the fewest outage minutes?

City of Azusa: 11 minutes a year, SAIDI without major events, 2024.

Which California utility has the most?

Liberty Utilities: 496 minutes a year in 2024.

What is the typical SAIDI in California?

The median of 19 reporting utilities is 61 minutes, -39% on the U.S. median reporter.

Do cheaper California utilities have more outages?

Across 19 utilities r = +0.19, so the link is weak.

How much of California outage time comes from storms?

At San Diego Gas & Electric Co 55% of all-event SAIDI is major event days.

How reliable is the largest California utility?

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. serves 5,047,461 home accounts and reports 276 minutes, rank 18 of 19; weighted by customers the state figure is 164.

Do California co-ops and investor-owned utilities differ?

3 owner types report in California: Municipal 11 utilities with 1,848,878 home accounts, Political Subdivision 3 utilities with 326,303 home accounts, Investor Owned 5 utilities with 11,073,466 home accounts.

What share of California home accounts do these utilities serve?

93% of 14,217,180 accounts, 19 of 33 utilities; 5 are above the U.S. median of 99 minutes.

More on California

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19 California utilities report outage minutes to EIA. The state median is 61 minutes a year; the range runs from 11 to 496.