Springville Businesses Fear Festival Losses Amid SCE Power Shutoff - ABC30 Fresno
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Springville businesses express concern over potential losses due to Southern California Edison (SCE) power safety shutoffs amid critical fire weather conditions.
By Christina Lopez | Saturday, October 17, 2026 3:25AM
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SPRINGVILLE, Calif. (KFSN) -- Southern California Edison took precautions against severe fire weather in Tulare and Kern Counties on Friday, causing widespread power shutoffs, including Springville, a concern for local small business owners who demanded consistency and improved communication.
According to SCE spokesperson Kathleen Dunleavy, these shutoffs are standard safety measures carried out to prevent wildfires, becoming more frequent due to increasingly dry and windy conditions.
Springville small business owner Jaime Osborn expressed her frustration with the lack of communication from SCE, sharing a panicking experience upon receiving an automated call at 3:43 a.m. on Friday.
"We got a phone call this morning at 3:43, and we panicked thinking that one of our kids was hurt. It was an automated call saying that there was gonna be a power outage, and I think they probably would have known a little bit sooner than 3:43 this morning."
The public safety power shutoff in Tulare County, initially scheduled for noon on Friday, extended until 9 p.m.
Dunleavy assured that SCE provides ample notice to customers:
"We absolutely let customers know. And that is one of the advantages of a public safety power shutoff is that customers do have some lead time."
The timing of the shutdown has left Springville, a rural community of 1,100, concerned, especially with the upcoming Apple and Arts Festival scheduled for Saturday.
Many businesses, including The Station, have been planning for months for this annual event, with as many as 4,000 attendees expected. Osborn predicts significant financial losses if the power outage persists until Sunday.
"Our little town depends on this festival. It's once a year, and we have over 150 vendors that work tirelessly to get ready for this festival. So if they can't access Wi-Fi, if they can't use Venmo, it could impact them tremendously."
Dunleavy emphasized SCE's commitment to preventing wildfire risks while offering customers various notification options, including email, text, and phone calls, to better prepare for future shutoffs.
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