Edison cutbacks leave residents without power By Kimberly Trone The Desert Sun January 22, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The seriousness of California’s energy woes came home to roost Sunday when emergency services responded to several Palm Springs families living without electricity since Friday.

“If this is an example of how things are going to operate in the future, people need to start preparing for power outages the same as they would a natural disaster,” warned Battalion Chief James MacLean of the Palm Springs Fire Department.

Police, fire and Red Cross officials were summoned at 2 p.m. to the Golf Club Condominiums on Golf Club Drive.

Power had been cut off since Friday, when a transformer near Cree Road and Jones Road exploded.

Although Southern California Edison crews restored power to most of the 1,368 affected customers Friday, they were forced off the job at quitting time. Edison officials said the company could not pay overtime.

The 30-unit complex and 11 businesses were left without power.

Edison expects power to be restored today.

Families and elderly residents were waiting for Red Cross to return late Sunday with blankets and emergency food supplies.

“It’s a very political and financial situation and everybody has had to suffer,” resident Jerry Aquino said.

Edison officials contacted Sunday night said they did not know enough about the problem to comment.

Businesses also were hurt by the lack of power, said Chuck Beckley, owner of Beckley’s Villa Motel. “It has disrupted everything,” he said. “This was supposed to be our grand opening weekend of the season.”

Instead, the 12-room motel remained a darkened ghost on East Palm Canyon Drive.

MacLean said Edison should have provided for victims of the power failure.

“Arrangements should have been made,” he said. “It’s a shame it’s like this.”

-- PHO (owennos@bigfoot.com), January 22, 2001