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America's 'richest retirement town' is in uproar after dozens of residents had their shut off without warning - and locals fear electricity is next
A city dubbed America's richest retirement town is in uproar after residents had their gas shut off due to landslides - and they fear their electricity will be gone next.
The 135 homes in Ranchos Palos Verdes, California, had their gas lines shut down on Monday due to the 'accelerated land movements' causing 'significant strain on SoCalGas' infrastructure,' the gas company said in a press release.
Days later, residents were told by the Southern California Edison (SCE) that 'if conditions warrant,' they may lose their electricity too, a letter read.
'Over the past 18 months, there has been considerable land movement putting the utilities serving the area and your property at risk,' the letter said. 'SCE will continue to serve your community as long as it is safe to do so.'
'It’s like a domino effect,' Portuguese Bend resident, Mike Hong, 65, told The Los Angeles Times. 'This could be devastating for us, financially and emotionally.'
The 135 homes in Ranchos Palos Verdes, California, (pictured) had their gas lines shut down on Monday due to the 'accelerated land movements' causing 'significant strain on SoCalGas' infrastructure'
Days later, residents were told by the Southern California Edison (SCE) that 'if conditions warrant,' they may lose their electricity too. 'It’s like a domino effect,' Portuguese Bend resident, Mike Hong, 65, said
Hong, like many residents in the affected Portuguese Bend area, doesn't want to leave their homes and believes the utility companies are 'abandoning' them.
'It’s not a private for-profit corporation, it’s a utility company,' Hong said. 'Their job is to serve the whole community. Gas and especially electricity and even more so water, if they go, then pretty much they’re abandoning our properties.'
Hong and his wife are currently cooking on a hot plate designed to be used in their camper after their gas was cut off. They're also looking to switch their appliances to propane, but he's quickly discovering it's not a cheap or easy process.
'Had we had some longer forewarning, we would have been able to do it,' he told The Times. 'Now, after the fact, we’re trying to catch up.'
Several residents in the area are also considering investing in solar power - another expensive fix - just to be able to hopefully stay in their homes long-term.
Although the electricity company doesn't currently have any immediate plans to shut off the electric, it has cited reasons why it would consider it in the future, including landslides 'causing power poles to lean and power lines to fail'
They 'encourage' residents to 'begin planning for the potential suspension of electric service'
Although the electricity company doesn't currently have any immediate plans to shut off the electric, it has cited reasons why it would consider it in the future, including landslides 'causing power poles to lean and power lines to fail,' it said in the letter.
'We recognize the impact the potential of discontinued service has, and we appreciate your understanding. We will make every effort to provide timely communications regarding any impact to your service, however, the dynamic conditions in the area may not allow for advance notification.
'Because of this, customers in the area are encouraged to begin planning for the potential suspension of electric service,' the letter read.
Rancho Palos Verdes’ City Manager, Ara Mihranian, pointed out that some essential functions need electricity in the area to function, including a leak detection system.
'So that’s a concern, especially in the event of emergencies,' she told The Times.
'Their job is to serve the whole community. Gas and especially electricity and even more so water, if they go, then pretty much they’re abandoning our properties,' Hong added of the situation
Ranchos Palos Verdes was determined to be the richest retirement town. The median household income in the town, which is a suburb of Los Angeles, is $166,747
She said the town would need to order generators in order to continue in case electricity is pulled.
Hong is worried it won't just be electric next, but potentially water and he doesn't know how his family would survive without it.
'When the water goes out then it’s game over,' he said.
The California Water Service told The Times they don't have any plans to yank service from residents and that they 'continue to repair main leaks that occur due to the land movement.'
Huma Ahmed, who lives in the Seaview neighborhood and hasn't yet lost gas, said she's worried it's 'only a matter of time' before it affects her area too.
'But when does that go into effect is the question?' the 50-year-old questioned. 'We now need to have a Plan B.... We’re thinking about it.'
Ranchos Palos Verdes was determined to be the richest retirement town by CNBC.
The median household income in the town, which is a suburb of Los Angeles, is $166,747, according to the outlet.
Around 11,000 - or 26 percent - of the town are made up by those over 65.