South California Edison (SCE) Hotline: How to File Electricity Complaint Related to Power Supply with South California Edison (SCE)?

Southern California Edison (SCE) is one of the largest coastal, central, and southern California-based electric utility companies in the United States. It is a subsidiary of Edison International and is regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). SCE provides electricity and power supply to over 15 million people (5 million customer accounts) across a 50,000-square-mile service territory in California.

Some of the major counties where SCE provides electricity:

• Fresno
• Kern
• Madera
• Riverside
• Tuolumne
• Imperial
• Kings
• Mono
• San Bernardino
• Tulare
• Inyo
• Los Angeles
• Orange
• Santa Barbara
• Ventura

Want to complain about the electricity services of SCE? You can lodge a complaint about electricity services, power supply, or other outage/billing-related disputes with Southern California Edison. For this, dial the toll-free electricity hotline or SCE customer service number. Additionally, file a complaint online to the regional department of SCE.

Resolve these issues:

• Complaints related to power supply outages, radio or TV interference, street light outage, and failure of transformers
• Disputes with SCE account payments, extensions, or payment arrangements like payment of energy bills, arrears, wrong/erroneous bills, or other billing issues
• Concerns related to starting, canceling, or transferring electricity service, rebate on the bill, savings, or agriculture/business customer services
• Other emergency or general issues like leaning service lines, poles, broken wires, transformer sparks, etc.

Still, have dissatisfaction or not resolved? File a complaint against the electricity service provider (SCE) to California Public Utility Commission (CPUC). Further, you may proceed with Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to resolve your case.

Finally, for the violation of regulatory compliance, tariff laws, or business rules that affect the public,  you may contact or report to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Always provide facts and evidence-based information to raise your concerns with regulatory bodies.

How to File a Complaint to Southern California Edison?

Do you want to submit a complaint with SCE? Yes! Follow the complaint redressal policy of South California Edison. The redressal mechanism has 3 levels to get a resolution from the company. If your power dispute is not resolved in the initial levels, escalate to the next level.

3 Levels of complaint resolution:

• Level 1: Submit a complaint to South California Edison through:
  • Hotline or customer care number
  • Filing complaint online
• Level 2: File an electricity complaint to California Public Utility Commission (CPUC)
• Level 3: Take a Legal Action:
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
  • Small Claim Courts
  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

First, to begin an investigation related to electricity issues like power outages, billing disputes, payment or arrears, power supply (voltage, wire, poles, etc.), and other energy problems, contact the customer support of SCE.

So, in level 1, submit your issues with South California Edison through the SCE hotline, toll-free customer service number, or email, or lodge a complaint online by filling out an online form. You may also contact the local power substation or electricity distributor office of the company.

Are you dissatisfied or have unresolved complaints? Then file an informal complaint against SCE to California Public Utility Commission (CPUC). If your disputes are not resolved, prefer to file a formal complaint with the Utility Commission.

Finally, you may take legal action against South California Edison or start an arbitration with the power distribution company to resolve your electricity or consumer disputes. For more details and to lodge a complaint about electricity and power supply, read below.

SCE Electricity Customer Care Number (Hotline)

Want to complain to the customer service representative of South California Edison? For this, dial the toll-free customer care number, SCE Hotline, or call your nearest substation or electric utility provider office. Raise your concerns using the electricity helpline numbers mentioned here.

Provide the following details:

• Name of the complainant/consumer
• The type of power issue
• The location of the incident/complaint
• Description of the electricity issue with facts and SCE consumer ID (account detail)
• For the billings issues, provide relevant bill details

After the successful registration of your complaint, ask for the reference number to track the status and use it as a reference (if issues are not resolved)

Hotlines and customer care numbers of South California Edison to lodge a complaint about the outage and electricity issues:

To protect yourself from cybercrime, fraud, and scams, report immediately to South California Edison by calling the hotline at 18009907788 or emailing csinfogov@sce.com with information about the incident.

Still, dissatisfied with the final response? Have your complaints related to electricity not been resolved by SCE? First, raise your concerns online then file a complaint to California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) or your respective state public utility commission.

Other SCE Hotline

Have complaints about power theft, distribution, or business services of South California Edison? Call the dedicated hotline and customer service number of the company below.

• SCE Agricultural Customer Hotline: 18008961245
  • Description: Contact this number for assistance regarding agricultural-related issues with your energy service.
• Energy/Power Theft Hotline: 18002273901
  • Description: Report cases of electricity or power theft or suspicious activities related to energy consumption to this hotline.
• Net Energy Metering Customer Care: 18667017868
  • Description: For inquiries or support regarding SCE net energy metering, reach out to this customer care number.
• Bankruptcy – Notifying SCE of a Consumer or Business Filing: 18006554555
  • Description: If you have filed for bankruptcy as a consumer or business, use this number to inform South California Edison.
• TTY (for the hearing impaired): 18003528580
  • Description: This number is dedicated to providing assistance to customers who are hearing impaired.
• Catalina Island services hotline: 18003678851

CARE/FERA Hotline (California)

Hotline to get assistance from California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) or Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA):

Need more information? Contact customer support or visit the customer resource section of the SCE.

File a Complaint Online

As per the customer resources of Southern California Edison, electric utility customers can access the online services of SCE to resolve their billing, account, outages, and all energy services offered by the company. So, to get a faster resolution, file an electricity complaint to SCE through the online form, mobile app, or social channels.

You should provide the following details:

• Name and contact details of the complainant
• SCE account number
• Service address (residence or business), area code, and location pertaining to the dispute
• Details of the complaint with facts like the dates that charges were billed, electricity supply issues, the location of the safety concern, etc.
• If you have submitted already a complaint about this issue, provide the case/reference number, if possible.

Send a written complaint letter by Mailing or lodge a complaint online to Southern California Edison with the above information at:

After successful submission, must note down the reference/acknowledgment receipt to track the status and to resolve your disputes.

Dissatisfied or not resolved? Escalate the disputed case to CPUC (Utility Commission) with reference/case number.

Want to use other online channels and platforms to submit your power outage and electricity supply complaints to the distributor? Follow this information.

Alternative ways to lodge an energy complaint:

If you want to mail a written letter to the respective SCE office, use the address below:

Still, have dissatisfaction? Not satisfied within the given resolution period? You may file a public utility complaint to California Public Utility Commission (CPUC).

Online Electric Utility Services

Apply online for the new energy/electricity connection, move service (transfer), pay your energy bill, or other electric utility services of South California Edison by using the links below.

Want to file a claim for losses that occur due to negligence of SCE? Under the claim policy of the company, submit your claim through the online form, email, fax, or U.S. Mail.

Submit a claim online

According to the claim policy of South California Edison, if you have faced any loss that occurred due to negligence or intentional misconduct by the SCE then file a claim with information and documents to get compensated for the loss.

So, you can submit your claim online, Email, Fax, or send a filled claim form by US Mail to the Claims Department with the following information:

• Name, contact detail, and consumer account ID
• Required documents like:
  • For claims regarding property damage: repair estimates, invoices, proof of purchase
  • For personal injury claims: medical records, receipts;
  • For claims regarding lost wages: The amount of time that you were unable to work due to personal injury, verification of lost time from your employer, and payroll stubs showing your hourly or daily pay rate. The time you spend to pursue your claim is not reimbursable.
  • For business loss claims: tax records, bank statements, payroll records, revenue and expense statements, sales receipts
  • For claims regarding miscellaneous losses: Hotel and restaurant receipts, car rental receipts
  • For claims regarding food loss: itemized list detailing spoiled food, with receipts or documentation of cost.
• Fill out the claim form (residential or business) and attach the required documents and facts to initiate your claim

Send the claim form to South California Edison, submit the form online, or email it:

After receiving the claim, It will take approximately 30 days. If you need more information about the claim policy and process, visit the claims & support page to resolve your queries with the help of SCE.

Complain to California Public Utility Commission (CPUC)

South California Edison is regulated by the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC). So, if your disputes related to SCE are not resolved per your satisfaction or have an unresolved complaint then you can file a complaint against SCE to the Consumer Affairs Branch (CAB) of the PUC of California.

Note – If your electric utility services are regulated by different Public Utility Commission (PUC) then approach the respective branch with the required information of the company.

You can file your complaint online, get assistance through the CAB phone number/ CPUC hotline, or submit an informal complaint in a written letter to your nearest branch or office of the Consumer Affairs Branch, CPUC.

Provide the following details to the Utility Commission:

• Utility Provider: South California Edison (SCE)
• Name, phone number, and mailing address, and of the customer (Not the customer of record? Must be authorized to discuss the account with the SCE.)
• CE electric public utility account number
• Residence or business service address with physical location details
• Area code and phone number that pertains to the dispute
• Details of your complaint with facts and relevant evidence.
• In a written letter, provide information in chronological order of dispute like the dates that charges were billed, disputes related to electricity issues, the location of the safety concern, etc.
• Response from SCE (Utility Provider) with case/reference number (if any)
• Already submitted your complaint to Commission? Provide your original case number (if available)

Now, submit your written complaints, email, or lodge a complaint online to Consumer Affairs Branch, CPUC with the required information at:

Note – Still, have dissatisfaction or unresolved issue/complaint even after submitting an informal complaint? You can file a formal complaint (e-filing) against SCE in California Public Utility Commission.

If you need more information about e-filing and help with a formal complaint (no cost/charges), contact the CPUC’s Public Advisor’s Office (email – public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov; toll-free number – +18668498390) to understand the process.

Finally, if your disputes are not resolved then you may take legal action, or if want to resolve disputes by arbitration, use the Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism or send a notice of dispute as mentioned below.

Take Legal Action

If you want to take legal action against South California Edison then you can file a case with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) or Small Claims Court (required legal counsel).

Alternatively, the fastest way to resolve your electric utility disputes is by arbitration or mediation with the utility provider SCE. So, you can adopt an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) or send a Notice of Dispute Resolution to the legal department of the company.

1. Start an Arbitration

To start arbitration you can use Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) with the help of the California Public Utility Commission by filing a formal complaint. This is free for every consumer who accesses public utilities.

Alternative Dispute Resolution Program, CPUC:

For this, contact the CPUC under Alternative Dispute Resolution Program and start negotiation, mediation, and early neutral evaluation to resolve your electric utility dispute with SCE.

Send a Notice of Dispute:

As an alternative, you may also send a Notice of Dispute to the legal department of South California Edison with the reason for dissatisfaction with the resolution or unresolved dispute details. After this, you can negotiate with the company under the internal dispute resolution process.

Still, dissatisfied or have not resolved your dispute? Take legal action against SCE within the legal regulatory bodies or consumer courts.

2. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

If the SCE violates any regulatory laws and rules of utility services notified by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) then file a complaint to FERC with supporting evidence or facts.

Click: FERC Dispute Resolution Service (DRS)

The issue can be a violation of tariff rules, charges, or unfair business practices by South California Edison. To submit your complaint, use the following details:

3. Small Claims Court

Has your dispute not been resolved by any of the given resolution mediums? Don’t worry. In last, you can bring a lawsuit or file a case against the electric utility company South California Edison within Small Claims Court or respective legal court.

Before taking legal action against SCE, you should consult with any legal counsel or legal expert in this field. This will help you to represent your case very efficiently with minimal legal hurdles.

Resolve these issues

The issues related to electric utility services and power supply of South California Edison that can be resolved are:

1. Power Supply Outages

• Power Outages: Due to weather conditions, equipment failures, maintenance work, or accidents.
• Voltage Fluctuations: Overvoltage (increase in voltage) or Undervoltage (decrease in voltage) and fluctuations damaged electrical equipment and cause malfunctions or failures.
• Outages Due to Weather Conditions: Power outages due to high winds, heavy rainstorms, thunderstorms, and wildfires in California. Issues like falling on power lines, and disruptions in the electricity supply. Due to wildfires, damage in electrical infrastructure, or required necessitating power shutdowns for safety purposes.
• Grid Overload, Capacity Issues, and Equipment Failures: Overload affects electric components and power supply in your region. Electrical equipment, such as transformers, switches, and cables, experiences failures due to various factors, including age, wear, and tear, or inadequate maintenance
• Power Surges: Damaged sensitive electronic devices due to power surges by utility switching or faulty wiring.
• Frequency Variations: Due to power grid or faulty generators, variations in frequency is affecting the performance of electrical equipment.
• Brownouts: Caused lights to dim or electronic devices to operate at lower power, potentially affecting the functionality of electric equipment.
• Blackouts: Caused by severe weather events, equipment failures, or grid overloads.

2. Meter, Power Quality, and Electricity Services

• Faulty Meters: Faulty meters lead to inaccurate billing or other issues related to electricity measurement. Burnt or broken meter and other faults in the utility meter.
• Meter Reading Errors: Discrepancies in the metering data and to investigate and rectify the issue. Required checking the meter for faults, recalibrating it, or addressing any technical problems that may affect accurate meter readings.
• Service Quality Issues: Issues such as voltage sags, harmonics, or electrical noise affecting the performance of sensitive equipment. Other issues such as frequent power outages, voltage fluctuations, or prolonged response times for service restoration.
• Connection Issues: Problems with electrical connections that are causing intermittent power supply, flickering lights, or equipment malfunctions. Loose or damaged connections, faulty wiring, or issues with electrical panels.
• Connection and Disconnection Problems: Regarding the connection or disconnection of electricity services. Delays or errors in setting up new connections, disagreements over disconnection notices, or disputes related to reconnection after payment or repair.

3. Energy Bills, Payments, and Rebate

• Billing Errors: Miscalculated or incorrect billing amounts in energy bills. Arrears, rebate, and payment issues with SCE.
• Payment: Failure of bill payments online, digital transaction issues, and other billing settlement dispute problems.
• Electricity Bill Disputes: Overcharged or concerns about the accuracy of the billing information and disagreements over meter readings, tariff rates, or service charges.
• Tariff and Rate Disputes: Matters related to electricity tariff rates set by the SCE. Disagreements over the fairness of rates, the calculation methodology, or the transparency of rate-setting processes.
• Renewable Energy Integration: Matters such as feed-in tariffs, net metering policies, or technical challenges associated with grid stability and management.

4. Safety and Other Power Issues

• Safety Concerns: Report safety concerns to the utility company SCE. Issues such as exposed/down wiring, damaged utility poles, or malfunctioning electrical equipment.
• Vegetation Interference: Trees and bushes, near power lines that pose a risk of contact, especially during storms or strong winds. Request to trim or remove vegetation that can cause power outages when branches or trees come into contact with power lines.
• Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS): Request or contact for power outage under Public Safety Power Shutoffs to protect yourself from dangerous incidents related to electricity supply.
• Grid Maintenance and Upgrades: Request for maintenance of power grids or upgradation if required in your region for your safety concerns.
• Human Error and Accidents: Report accidents due to contact of humans with the power grid or unauthorized digging near underground power lines can also lead to dangerous situations or power outages.

Frequently Asked Questions about South California Edison

Q. What is the customer service number of SCE to submit an electric/power complaint?
A. Dial the power outage hotline 18006111911 or SCE customer care number 18006554555 to raise your concerns about electric utility services. To report online scams/fraud or cybercrime, email SCE at  csinfogov@sce.com as soon as possible.

Q. What can I do if my complaints are not resolved by customer service of South California Edison?
A. First, try to contact the senior customer service of SCE. If your electric utility complaints are not resolved or dissatisfied with the response, file an informal or formal complaint to California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) with details of the dispute and relevant facts.

Q. Where can I approach if my submitted complaint is not resolved or I’m not satisfied with the final response of CPUC against SCE?
A. In these conditions:

• First, you can start arbitration by Alternative Dispute Resolution with the help of the CPUC ADR program or by sending a Notice of Dispute to SCE. Also, you may file a formal complaint against Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to resolve your dispute under Dispute Resolution Service (DRS).
• Second, you may take legal action against SCE within Small Claims Court or the respective judicial body by bringing a lawsuit with the help of your legal counsel. Before this, must take advice from a legal expert to know all available alternatives to negotiate or resolve your disputed case.

Q. How can I track the power outage in my area?
A. You can get an alert for the power outage or “check outage status” of the energy supply in your region. If the supply is not released after the given threshold time, report the outage online to SCE or its nearest regional office.

Reference

• Customer service – SCE
• About – South California Edison
• Utility complaints – CPUC (California Public Utility Commission)
• FAQs – FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)