For an SCE-served Southern California home, keep a small set of battery instructions and service contacts accessible without relying on an online account. A waterproof document kit can help household members find the right information when an outage disrupts their usual routine.
This is a preparedness explainer, not notice of a specific blackout. Sources were checked November 5, 2026, at approximately 8:06 p.m. Pacific. For current, address-specific status, use SCE’s official outage map; this article is not a live alert service.
Protect the information you may need quickly
In its November 4 preparedness guidance, SCE recommends storing important documents in a waterproof container. The same guidance encourages households to prepare supplies and maintain current alert contact information.
Apply that practical document-storage advice to your solar-and-battery system. The checklist below is a suggested household organization method, not an SCE application requirement or a substitute for manufacturer instructions.
Build a short battery reference packet
Ask your installer to help assemble:
- The equipment make and model, installation address and service contact.
- A clear list of the circuits supported during an outage.
- The manufacturer’s homeowner operating instructions and explanation of common alerts.
- The provider’s approved guidance for checking charge and obtaining support.
- Relevant warranty or PPA service provisions and the place where the complete agreement is stored.
Keep documents dated so an older circuit list is not mistaken for the current design after equipment changes. Store sensitive account details securely, and tell trusted household members where the packet is kept. Avoid placing passwords on a publicly visible equipment label.
For example, suppose the person who normally uses the battery app is away when another household member needs help. A current printed circuit list and service number provide a starting point without asking that person to remember the installation details. They do not authorize anyone to open electrical enclosures or improvise a reset procedure.
Our household check-in guide covers the separate question of communicating with family during an interruption.
Keep live readings separate from saved instructions
A printed packet can explain how to find information; it cannot show the battery’s current charge or the utility’s latest restoration status. Treat an old screenshot as a dated record, not a live reading.
PG&E’s general battery guidance explains that supported circuits, connected demand, battery size and available charge affect backup capability. These equipment principles also apply when planning an SCE installation. Ask your installer for load and duration scenarios based on your actual equipment, including what to do if essential needs exceed its capability.
Ordinary grid-tied solar alone generally does not provide outage power. Compatible backup equipment is required, solar replenishment depends on sunlight and operating conditions, and stored energy is finite. Having documentation improves readiness but does not extend battery capacity or guarantee uninterrupted service.
Include documentation and support in the PPA scope
A qualifying no-upfront solar-plus-battery PPA can help eligible homeowners access useful equipment while preserving cash. Ask whether the proposal includes homeowner training, current circuit documentation and a clear service process.
The CPUC solar guide explains that the provider owns the solar system and charges for its generated electricity. Review ongoing payments, rate, escalator, term, battery ownership and fees, maintenance and home-sale provisions, plus remaining utility charges. No upfront purchase does not mean free electricity or guaranteed savings.
Bring your essential-load list and proposed agreement to the West Coast Alternatives homeowner journey. Request an offer that makes both backup responsibilities and ongoing costs easy to find before an outage occurs.