For an SCE-served Southern California home, blackout preparation should include a way to enter the house when remote smart-lock controls are unavailable. A lock can still have working batteries even when its internet connection is down. Conversely, a charged home storage battery does not replace depleted batteries inside a door lock.
Preparedness information checked as of 8:02 p.m. Pacific, November 8, 2026. This article does not announce a current or scheduled blackout. Use SCE's official outage-status page for live, address-specific information. A conditional PSPS warning is not confirmation that power has been disconnected.
Separate lock power from remote access
Schlage's manufacturer support guidance says its residential electronic and smart locks operate on batteries and continue functioning during household power outages. It also cautions that communication features dependent on Wi-Fi or cellular data may be unavailable.
That distinction matters when a household member normally opens the door remotely for someone else. Check which entry methods work locally on your exact model, rather than assuming an app connection will always be available. Other brands and hardwired access systems require their own instructions.
Learn the model's backup entry method
Do not assume every smart lock has a mechanical key. For example, Schlage's Sense Pro FAQ describes a model without a keyway. It lists local keypad and Bluetooth access during power or Wi-Fi outages, plus a USB-C jumpstart port for temporary power if the lock's own batteries run out.
Those are model-specific features, not instructions for every electronic lock. Read your manual, respond to low-battery warnings and keep the specified replacement batteries or backup-access supplies available. Learn any temporary-power procedure before it is needed, following the manufacturer's directions.
Our suggested household check is to confirm that authorized residents know a local entry method and can use it. Keep access codes private. If you arrange a practice check, retain a reliable way back inside rather than risking a lockout to test a remote feature.
Put network equipment on the backup checklist
A hypothetical household might have a working battery-powered keypad while a relative's remote-unlock request fails because the router has lost power. Restoring power to the router could address that local problem, but cannot guarantee that the outside internet service is operating.
When discussing solar-plus-battery backup, identify the modem, router, any required hub and the outlets supplying them. Ask the installer which are on backed-up circuits. Keep a local entry method even if network equipment receives backup power.
Our household check-in guide can help coordinate an alternative contact plan when usual communications fail. A remote app's status should not be your only plan for household access.
Understand what home storage can support
A suitable solar-plus-battery system can support selected household equipment during an outage, subject to its design. Tesla's outage guidance explains how available charge, connected demand and solar conditions affect duration. Confirm supported circuits and power limits with the installer.
Ordinary grid-tied solar alone generally does not supply outage power. Solar recharge during a blackout needs compatible backup equipment and suitable sunlight. Neither storage capacity nor a networking connection guarantees indefinite operation.
Include access planning in the PPA discussion
A qualifying no-upfront solar-plus-battery PPA can help eligible homeowners obtain equipment and professional support without an initial system purchase. Ask what networking equipment is supported and who explains the backup configuration at handover.
The CPUC solar guide explains provider ownership and ongoing payments for solar electricity. Review qualification, rate, escalator, term, battery ownership and fees, maintenance, replacement and home-sale provisions. Remaining utility charges still matter; no upfront purchase does not mean free electricity or guaranteed savings.
Bring your essential-device list to West Coast Alternatives' homeowner journey to discuss a practical backup scope alongside clear payment terms.