For a Southern California Edison household, an outage plan should include a place to save food-loss records as well as a plan to keep refrigeration running. If food is lost, an organized record can support a claim; it does not establish that SCE owes reimbursement.
Sources checked October 16, 2026, at 8:05 p.m. Pacific. This is preparedness guidance, not an announcement of a current blackout. Check your address in SCE’s Outage Center for live utility status.
What records does SCE request?
SCE’s claims page, under “All Other Claims,” requests an itemized spoiled-food list and receipts or other cost documentation. Keep originals and copies of what you submit. Its online process accepts supporting images and files; prepare those before starting.
SCE evaluates claims individually, including whether negligence caused the loss. Its policy says many losses caused by conditions beyond its control, including weather, are not its responsibility. Filing a claim is therefore not a promise of payment. The stated goal of deciding most claims within 30 days is also not a guaranteed deadline.
Make the record useful without delaying safety
Create a household folder before an interruption. Our suggested organization is:
- Save grocery receipts or digital order records when available.
- Record when you first noticed the interruption and when power returned to the affected appliance; identify estimates as estimates.
- Keep utility notices separate from battery-app screenshots.
- List the food actually lost, quantities and the cost evidence for each entry.
For example, a hypothetical grocery receipt might include both refrigerated food and shelf-stable supplies. Mark the specific lost items instead of treating the entire shopping total as the loss. A battery screenshot showing charge does not establish the temperature inside a refrigerator.
SCE’s outage tips advise keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed and never tasting food to determine safety. Collecting paperwork should not delay safe food handling. For an alternative meal plan, see our guide to keeping outdoor fuel equipment outside.
Give refrigeration a defined backup plan
A properly configured solar-plus-battery system can help keep selected refrigeration circuits powered. Confirm that both the kitchen refrigerator and any separate freezer are included; equipment elsewhere in the house may use a different circuit.
PG&E’s general battery guidance explains that backup covers designated circuits and duration depends on storage, energy use and solar conditions. Those equipment principles also apply to SCE homes. Ordinary grid-tied solar alone generally does not supply outage power: compatible backup equipment must safely isolate the home from the grid.
Ask the installer to check starting demand, available battery energy, reserve settings and other simultaneous loads. Solar recharging depends on sunlight and compatible operating equipment. Neither a full battery nor a working light guarantees uninterrupted refrigeration through an extended outage.
Include support and costs in the proposal
A qualifying no-upfront solar-plus-battery PPA can make generation and backup storage accessible without an upfront equipment purchase, subject to the actual offer and property approval. The CPUC solar guide explains that the provider owns the solar system and charges for its electricity.
Review ongoing payments, rate increases, contract length, battery ownership and fees, maintenance, transfer terms and remaining utility charges. Savings and food-loss protection are not guaranteed. Bring your refrigeration circuit list to a West Coast Alternatives consultation to discuss backup coverage and clear PPA terms.