Gas services halted for 54 homes in Rancho Palos Verdes due to land shifts

Southern California Gas Co. has announced the indefinite suspension of natural gas services to 54 homes in Rancho Palos Verdes due to ongoing land movement. This decision affects 29 homes in the Seaview neighborhood and 25 homes in the Portuguese Bend Beach Club area, starting at 3 p.m. on Friday. The shutoff follows a gas line break on Exultant Drive on August 30 and new geological hazard assessments that indicated unsafe conditions for continued service. The land movement has also impacted the gas line on Palos Verdes Drive South, which serves the Portuguese Bend Beach Club community. SoCalGas has stated that it cannot predict when service will be safely restored. Affected residents are advised against attempting to restore service themselves or using alternative fuels, as this poses safety risks. The Portuguese Bend neighborhood remains under a city-issued evacuation warning, while no such advisories are currently in place for Seaview or the Portuguese Bend Beach Club. The gas service interruptions add to the challenges faced by residents in the area, which has already seen power shutoffs affecting over 200 homes due to wildfire risks associated with shifting earth. City officials have indicated that residents can choose to stay in their homes without gas or electricity, but they should be prepared for potential further shutoffs. Southern California Edison is also considering power shutoffs for the Portuguese Bend Beach Club area, depending on the evolving land movement conditions.