When storms roll through the Eastern Sierra, Jimmy Ybarra knows how important it is to be prepared. A lifelong resident of the Bridgeport Indian Colony, Ybarra and generations of his family remain rooted in their ancestral homelands, where community ties are close and self-reliance is essential.
“We live far from everything,” said Ybarra. “The nearest big grocery store is about 65 miles away, so when we go, we really stock up.”
Inside Ybarra’s home, two refrigerator-freezer units hum steadily. He received these energy-efficient appliances last year through a partnership between his tribal community and Southern California Edison’s Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) program.
Jimmy Ybarra stands with his mother outside his grandparents’ home where he grew up in the Bridgeport Indian Colony.
Through the income-qualified program, SCE assessed 23 homes and provided ESA upgrades — including refrigerators, freezers and new evaporative coolers — tailored to each household’s needs. Bridgeport is the third tribal community to partake in ESA, following the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe and the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe.
“Working with tribal communities is really about building trust and showing up as a partner,” said Valerie Pearce, an SCE advisor who works directly on the ESA program. “Programs achieve their greatest impact when communities recognize a sincere commitment to supporting them and respecting their traditions.”
That impact became clear to Ybarra, once the new appliances were in place. “These newer models don’t have to work as hard as my older appliances did to keep food cold,” he said. “Thanks to that efficiency, I’ve seen a drop in my monthly power bill.”
Beyond saving money, the appliances also improved the way Ybarra prepares for everyday life in a remote place. Like many families in the tribal community, Ybarra’s household depends on refrigerators and freezers not just for groceries, but for storing fish and game they catch throughout the year. These traditional foods are both a cultural touchstone and a practical necessity, especially when weather events cause road closures.
In 2023, a major storm knocked out power for more than a week, causing many families in the community to lose food to spoilage. Ybarra did, too.
“You don’t forget that,” he said. “It’s not just groceries — it’s time, effort and something you worked hard for.”
After receiving the new fridges and freezers, Ybarra and his community experienced a multi-day outage when the region was impacted by multiple winter storm events and regional road closures. Yet unlike past years, Ybarra’s family didn’t lose any food. Combined with backup generators the tribe already maintains, the upgrades helped preserve what mattered most.
“These new refrigerators seal tighter, and they keep food cold longer, which really matters when the power goes out,” he said.
Efforts to bring ESA upgrades to Bridgeport grew out of SCE’s Tribal Mini‑Grant program, which provides training, materials and ongoing coordination to help tribes lead outreach for income‑qualified assistance programs.
“This was about bringing practical solutions to a community that faces unique challenges,” said Veronica Diaz, an SCE advisor in Income Qualified Programs.
The approach reflects how SCE works with tribal communities across its service area, particularly in remote regions where resilience and reliability matter as much as efficiency.
“Tribal communities like Bridgeport are balancing energy efficiency with resilience every day,” said Matthew Paruolo, an SCE Public Affairs advisor for the region. “Our job is to support solutions that respect that reality.”
For Ybarra, that partnership shows up in simple moments — checking on family, and opening a freezer after a storm and knowing what’s inside will still be there.
“It’s knowing your food is safe, your family is taken care of and you can stay in your home, no matter what happens,” Ybarra said. “That makes a big difference out here.”
For more information on SCE’s programs and ways to manage your costs, visit sce.com/billhelp.
Communications for this program are funded by ratepayers.
