PG&E’s Weather Webpage Provides Customers with Latest Meteorological Information in their Community, Gauges Public Safety Power Shutoff Potential
October 07 2021 - 1:00PM
Business Wire
As part of its efforts to prepare customers and communities for
the growing threat of wildfires, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
(PG&E) is providing detailed, localized weather forecasts for
customers from its robust weather webpage on pge.com.
The weather webpage offers a seven-day forecast updated daily by
a PG&E meteorologist or fire scientist that indicates the
potential need to call a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS).
PG&E monitors conditions across the system and evaluates
whether to turn off power during severe weather to help prevent
wildfires.
The PG&E 7-Day PSPS Potential provides an instantaneous
sense of what’s going on and what’s ahead. The forecast encompasses
all counties in PG&E’s service area and four levels of PSPS
potential:
- Not Expected – Conditions that generally warrant a PSPS
event are not planned at this time.
- Elevated – An upcoming event (a period of gusty winds,
dry conditions, heightened risk) is being monitored for an
increased potential of a PSPS event.
- PSPS Watch – The company Emergency Operations Center
(EOC) is activated for a reasonable chance of executing a PSPS for
public safety in a given county due to a combination of adverse
weather and dry fuel conditions. A PSPS Watch is typically only
issued within 72 hours before the anticipated start of an
event.
- PSPS Warning – The company Emergency Operations Center
(EOC) is activated and customers in areas being considered for a
PSPS have been or are being notified. This level indicates
execution of a PSPS is probable given the latest forecast of
weather and fuels and/or observed conditions. PSPS is typically
executed in smaller and more targeted areas than across an entire
county. This level does not guarantee execution of a PSPS as
conditions and forecasts may change.
Using the webpage, PG&E customers will also be able to check
humidity, precipitation, temperatures, wind speeds and wind gusts
across 70,000 square miles of Northern and Central California.
Customers will also be able to check for local conditions from the
closest weather station in their community.
Additionally, the webpage shows whether the National Weather
Service has called a Red Flag Warning. It offers access to the
thousands of weather stations and dozens of high-definition cameras
in use by PG&E. Also included is a daily sunrise and sunset
timetable.
PSPS Criteria
PG&E initiates a PSPS when the weather forecast is for such
severe weather that people’s safety, lives, homes and businesses
may be in danger of wildfires. As each weather situation is unique,
PG&E carefully reviews a combination of factors when deciding
if power must be turned off. These factors include:
- Low humidity levels, generally 30% and below.
- A forecast of high winds, particularly sustained winds above 19
miles per hour and wind gusts above 30-40 miles per hour.
- Condition of dry material on the ground and low moisture
content of vegetation.
- A Red Flag Warning declared by the National Weather
Service.
- Real-time ground observations from PG&E’s Wildfire Safety
Operations Center and from PG&E crews working across the
service territory.
“We are continuing to build our network of weather stations and
cameras to provide the clearest picture about upcoming severe
weather events,” said PG&E Meteorologist Scott Strenfel. “The
safety of our customers and communities is our most important
responsibility. As we continue to work year-round and nonstop to
improve our PSPS Program, we’re expanding our meteorological
forecasting capabilities to help us prevent and respond to the risk
of wildfires.”
This year, PG&E’s decision-making process is also evolving
to account for the presence of trees tall enough to strike power
lines when determining if a PSPS is necessary.
Address Alerts
This year, PG&E created a new tool to keep non-account
holders informed about PSPS outages. The tool, known as Address
Alerts, can notify anyone about a PSPS at any address.
Address Alerts might be right for you if:
- You want to know about a PSPS at your home, work, school or
other important location
- You are a tenant and do not have a PG&E account
- You need to stay informed about a PSPS affecting a friend or
loved one
- Multiple members of your household want to be notified
Customers and non-account holders interested in receiving
updates on PSPS events for an address where they do not receive a
bill can submit one or more addresses.
If you are a customer, you will automatically receive PSPS
notifications for the home or business associated with your
PG&E account. To update your contact info, visit
pge.com/mywildfirealerts or call 1-866-743-6589.
To sign up for Address Alerts, visit pge.com/addressalerts.
For information about fire conditions in California, go to CAL
FIRE’s website, fire.ca.gov. For more information about the
Community Wildfire Safety Program, including links to update
contact information, resources for PSPS outages and a schedule of
upcoming regional open houses and webinars, visit PG&E’s
website at pge.com/wildfiresafety.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E
Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric
utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square
miles in Northern and Central California. For more information,
visit pge.com and pge.com/news.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211007005803/en/
MEDIA RELATIONS: 415-973-5930
PG&E (NYSE:PCG)
Historical Stock Chart
From Aug 2024 to Sep 2024
PG&E (NYSE:PCG)
Historical Stock Chart
From Sep 2023 to Sep 2024