An estimated 21,000 customers who might be
affected by the Public Safety Power Shutoff are receiving the
initial notifications today–two days ahead of the potential
event
Fewer than 1 percent of PG&E customers
could be affected by shutoff
This afternoon, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)
notified customers in portions of three Northern Sierra and North
Valley counties about a potential Public Safety Power Shutoff
(PSPS) starting Saturday evening. Hot and dry conditions combined
with expected high wind gusts pose an increased risk for damage to
the electric system that has the potential to ignite fires in areas
with dry vegetation.
High fire-risk conditions are expected to arrive Saturday
evening, continue through Sunday evening and subside Monday
morning. PG&E will then inspect the de-energized lines to
ensure they were not damaged during the wind event. PG&E will
safely restore power in stages as quickly as possible, with the
goal of restoring most customers within 12 daylight hours, based on
once the weather “all clear” is provided.
While there is still uncertainty regarding the strength and
timing of this weather system, the shutoff is currently expected to
impact approximately 21,000 customers in portions of Butte, Plumas
and Yuba counties. This weather event will be localized to the
Sierra Foothills, so customers in the Bay Area and southern parts
of PG&E’s service area will not be impacted.
Potential Public Safety Power Shutoff: What People Should
Know
The potential PSPS event is still at least 48 hours away.
PG&E’s in-house meteorologists as well as its Wildfire Safety
Operations Center and Emergency Operations Center will continue to
monitor conditions, and additional customer notifications will be
issued as we move closer to the potential event.
Customer notifications—via text, email and automated phone
call—began late this afternoon. Customers enrolled in the company’s
Medical Baseline program who do not verify that they have received
these important safety communications will be individually visited
by a PG&E employee with a knock on their door when possible. A
primary focus will be given to customers who rely on electricity
for critical life-sustaining equipment.
Why PG&E Calls a PSPS Event
Due to forecasted extreme weather conditions, PG&E is
considering proactively turning off power for safety. Windy
conditions, like those being forecast, increase the potential for
damage and hazards to the electric infrastructure, which could
cause sparks if lines are energized. These conditions also increase
the potential for rapid fire spread.
State officials classify more than half of PG&E’s
70,000-square-mile service area in Northern and Central California
as having a high fire threat, given dry grasses and the high volume
of dead and dying trees. The state’s high-risk areas have tripled
in size in seven years.
No single factor drives a PSPS, as each situation is unique.
PG&E carefully reviews a combination of many criteria when
determining if power should be turned off for safety. These factors
generally include, but are not limited to:
- Low humidity levels, generally 20 percent and below
- Forecasted sustained winds generally above 25 mph and wind
gusts in excess of approximately 45 mph, depending on location and
site-specific conditions such as temperature, terrain and local
climate
- A Red Flag Warning declared by the National Weather
Service
- Condition of dry fuel on the ground and live vegetation
(moisture content)
- On-the-ground, real-time observations from PG&E’s Wildfire
Safety Operations Center and observations from PG&E field
crews
New for 2020: Improved Watch and
Warning Notifications
In response to customer feedback requesting more information as
soon as possible to ensure they have time to prepare for and plan
in advance of a potential PSPS event, PG&E will provide
improved Watch and Warning notifications this year.
Whenever possible, an initial Watch notification will be sent
two days in advance of a potential PSPS event. This is what is
being sent to customers today. One day before the potential PSPS
event, an additional Watch notification will go out, notifying
customers of the possibility of a PSPS event in their area based on
forecasted conditions.
A PSPS Watch will be upgraded to a Warning when forecasted
conditions show that a safety shutoff will be needed. Whenever
possible, Warning notifications will be sent approximately four to
12 hours in advance of the power being shut off.
Both Watch and Warning notifications are directly tied to the
weather forecast, which can change rapidly.
As an example of how notifications have been improved for 2020,
customers will see the date and time when power is estimated to be
shut off as well as the estimated time when their power will be
restored, all provided two days before the power goes out. Last
year, the estimated time of restoration was not provided until the
power had been turned off.
Here’s Where to Go to Learn
More
- PG&E’s emergency website (www.pge.com/pspsupdates) is now
available in 13 languages. Currently, the website is available in
English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Russian, Vietnamese, Korean,
Farsi, Arabic, Hmong, Khmer, Punjabi and Japanese. Customers will
have the opportunity to choose their language of preference for
viewing the information when visiting the website.
- Customers are encouraged to update their contact information
and indicate their preferred language for notifications by visiting
www.pge.com/mywildfirealerts or by calling 1-800-742-5000, where
in-language support is available.
- Tenants and non-account holders can sign up to receive PSPS ZIP
Code Alerts for any area where you do not have a PG&E account
by visiting www.pge.com/pspszipcodealerts.
- PG&E has launched a new tool at its online Safety Action
Center (www.safetyactioncenter.pge.com) to help customers prepare.
By using the "Make Your Own Emergency Plan" tool and answering a
few short questions, visitors to the website can compile and
organize the important information needed for a personalized family
emergency plan. This includes phone numbers, escape routes and a
family meeting location if an evacuation is necessary.
Smaller, Shorter, Smarter PSPS
events
PG&E is learning from past PSPS events, and this year will
be making events smaller in size, shorter in length and smarter for
customers.
- Smaller in Size: This year, PG&E expects to cut
restoration times in half compared to 2019, restoring power to
nearly all customers within 12 daylight hours after severe weather
has passed, by:
- Installing approximately 600 devices that limit the size of
outages so fewer communities are without power.
- Installing microgrids that use generators to keep the
electricity on.
- Placing lines underground in targeted locations.
- Using better weather monitoring technology and installing new
weather stations.
- Shorter in Length: To make events shorter, PG&E
expects to restore customers twice as fast by:
- Expanding its helicopter fleet and using new airplanes with
infrared equipment to inspect at night.
- Deploying more PG&E and contractor crews to inspect
equipment and restore service.
- Smarter for Customers: In order to make events smarter
for customers, PG&E is:
- Providing more information and resources by improving the
website bandwidth and customer notifications, opening Community
Resource Centers and working with local agencies and critical
service providers.
- Providing more assistance before, during and after a PSPS event
by working with community-based organizations to support customers
with medical needs making it easier for eligible customers to join
and stay in the Medical Baseline program.
Earlier this month, due to better weather technology and
mitigation efforts such as sectionalizing devices and temporary
generation, the Sept. 7-10 PSPS event affected approximately 50%
fewer customers than a comparable event would have in 2019.
Community Resource Centers Reflect
COVID-Safety Protocols
PG&E will open Community Resource Centers (CRCs) in every
county where a PSPS occurs. The sole purpose of a PSPS is to reduce
the risk of major wildfires during severe weather. While a PSPS is
an important wildfire safety tool, PG&E understands that losing
power disrupts lives, especially for customers sheltering-at-home
in response to COVID-19. These temporary CRCs will be open to
customers when power is out at their homes and will provide
ADA-accessible restrooms and hand-washing stations;
medical-equipment charging; Wi-Fi; bottled water; and
non-perishable snacks.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all CRCs will follow
important health and safety protocols including:
- Facial coverings and maintaining a physical distance of at
least six feet from those who are not part of the same household
will be required at all CRCs.
- Temperature checks will be administered before entering CRCs
that are located indoors.
- CRC staff will be trained in COVID-19 precautions and will
regularly sanitize surfaces and use Plexiglass barriers at
check-in.
- All CRCs will follow county and state requirements regarding
COVID-19, including limits on the number of customers permitted
indoors at any time.
Besides these health protocols, customers visiting a CRC in 2020
will experience further changes, including a different look and
feel. In addition to using existing indoor facilities, PG&E is
planning to open CRCs at outdoor, open-air sites in some locations
and use large commercial vans as CRCs in other locations. The CRC
to be used will depend on a number of factors, including input from
local and tribal leaders. Supplies also will be handed out in
grab-and-go bags at outdoor CRCs so most customers can be on their
way quickly.
How customers can prepare for a
PSPS
As part of PSPS preparedness efforts, PG&E suggests
customers:
- Plan for medical needs like medications that require
refrigeration or devices that need power.
- Identify backup charging methods for phones and keep hard
copies of emergency numbers.
- Build or restock your emergency kit with flashlights, fresh
batteries, first aid supplies and cash.
- Keep in mind family members who are elderly, younger children
and pets.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E
Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas
and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in San
Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers
some of the nation's cleanest energy to 16 million people in
Northern and Central California. For more information, visit
pge.com and pge.com/news.
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