PG&E's Powering Sleep Apnea Patients in the Home

My son Hendrix has always been an incredibly active kid. We started him in club sports at five years old, and it was clear he had a competitive streak, even as he played soccer with kids two years his senior. Regardless of what sport he's playing, Hendrix is happiest when he’s in motion.

Despite all that energy, we noticed something seemed off when he was off the field. In his day-to-day life, he seemed extremely exhausted, not just the usual post-practice exhaustion but a deeper, lingering fatigue. He’d fall asleep in the car, during movies, or even while eating a snack at the table. No matter how early we put him to bed or how many naps he took, he never seemed fully rested.

We had always joked that Hendrix snored like a little chainsaw when he was a baby, but it became less funny and more concerning over time. I started monitoring his sleep more closely, eventually pushing us to do a sleep study. That was when we finally got answers.

We learned that Hendrix had sleep apnea, a condition that affects a small percentage of children. It runs on his father’s side of the family, but finding the cause of his fatigue was still surprising. While the diagnosis brought a sense of relief, it also introduced a new layer of worry we hadn’t experienced before.

Hendrix now sleeps with a CPAP machine every night, which has made a dramatic difference in his daily life. He wakes up rested, in a good mood, and ready to take on his day. But that improvement comes with a new dependency, as his sleep and, in many ways, his health now rely on an electricity-powered machine.

We live in an area of California that’s no stranger to high winds or fire-related power shutoffs. I wondered what we would do if the power went out — my mind full of what-ifs. Would his machine still work? Could he sleep safely through the night?

While searching for answers, I came across PG&E’s resources for family members whose health or safety are at risk during power outages. That category includes people like Hendrix, who rely on electricity for medical reasons, but also covers many others. Older adults, pregnant people, those with limited English proficiency, individuals living in institutional settings, and families without reliable housing or transportation can all qualify for additional support.

One of the first programs I found was PG&E’s Medical Baseline Program. It provides extra energy at the lowest price for people who need it most and ensures you receive advance notice of a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) event. Knowing we can have more time to prepare took some pressure off our family.

I also learned about PG&E’s Portable Battery Program, where eligible customers can receive a backup power source to keep essential medical devices running during an outage. I hadn’t considered getting a portable battery for our family yet, but I quickly realized it could be another layer of protection for Hendrix.

We also used PG&E’s emergency preparedness checklist and built a kit for our family’s needs. We gathered batteries, shelf-stable food, backup cords, and anything else to help Hendrix feel safe and supported if the lights went out.

Another key resource for eligible families like ours is 211, a free, 24/7, multilingual service that can help create personalized preparedness plans before, during, and after a power outage. We saved it in our phones, so it’s always easy to reach if we ever need it — just having that number makes us feel more prepared. 

Preparedness in our home isn’t about dramatic gestures. It looks like a fully charged CPAP machine, a checklist we actually use, and a portable battery pack we know how to operate. Now, we know we’ve taken real steps to protect our son. I don’t think I’ll ever stop worrying altogether — that’s just part of being a parent. But I do sleep better now, and more importantly, so does Hendrix. Visit pge.com/afn to get started. 

About the author

Cathy Hill is an El Dorado-based mother of four who loves highlighting the best of Northern California and the Bay Area.