Improving PSPS
We’re working year-round to lessen the impact of PSPS
Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) may be required during severe weather to help prevent a wildfire. We know that losing power disrupts lives. We’re listening to our customers and finding ways to reduce the impact of PSPS, without compromising safety.
Weather damage and other hazards
After severe weather has passed, we inspect the electric system for wind and debris-caused damage to make sure it is safe to turn the power back on. The following damages represent potential sources of wildfire outbreak had power not been shut off:
- Tree limbs across electric lines
- Tangled electric lines
- Trees that have fallen onto electric lines
- Downed utility poles
Learn about monitoring and inspections
Our commitment to improve PSPS
Doing more to help customers
To improve PSPS, we’re listening to our customers and responding to feedback by providing more information and better resources before, during and after a PSPS.
Resources for customers include:
- Additional outreach for Medical Baseline customers
- Portable batteries
- Hotel stays
- Transportation support
- Outage alerts for non-account holders
- Various backup power rebates
- Emergency information in 16 languages
- Multilingual emergency outreach
- Food replacement
Improving our PSPS program
We are continuing to evolve and improve to keep our customers safe and reduce the impacts of PSPS. There is no single solution to reducing the risks of wildfires. That is why we are:
- Continuing to upgrade the electric grid by hardening power lines to reduce wildfire risks
- Installing sectionalizing devices to narrow the scope of PSPS so fewer customers are without power
- Piloting new technologies that detect threats to the electric grid and rapidly reduce or shut off power, thus reducing the need for larger PSPS
- Installing microgrids that use generators to keep the electricity on during PSPS
Additional resources
To protect public safety, we are taking steps every day to improve the safety and reliability of our electric system.
Learn about vegetation management
Our wildfire safety program is evolving each year to reflect lessons learned and incorporate new information. Specific actions we are taking this year include:
Sectionalizing devices
Keeping communities energized during PSPS by separating the grid into smaller sections
2021 GOAL: 250 DEVICES
System hardening
Strengthening the system with stronger poles, covered lines and targeted undergrounding to reduce wildfire risk
2021 GOAL: 180 MILES HARDENED
Transmission switches
Redirecting power to customers during PSPS by installing switches on higher-voltage lines
2021 GOAL: 29 SWITCHES
Enhanced vegetation management
Exceeding state standards for minimum clearances to address vegetation posing high risk in fire-threat areas
2021 GOAL: 1,800 MILES CLEARED
Weather stations
Preventing and responding to the risk of wildfires by improving forecasting capabilities
2021 GOAL: 300 STATIONS
High-definition cameras
Installing cameras to improve our ability to monitor our service territory and proactively respond to wildfires
2021 GOAL: 135 CAMERAS
More resources
- Read about our plans in 2021 to prevent wildfires. Visit the 2021 Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Related links
Why PSPS occurs
Discover what factors go into the decision to turn off power to help prevent wildfires and find the weather tools that show if a PSPS will occur in your area.
