Cause of Public Safety Power Shutoffs


High winds can bring tree branches and debris into contact with energized lines, damage equipment and ignite a wildfire. As a result, we may need to turn off power during severe weather to help prevent wildfires. This is called a Public Safety Power Shutoff.



How PG&E determines a Public Safety Power Shutoff


In addition to accounting for the presence of trees tall enough to strike powerlines, we carefully review a combination of factors. These include :


humidityHumidity
Low humidity levels, 30% and below





high windsHigh winds
Forecasted high winds above 19 mph with gusts above 30-40 mph





fuel conditionsFuel conditions
Condition of dry material on the ground and vegetation near lines





warningRed Flag Warning
A Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service





observationsObservations
On-the-ground, real-time observations






Weather and outage information for your area


Stay safe and informed. Monitor the following tools during a Public Safety Power Shutoff outage.

7-day forecast

Seven-day Public Safety Power Shutoff forecast map

Find live weather information, including a seven-day forecast for potential shutoffs.

Current weather map

Current weather map

View current weather, including humidity, precipitation, temperature, wind speeds, wind gusts and Red Flag Warnings.

Outage Map

Outage map

Report and view current outages by area and look up address-specific outage information.


To report or view current outages, visit our outages map.

General announcement

Real-time updates

Find current information on Public Safety Power Shutoffs and learn how you may be impacted.

High-risk areas


The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has categorized regions according to their wildfire risk. Homes and businesses with powerlines in elevated (Tier 2) or extreme (Tier 3) wildfire risk areas have a higher chance of being affected by a Public Safety Power Shutoff.


CPUC Fire Map Tier 3 fire-threat areas depict areas where there is an extreme risk (including likelihood and potential impacts on people and property) of wildfires.

Tier 2 fire-threat areas depict areas where there is an elevated risk (including likelihood and potential impacts on people and property) of wildfires.

To learn more about high fire-threat areas, visit the CPUC Fire-Threat map website.

Related links

Improving Public Safety Power Shutoffs

Find out how we’re improving the shutoffs for our customers and communities.

Public Safety Power Shutoff support

Find resources before, during and after a Public Safety Power Shutoff.