Do You Remember Receiving this Notification or a Similar Notification from Your Electric Utility? 
For public safety, it may be necessary for us to turn off electricity when gusty winds and dry conditions, combined with a heightened fire risk, are forecasted. This is called a “Public Safety Power Shutoff” or “PSPS.” While customers in high fire-threat areas are more likely to be affected, any of PG&E’s more than five million electric customers could have their power shut off. This is because the energy system relies on power lines working together to provide electricity across cities, counties, and regions. Even if you do not live in an area of high fire-threat – your power could be shut off for a protracted period. At the direction of the (CPUC) California Public Utilities Commission, California’s three largest energy companies, San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, and Pacific Gas and Electric, are coordinating to prepare Californians for the threat of wildfires and power outages during times of extreme weather. How Did We Get Here, Why Did you Receive these Public Safety Shutoff Notifications? California’s warming climate and continuing droughts have created ideal conditions for massive wildfires. In 2018, California’s 8,500 wildfires destroyed nearly 1.9 million acres and over 22,000 structures. Ninety-seven civilians and six firefighters lost their lives. The 2018 season’s insurance claims exceed $12 billion, making 2018 the deadliest and most destructive wildfire season in California history. PG&E is responsible for at least 1,500 fires in recent years, (including the Sonoma County wildfire of 2017 and the Camp Fire of 2018). Some of these fires were sparked by the company’s power grid infrastructure, failing utility poles and wires. Tragically, PG&E had warned customers for two days that it might shut down power on November 8, 2018, the day the Camp Fire started, due to forecasts for high winds, low humidity, and other high fire potential conditions, but never did. Adding insult to injury, PG&E has filed for bankruptcy protection in anticipation of huge legal claims. They have already started skipping scheduled payments to families whose properties were destroyed by the 2015 Butte fire, caused by a PG&E power line. This bankruptcy filing will take years to resolve – and will most likely result in higher energy bills for Californians. Continue reading because this is no longer a California issue but it is now happening everywhere. Arizona’s Utilities Follow Suit with PSPS Notifications Californians are not the only ones receiving these Public Safety Power Shutoff notifications. Both APS (Arizona Public Service Electric) and SRP (Salt River Project Power and Water) have similar policies. On May 11, 2020, SRP sent the following email titled, “Important: Outages & Fire Season”. Dear Customer, SRP cares about your safety. Now that fire season is here, we’re taking steps to better protect our customers serviced by power lines that cross high-risk fire zones. Here’s how. We’re changing how we respond to unplanned power outages. When the power goes out unexpectedly, SRP needs to make sure it’s safe before we restore power. Re-energizing a damaged power line can create sparks, which can lead to devastating wildfires in areas prone to fires. The only way to know if a line is safe is by inspecting it. For your safety, if you lose power unexpectedly during fire season, which generally runs from May to October, power will not be restored until SRP has inspected the line. This means that you may experience longer outage times than in the past. Arizonans will live with this potential for fully one-half of the calendar year, the six months from May to October. 
What Conditions Trigger a PSPS The utility companies monitor fire danger and extreme weather conditions to determine if and when they deem it necessary to turn off electric power. Note: PG&E did implement a PSPS at least once in 2019 in the wake of 2018’s devastating fires. The utilities already have the authority to turn off power lines. Their decision to do so is based on a combination of factors, including the following: 
What You Should Expect in the Event of a Public Safety Power Shutdown Although your utility company has the authority to schedule a PSPS, they also have a responsibility to you, their customer. In the event of a shutdown, you should expect the following: 
What to do in the event of a Power Outage 
For public safety, it may be necessary for us to turn off electricity when gusty winds and dry conditions, combined with a heightened fire risk, are forecasted. This is called a “Public Safety Power Shutoff” or “PSPS.” While customers in high fire-threat areas are more likely to be affected, any of PG&E’s more than five million electric customers could have their power shut off. This is because the energy system relies on power lines working together to provide electricity across cities, counties, and regions. Even if you do not live in an area of high fire-threat – your power could be shut off for a protracted period. At the direction of the (CPUC) California Public Utilities Commission, California’s three largest energy companies, San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, and Pacific Gas and Electric, are coordinating to prepare Californians for the threat of wildfires and power outages during times of extreme weather. How Did We Get Here, Why Did you Receive these Public Safety Shutoff Notifications? California’s warming climate and continuing droughts have created ideal conditions for massive wildfires. In 2018, California’s 8,500 wildfires destroyed nearly 1.9 million acres and over 22,000 structures. Ninety-seven civilians and six firefighters lost their lives. The 2018 season’s insurance claims exceed $12 billion, making 2018 the deadliest and most destructive wildfire season in California history. PG&E is responsible for at least 1,500 fires in recent years, (including the Sonoma County wildfire of 2017 and the Camp Fire of 2018). Some of these fires were sparked by the company’s power grid infrastructure, failing utility poles and wires. Tragically, PG&E had warned customers for two days that it might shut down power on November 8, 2018, the day the Camp Fire started, due to forecasts for high winds, low humidity, and other high fire potential conditions, but never did. Adding insult to injury, PG&E has filed for bankruptcy protection in anticipation of huge legal claims. They have already started skipping scheduled payments to families whose properties were destroyed by the 2015 Butte fire, caused by a PG&E power line. This bankruptcy filing will take years to resolve – and will most likely result in higher energy bills for Californians. Continue reading because this is no longer a California issue but it is now happening everywhere. Arizona’s Utilities Follow Suit with PSPS Notifications Californians are not the only ones receiving these Public Safety Power Shutoff notifications. Both APS (Arizona Public Service Electric) and SRP (Salt River Project Power and Water) have similar policies. On May 11, 2020, SRP sent the following email titled, “Important: Outages & Fire Season”. Dear Customer, SRP cares about your safety. Now that fire season is here, we’re taking steps to better protect our customers serviced by power lines that cross high-risk fire zones. Here’s how. We’re changing how we respond to unplanned power outages. When the power goes out unexpectedly, SRP needs to make sure it’s safe before we restore power. Re-energizing a damaged power line can create sparks, which can lead to devastating wildfires in areas prone to fires. The only way to know if a line is safe is by inspecting it. For your safety, if you lose power unexpectedly during fire season, which generally runs from May to October, power will not be restored until SRP has inspected the line. This means that you may experience longer outage times than in the past. Arizonans will live with this potential for fully one-half of the calendar year, the six months from May to October. What Conditions Trigger a PSPS The utility companies monitor fire danger and extreme weather conditions to determine if and when they deem it necessary to turn off electric power. Note: PG&E did implement a PSPS at least once in 2019 in the wake of 2018’s devastating fires. The utilities already have the authority to turn off power lines. Their decision to do so is based on a combination of factors, including the following: - High Wind Warnings – sustained winds above 25 mph, wind gusts in excess of 45 mph
- Extremely Low Humidity – generally 20% or below
- Dry Vegetation
- A Fire Threat to the Electric Infrastructure
- On the Ground – Real-Time Observations
- Public Safety Risks
What You Should Expect in the Event of a Public Safety Power Shutdown Although your utility company has the authority to schedule a PSPS, they also have a responsibility to you, their customer. In the event of a shutdown, you should expect the following: - An Early Warning Notification – You should receive alerts before the power is shut off
- Ongoing Updates through the media, their websites, and social media
- Safety Inspections – As SRP noted in their email – after the crisis has passed, they will inspect the lines in affected areas before power is restored
- Prepare an emergency supply kit, including food, water, flashlights, a radio, fresh batteries, and first aid supplies.
- Plan for special medical needs, such as medicines that require refrigeration, or medical devices that require power
- Have a backup plan for charging phones and tablets
- Have a hotspot to access the internet
- Know how to open your garage door manually
- Have cash on hand – ATMs and gas stations may not be available during an outage.
- If you have a generator, make sure it’s ready to operate safely.
What to do in the event of a Power Outage - Although not intuitive, first unplug or turn off appliances, equipment, and electronics to avoid damage from surges when power is restored
- But leave one lamp on to alert you when the power returns
- Use portable coolers with ice to keep food and medicines refrigerated – and keep the doors closed on your refrigerator and freezer
- Your refrigerator will only keep foods cold for about 4 hours; a full freezer will hold its temperature for about 48 hours
- Be sure to use generators, camp stoves, or charcoal grills outdoors only
- Check-in with your family, friends, and neighbors
THESE ENERGY BLACKOUTS COULD LAST FOR DAYS