PG&E's Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS)

No PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) Events Are Scheduled For Lafayette

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As part of its Community Wildfire Safety Program, PG&E may implement precautionary measures to reduce the risk of wildfire. During severe weather, high winds can cause tree branches or debris to contact energized electric lines, which could damage electrical equipment and cause a wildfire. To prevent such fires, PG&E may need to proactively turn off power for public safety.  This is called a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). Once the severe weather has passed, PG&E then needs to inspect the system and repair any damage before turning the power back on.

A PSPS could affect any of PG&E's customers or other utilities (such as MCE Clean Energy) that rely on PG&E's transmission lines. Portions of Lamorinda are in PG&E’s High Fire-Risk Area; these areas have the highest likelihood of a wildfire impacting people and property, and where additional action may be necessary to reduce wildfire risk.

PG&E intends to provide customers with 48 hours advanced notice via phone call, text, or email. Conditions can change quickly, shifting the shutoff timing or the number of affected customers. Because of this, in some cases PG&E may not send the first notification until the same day your power is shut off. After the extreme weather event has passed, PG&E will conduct inspections and any necessary repairs before power can be restored. Power could be turned off for a few hours, or a few days depending on the duration and severity of the weather and if wildfire or other damage occurred. This means you should plan to be self-sustaining for at least 5 days, including provisions for food, water, emergency power and medical needs. 

Read the PSPS overview or download the PSPS Factsheet (PDF). If English is not your preferred language, see PSPS resources in other languages.

1. Stay up to date: View outages and restoration times at pge.com/outage.
2. Update your contact information with PG&E to received outage and restoration notifications at pge.com/myalerts.
3. Explore backup power options: Determine the right solutions for your household. More information at pge.com/backuppower.

In addition, we encourage all Lafayette residents to:

1. Listen to alerts from local authorities or news outlets about if a “red flag warning” has been issued by the National Weather Service for our area. A Red Flag Warning means warm temperatures, very low humidity, and stronger winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger. During these times, you should take extra precautions to avoid accidentally starting a fire, as well as be ready to evacuate if a wildfire does occur in your area.
2. Read the Lamorinda Residents Guide to Wildfire Preparedness & Evacuation for more information on red flag warning and how to get ready, stay informed, evacuate and recover in case of a wildfire.
3. Note: Although the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services Community Warning System (CWS) would not be used to inform residents about a PSPS, you are encouraged to register for CWS. CWS it only used when mass notifications need to be made i.e. for evacuations during wildfire or shelter in place during an incident that requires people stay inside.

Every household needs to be prepared for the possibility of being without power for up to 5 days. We have provided resources below to help you and your family understand PSPS and to prepare for power outages.

For the latest public safety and emergency announcements, tune into the City of Lafayette’s Community Information and Emergency Radio Station AM 1670.

To continue to support customers before, during and after PSPS events, PG&E is providing:

• Customer notifications – PG&E will send alerts by email, phone call or text as early as possible, including the estimated power shut off and power restoration times, so customers can be ready for a PSPS.
• Address Alerts - Allows customers and non-account holders to receive notifications about PSPS events for any address they care about.
• Generator and Battery Rebate Program - Rebates for eligible customers to purchase a qualifying generator or battery. Limited to customers in high fire-threat areas that reply on well water, or are enrolled in the Medical Baseline program, or are a small/micro non-critical care essential business.
• Self-Generation Incentive Program - Provides customers rebates for battery storage and renewable generation.
• Portable Battery Program - Supporting eligible customers with fully subsidized portable battery solutions. Limited to income-qualified Medical Baseline Customers in in high fire-threat areas.
• Additional Support for Customers with Medical and Independent Living Needs – See local partners helping to further support customers with access and functional needs.
• Community Resources Centers - During PSPS outages, PG&E may temporarily open CRCs where customers can access resources (such as basic medical equipment charging, device charging, Wi-Fi as well as up-to-date information).
• Live weather information - Live weather information, including a 7-day PSPS potential lookahead and images from PG&E's high-definition cameras deployed in high fire-threat areas.
• Partnership with 211 – Free and confidential support and access to resources during periods of critical need via calls to 211 or, in Contra Costa County, text “HOPE” to 20121. Available around the clock (24/7) in multiple languages.
• Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS): Some PG&E powerlines now have equipment that allows them to turn off power within one-tenth of a second if a tree branch or other object strikes the line.By quickly and automatically shutting off power when there is a problem can help stop wildfires before they have a chance to start. EPSS started in late 2021 and is being used in Lamorinda’s high fire threat areas.
• Community Wildfire Safety Program - Overview of PG&E’s program

• PG&E Safety Action Center
• PG&E Plan to Be Without Electricity
• PG&E Medical Baseline Program
• PG&E Emergency Supply Kit Checklist
• PG&E Electric Generator Safety
• PG&E Lamorinda Local Government Forum  – March 2022
• EBMUD PSPS Water Service Preparations – Summary of EBMUD’s action plan should their facilities lose power.
• City of Lafayette PSPS Preparedness Standings (2019) – Outlines the City’s process to respond to a multi-day PSPS power outage
• Contra Costa County Emergency Services: Preparing for a Power Outage
• FEMA Power Outage Information Sheet
• PSPS-The Power of Being Prepared
• How To Keep Food Safe During a Power Outage
• Guide for Food Facilities & Pool/Spa Operators from Contra Costa Environmental Health
• Tips for Communicating During an Emergency

1. Lamorinda Residents Guide to Wildfire Preparedness & Evacuation
2. City of Lafayette Wildfire Evacuation Plan (PDF Booklet, 2018)
3. CPUC Fire-Threat Maps & the High Fire-Threat District Maps (Website)
4. CPUC High Fire-Threat District Map (PDF, March 2021)
5. CAL Fire - Wildfire Preparedness

Questions regarding PG&E's Public Safety Power Shutoff program can be directed to PG&E's East Bay Local Government Affairs Representative, Sarah Yoell. For information regarding the City of Lafayette's preparations, please contact the City's Communications Analyst, Suzanne Iarla, via email or telephone 925-299-3241.