2019-Oct-09: PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS)
Update: 11-Oct-2019 10:00
As of the 07:30 conference call with PG&E, 94% of customers in Santa Clara County have been restored. Looking at the PG&E Outage Map web page, it looks like most of the remaining areas are due to be restored by 13:00 today. Of course, that can change. But it looks like we're mostly past this one!
Update: 09-Oct-2019 14:00
Due to changes in the weather forecast, PG&E has pushed back the de-energization timeframe. The current projected times are:
- De-energization (shutting off of power) in the Santa Clara County area is expected to start at approximately 2000 hours and take until 2200 hours to complete.
- The weather causing the PSPS is expected to last until noon on 10/10.
- Starting at noon on 10/10, PG&E can begin assessing damage, making repairs, and re-energizing.
Update: 09-Oct-2019 02:22
PG&E has announced a Public Safety Power Shutoff that is expected to impact about 38,250 customers in Santa Clara County including 1,086 Medical Baseline Customers.*
According to PG&E, customers in the following cities are likely be impacted:
San Jose, Morgan Hill, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Redwood Estates, Milpitas, Sunnyvale, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Coyote, Gilroy, Mount Hamilton, Palo Alto, Holy City
The shutoff is expected to begin on Wednesday, October 9 at 11:00 a.m. and continue throughout the Red Flag Weather Conditions, which are forecast for a 24-hour duration. At this time, PG&E does not know when power will be restored, but the outage could last for up to seven days.
Expected De-Energization |
Duration of Red Flag Warning Weather Conditions |
Re-Energization |
Wed., 10/9/19, 11:00AM - 12:00PM |
24 hours duration |
To be determined |
During a power shutoff, PG&E encourages residents to take these steps:
- Unplug or turn off appliances, equipment, and electronics to avoid damage caused by surges when the power is restored.
- Leave a single lamp on to alert you when the power returns. Then turn your appliances on one at a time.
- Typically, your refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours and a full freezer will keep its temperature for about 48 hours--if the freezer and refrigerator doors are kept closed. Consider using coolers with ice to keep food cold and safe.
- Be sure to use generators, camp stoves or charcoal grills outdoors only. Do not use a gas stove for heat.
- Check on your neighbors.
Resources that Are Available to You During the Power Shutoff:
- For dangerous situations that threaten life or safety, call 9-1-1.
- To access social services such as food, shelter, counseling (and more), call 2-1-1.
- Resource centers that offer charging stations for phones and plug-in medical devices, drinking water, air conditioning and other amenities:
- PG&E will provide a Customer Resource Center at the Avaya Stadium, at 1123 Coleman Avenue, San Jose 95110 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. beginning on Wednesday, 10/9/2019.
- The City of San Jose will open three City Resource Centers starting Wednesday, October 9 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for the duration of the event. Spanish and Vietnamese interpretation will be available. Sheltering and medical care will not be provided.
- Camden Community Center, 3369 Union Ave, San Jose, 95124
- Mayfair Community Center, 2039 Kammerer Ave, San Jose, 95116
- Southside Community Center, 5585 Cottle Rd, San Jose, 95123
For more information on what to do during and after a Public Safety Power Shutoff, visit: https://www.sccgov.org/sites/oes/Pages/home.aspx
*The Medical Baseline Program, also known as Medical Baseline Allowance, is an assistance program for residential customers who have special energy needs due to qualifying medical conditions. The program includes two different kinds of help: 1) A lower rate on your monthly energy bill, 2) Extra notifications in advance of a Public Safety Power Shutoff. Visit http://bit.ly/Med-Base to learn more about this program.
Key Resources:
Once the outages start, they will appear on the PG&E Electrical Outages map.
Update: 08-Oct-2019 14:55
The PG&E Forecast web page (link below) now shows a PSPS "Warning" for Wednesday and Thursday. By their definition, a "Warning" is for when the event is "probable".
The anticipated start time is listed as 04:00 on Wednesday, Oct 9th. That time is based on the weather forecast and could change if the weather forecast changes (such as if the anticipated winds pick up sooner).
Initial Information: 07-Oct-2019
Background:
PG&E has announced a possible Power Safety Power Shutoff incident that is expected to affect up to 29 counties in the State of California, including Santa Clara County. Potential impacts in Santa Clara County include approximately 38,000 customers, including 1,000 medical baseline customers, affected by a power shutoff starting at midnight Wednesday, October 9 and continuing throughout the day on Wednesday and possibly longer. Residents could be without power for up to seven days. They predict at this time that the greatest impacts would likely be in the Diablo Range in the eastern part of the county.
PG&E attributes the planned PSPS to weather conditions and high fire risk. The National Weather Service (NWS) predicts gusty offshore winds, Wednesday through early Thursday, along with very low daytime minimum humidity, and poor humidity recoveries at night. The NWS indicated that this will be the strongest offshore wind event so far this season.
Key Messages for Public:
- PG&E is predicting a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) that may impact portions of Santa Clara County.
- Up to 38,000 customers, including 1,000 Medical Baseline customers could be impacted.
- The expected timeline for the PSPS is Wednesday, October 9, as early as 12:00 a.m. The power shutoff could last up to seven days – For more details: PG&E press release
- As part of PSPS preparedness efforts, PG&E is asking customers to:
- Update their contact information at pge.com/mywildfirealerts or by calling 1-866-743-6589 during normal business hours. PG&E will use this information to alert customers through automated calls, texts, and emails, when possible, prior to, and during, a Public Safety Power Shutoff.
- Plan for medical needs like medications that require refrigeration or devices that need power.
- Identify backup charging methods for phones and keep hard copies of emergency numbers.
- Build or restock your emergency kit with flashlights, fresh batteries, first aid supplies and cash.
- Keep in mind family members who are elderly, younger children and pets. Information and tips including a safety plan checklist are available at pge.com/wildfiresafety.
- Learn more about wildfire risk and what to do before, during and after an emergency to keep your family safe at PG&E's Safety Action Center.
- For more information on what to do before and during a Public Safety Power Shutoff, visit: https://www.pge.com/en_US/safety/emergency-preparedness/natural-disaster/wildfires/outage-readiness.page
Key Resources:
Key Messages to Amateur Radio Operators:
- Top off your vehicle and generator (if you have one) and obtain cash
- Gas pumps and ATM machines don't work without power
- Charge your batteries (and backup batteries) and test your radios
- Follow the above guidance from PG&E regarding what to do before and during a Public Safety Power Shutoff
- Monitor your local jurisdiction's web page(s) and the SCCo ARES/RACES web page for more information
- Follow your local jurisdiction's amateur radio procedures for alerts and activations
- Mutual Aid Communicators: If an activation occurs, monitor the Resource Net for more information