As the 2018 fire season gets into full swing in California, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is reaching out to customers who live in or near high fire-threat areas to let them know that, if extreme fire danger conditions occur, it may be necessary for PG&E to temporarily turn off power to their neighborhood or community for safety.
Proactively turning off power for public safety is one part of PG&E’s Community Wildfire Safety Program, which implements additional precautionary measures intended to reduce wildfire threats and strengthen communities for the future. PG&E would only turn off power in the interest of public safety and as a last resort during extreme weather conditions.
“PG&E has a plan to deal with the growing threat of extreme weather and wildfires that our state has been experiencing,” said Kevin Dasso, PG&E vice president of Electric Asset Management. “We want our customers to have plans, too. That is why we are reaching out now to help our customers and communities take steps to prepare for wildfire season and possible power outages in the name of public safety.”
- Learn whether home or business is in or near a high fire-threat area on the CPUC High Fire-Threat District map. Customers also can visit pge.com/wildfiresafety to enter their address and find out if their home or business is served by an electric line that may be turned off for safety during high wildfire threats.
- Update 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 in advance of turning off their electric service for safety, when and where possible.
- Prepare for and practice an emergency plan to keep themselves, their families and/or employees emergency-ready and safe during an outage. Information and tips including a safety plan checklist are available at pge.com/wildfiresafety.
Posted by Melanie Nathan
@Melanienathan1
Commissionermnathan@gmail.com
