With extreme heat and Santa Ana winds forecast later this week, San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) has notified approximately 35,000 customers that power may be turned off as early as Friday morning amid elevated fire-weather conditions. Public Safety Power Shutoffs, or PSPS, are an important safety measure used to help reduce wildfire risk and protect communities during dangerous weather.
The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Watch for portions of SDG&E’s service territory from Friday morning through Wednesday evening. The combination of extreme heat and Santa Ana winds may create challenging conditions across the region, making it important for customers to prepare for potential Public Safety Power Shutoffs and unplanned outages.
SDG&E began notifying potentially affected customers on Sept. 30 by phone, text message and email. Because weather conditions can change, the potential timing and scope of the shutoff may also change. SDG&E will continue providing updates directly to customers as more information becomes available.
SDG&E Prepared to Respond
SDG&E has activated its Emergency Operations Center and is monitoring weather and field conditions around the clock. Crews, equipment and materials have been positioned in advance to support a timely response. Once weather conditions improve, crews will inspect electrical equipment and work to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. If Community Resource Centers are activated, SDG&E will notify customers of available locations, hours and services.
Strong winds may also cause unplanned power outages. Customers should never approach a downed power line and should call 911 to report it. Real-time information about unplanned outages is available at sdge.com/outage.
Customers Encouraged to Prepare
Customers are encouraged to prepare by charging mobile devices and backup batteries, gathering medications and emergency supplies, and confirming that their contact information is current in My Energy Center. Personal emergency plans should account for the needs of family members, pets and livestock.
As temperatures rise, so does energy demand across the region. Customers can help support grid reliability by reducing energy use between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., when demand is typically highest, and delaying the use of major appliances until after 9 p.m.
For the latest information about potential Public Safety Power Shutoffs and available customer resources, visit SDGE.com/Ready.