What Conditions Will Cause Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) To Shut Off Power?

Huge swaths of California are facing red-flag warnings and wildfire risks.

Dangerous conditions have led Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to implement numerous preemptive Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) impacting millions for up to a week.¹The scope of these preemptive blackouts is unprecedented.²

Wildfire season is now year-round with fires that are increasingly frequent and larger.³ Between 2014 and 2017, California power lines caused more than 2,000 “ignition events.” PG&E’s equipment sparked 2018’s Camp Fire, which killed 86 people and destroyed Paradise, California.⁴ Today, the company is confronted with extreme weather conditions that are prompting more power lines and equipment to spark wildfires.

Recently, a PG&E-planned power outage cut electricity to 738,000 customers in 34 counties, including the Napa, Butte and other San Francisco Bay Area counties.² Such massive blackouts left residents wondering what conditions cause PG&E to shut off power. The best answer is real-time factors and volatile predictions.

Power Shut-offs Could Continue for 10 Years

Responding to California Public Utility Commission’s (CPUC) concerns, PG&E’s CEO said it may take 10 years to improve their electrical grid and avoid shutoffs for preventing wildfire threats.^5,6 However, widespread blackouts are an unacceptable hardship. PG&E power outage alerts are not enough. Much of PG&E’s antiquated grid is risky 19th century technology.⁷ The utility cannot guarantee electrical resiliency today or in the future.

Californians know PG&E’s infrastructure needs a formidable overhaul. California Governor, Gavin Newsom, said that PG&E’s answer of continuing to shut off power for 10 years is “unacceptable.” Given this long-term projection for repairs and upgrades, many homeowners now question when their neighborhood’s electricity transmission will become safe and dependable.⁷

Solar Is The Smart Backup Energy Solution

Blackouts are inevitable. Californians need reliable backup energy. Plus, achieving state renewable energy goals means increasing rooftop solar.¹ By installing solar panels and a home battery, you’ll capture the sun’s power and protect your energy future—well ahead of PG&E ending their 10-year systemic power shutoffs. Prepare for the next blackout with solar.

What Is The PG&E Wildfire Safety Plan?

Extreme weather demands urgent action. PG&E’s 2019 Wildfire Safety Plan for high-fire-threat areas includes:⁸

Installing high-definition cameras.
Adding weather stations.
Conducting enhanced safety inspections.
Enhancing vegetation management.
Disabling automatic reclosers.
Installing resilient poles and high voltage underground power lines.

While PG&E is making headway, their vice president of the Wildfire Safety Program acknowledged their number of safety risks found during inspections was “unacceptable. We need to do better.”⁹

Despite de-energizing power lines, pre-emptive power shut offs will not necessarily prevent wildfires. Dangerous fires can still be sparked by the electrical grid system. This unfortunately caused the Kincaid fire in Sonoma County when a PG&E transmission tower malfunctioned. The recloser for a 230,000-volt transmission line failed to work properly even though electricity to lower-voltage distribution lines had been turned off in the area.¹⁰

PG&E’s wildfire safety plan is not enough. Homeowners should take independent action to protect themselves from the threat of wildfires and blackouts. Going solar with battery backup provides energy security through unpredictable outages.

What is PG&E’s Power Shutoff Decision Based On?

Power shutoffs may reduce risks of electrical equipment sparking fires.¹¹ No single factor drives a pre-emptive power outage event and each situation is unique. If dangerous conditions align, PG&E initiates a preemptive power outage as a safety measure.⁴ PG&E considers multiple criteria when deciding on a power shutoff. Factors generally include:¹²

National Weather Service Red Flag Warnings.
Low humidity levels, usually 20% and below.
Forecasted sustained winds generally above 25 mph and wind gusts above approximately 45 mph.
Dry fuel on the ground and moisture content of live vegetation.
Onsite, real-time observations from PG&E's Wildfire Safety Operations Center and field crews.

Weather forecasts are also a critical consideration. Yet, some locations not experiencing extreme conditions could blackout because their power lines connect to equipment in high fire-risk areas.^13,14 More than half of PG&E's 70,000-square-mile service area is in extreme or elevated fire-threat areas.⁸

Is PG&E Cutting Off My Power Legal?

PG&E does have the power to shut you down.² PSPS blackouts may reduce risks by stopping the electrical current in power lines during extreme fire danger.¹⁴ The CPUC grants utility companies authority to periodically de-energize the grid as a preventative measure to protect public safety and maintain grid viability. In consultation with the CPUC, all California utilities have decided shutting power off is safer (all things considered) than leaving it on.^2,15 Blackouts are a last line of defense.¹⁶

How Long Will Blackouts Last?

Most outages are ”longer than 48 hours.” PG&E also suggests communities prepare for outages that ”last several days.”^17,18 Following severe weather, PG&E will make inspections and repairs before restoring power. Electricity could be restored quickly, or residents may wait days.¹³

California blackouts will continue for years. Some areas may see 15 or more a year, lasting two to five days.² Have your energy emergency plan in place. With a solar and battery installation, homeowners can ensure their electricity stability. Using generators is costly and unreliable. Rooftop solar with energy storage is the way to go.¹⁹ Solar panels paired with batteries is one of the best, and most reliable strategies for surviving fire-driven power outages.²⁰

Brightbox Powers Through Blackouts

Californians are placing increased value on solar backup energy. Sunrun residential solar systems with a Brightbox^TM home battery will brighten your life during outages. When a blackout occurs or night falls, the battery turns on. A battery powers critical circuits in your home for approximately 8 to 12 hours, refuels with the sun and solar panels, and gives you energy freedom.²¹

A storage battery is how residential solar systems supply backup energy. Solar panels alone don’t provide backup power. The reason is rooftop systems are generally connected to the utility grid, which actually supply power to the home. Electricity generated by rooftop panels is typically sent to the grid for credit as in net metering. But when the grid goes down, the panels are automatically disconnected as a safety measure. This is when the solar battery automatically turns on to supply backup energy.

With premium solar panels and battery storage, you’ll power through blackouts with electricity from your battery that the sun recharges each day. Brightbox advantages include: ^21,22

Clean backup power you can count on.
Control energy use and put the power in your hands.
Reduce strain on energy infrastructure.³
Savor your peace of mind.
Cash in on net metering²³ and Time-of-Use (TOU) rates.²⁴
Optimize your carbon reduction.

California is a solar powerhouse and installing solar is a wise investment. Keep your lights on with Sunrun solar panels and Brightbox battery. Our solar energy systems include professional monitoring and maintenance for 25 years. So, when the grid keeps failing, you’ll stay up and running.

Protect Your Future with Sunrun

Safeguard your home’s electricity supply with reliable backup solar and affordable energy year-round. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports California’s electricity rates are more than 50% higher than the national average and rising.²⁵ With increasing blackouts and dropping solar and battery prices, now is the time to start creating your own energy. Plus, solar panels and a home battery can help reduce the risks posed from wildfires and outages.

We deserve a clean energy solution that offers a safe, reliable alternative to PG&E’s hazardous grid.³ Check out our report, Building A More Resilient Grid.²⁶ Sunrun is the nation’s largest residential solar, battery storage and energy services company. For over a decade, we’ve helped tens of thousands of Californians control electric bills, reduce carbon emissions and avoid outages.²⁵

Contact Sunrun to learn how to endure PG&E blackouts with solar.²⁷ We’re based in San Francisco and have a large presence in communities across the state. We understand the hardships Californians are going through with unprecedented wildfires and blackouts. Reduce your electricity costs and maximize your energy security and independence with solar and batteries. When it matters most, we’re here to help.