Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS)
Summer temperatures and high winds may bring proactive Public Safety Power Shutoffs. Learn about PSPS, see whether you’re in a high-risk area and get ready for wildfire season no matter where you are.
What is a PSPS?
A Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) is when we proactively turn off power to potentially prevent a wildfire when conditions threaten our ability to safely operate the grid. It is a last-resort safety measure to protect people, property, and public spaces.
We prepare year-round to protect people, property and public spaces from wildfires. Learn how you can prepare for wildfire season, too.
PSPS explained
In the event we need to call a PSPS, we work to minimize the number of customers affected and the amount of time they are without power.
Where a PSPS is most likely to be called
View an interactive map.
PGE can call a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) anywhere in our service area. If extreme conditions arise and make it unsafe to operate electrical equipment, we stand ready to turn off power for public safety.
View an interactive map that shows the high-risk areas.
Factors that determine a PSPS
We consider a wide range of factors when making this important decision. In addition to predictive analytics, our meteorology team observes wind speed, humidity, temperature, moisture levels in trees and brush, while PGE crews relay observations from the field.
We also work in partnership with local fire departments and emergency management organizations who relay information to our emergency teams
What you can expect
It is difficult to predict how long a Public Safety Power Shutoff will last as it depends on conditions such as hazardous weather duration and impacts.
We keep customers informed about what is happening and what to expect from us by communicating across a wide range of channels, in multiple languages, to customers who may be impacted.
After we call a PSPS, our crews will inspect every line in the shutoff area for damage, repair it and make sure it’s safe before re-energizing. That can take time, and as a result, these safety-related outages can last several hours to several days. That's why it's important to prepare.
Power will remain off as long as extreme conditions are present. When conditions normalize and it is safe to do so, PGE crews will patrol the de-energized lines to check for damage from wind-blown debris or any other issues before the power is turned on. We'll work as quickly as safety allows to restore power to all de-energized areas.
How you can stay informed
We make every effort to provide 24-48 hours advance notice to all customers and community members that may be impacted by a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), and another notice within 1-4 hours of shutting off power.
PGE will also provide notice when de-energization happens, when restoration begins, and when restoration is complete. We take extra measures to contact Medical Certificate customers.
You can get news and alerts on our website, social media and email. Customers enrolled in outage text alerts will be notified via text when the power is back on.
Update your email address and phone number with us so we can send you notices and alerts.
Download the PGE mobile app on Android or iPhone.
Visit our newsroom.
We’re here to help
We hope we don’t have to call a Public Safety Power Shutoff this fire season, but if we do, we’ll set up a mobile Community Resource Center to provide some relief. Learn more in this video.
PSPS multi-language information
Learn about important PSPS information in your preferred language.
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