PSPS Weather Awareness
Managing the Threat of Significant Wind-Driven Wildfires
We will consider resorting to a Public Safety Power Shutoff when weather and fire experts forecast dangerous conditions, including strong winds, dry vegetation, and low humidity. Combined, these conditions create the risk that flying debris damage to wires and equipment could ignite a fire with the potential to spread rapidly and threaten communities.
We have a team of experts in grid operations, meteorology, and fire sciences that monitors weather models for any changes or shifts in weather patterns. The threat levels will be updated accordingly based on the latest guidance from the weather models.
Our decision to shut off power is based on actual conditions seen by our live field observers, weather models, and by other considerations including real-time weather data and early fire detection technology.
Our team of grid operations, meteorology, and fire sciences experts evaluates weather model forecast accuracy and prepares annual summary reports to help inform continuous improvement efforts around increasing situational awareness. Click here to view the latest Weather Forecast Model Summary Report.
Weather Stations
More than 1,500 weather stations have been installed on poles and other equipment in high-fire-risk areas within our service territory to provide local real-time weather data.
Fire Alert Cameras
More than 160 high-tech fire-alert cameras have been installed to enhance early fire detection in areas with limited coverage. The cameras stream live images on the ALERT Wildfire network.