Outage alert:

A Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) to help prevent a wildfire has been announced in Kern County. Get current information

Public Safety Power Shutoffs

Planned safety outages to prevent wildfires and keep you safe

Get notified if there is a potential PSPS in your area.

emergency alert icon  If you smell natural gas or suspect an emergency, leave the area now and call 9-1-1. 

emergency alert icon  If you see downed powerlines, stay away. Don’t exit your car or home. Call 9-1-1. Then call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.

What is a PSPS?

What is a Public Safety Power Shutoff?

Severe weather, such as high winds, can cause trees or debris to damage equipment. If there is dry vegetation, this could lead to a wildfire. That's why we may need to turn power off to keep you safe. This temporary outage is called a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS).

We plan a PSPS when severe weather may put you at risk of wildfires:

 

  • Low humidity 
  • Forecasted high winds  
  • Dry material on the ground  
  • Vegetation near powerlines 

Learn about weather monitoring

 

 

High wildfire risk areas

 

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has sorted regions according to their wildfire risk.

 

Homes and businesses in Tiers 2 and 3 wildfire risk areas are more likely to experience a PSPS.

 

Tier 2: An area where there is an elevated risk of wildfire.

 

Tier 3: An area where there is an extreme risk of wildfire.

 

View the CPUC map and learn more about high fire-threat areas

 

PSPS alerts

We know power outages are disruptive. We want to help you prepare.

 

We will always do our best to alert you before a PSPS via email, phone call and/or text. 

 

We'll send you PSPS alerts as early as possible, both day and night, as needed. This is a requirement from the California Public Utilities Commission. If you are a PG&E account holder, you do not need to sign up to receive PSPS alerts. 

 

important notice icon Note:  Weather forecasts can change. This could shift the shutoff timing or the number of affected customers. Because of this, in some cases we may not send the first alert until the same day your power is shut off. 

PSPS alert timeline

Know what to expect

Timeline What to expect

Up to a week before power is turned off

Severe weather forecasted.

Weather specialists forecast potential severe weather.

Up to 48 hours before power is turned off

First Watch notification (outages likely).


We notify you if your address may be affected by a PSPS.

Up to 24 hours before power is turned off

Second Watch notification (outages likely).


We notify you if your address may be affected by a PSPS.

1 to 4 hours before power is turned off

Warning notifications (outages required).


We notify you if your address will be affected by a PSPS.

Shut off is delayed

PSPS delayed.


We notify you that power is on, but you are still at risk of having power turned off.

If shut off is cancelled

PSPS cancelled.

At any stage before shutoff occurs, PSPS may be cancelled due to changes in weather.

We will send an alert if PSPS is cancelled.

When power is turned off

Power is turned off.

We notify you that power has been turned off to prevent wildfires.

If there is an update

Estimated restoration notification.


We provide updates if there’s a change to our estimated time of restoration.

Following severe weather

Weather “all clear” notification.

We notify you that we are inspecting powerlines and provide restoration estimates.

When power is restored

Power is restored.


We notify you when power has been restored.

Get important alerts to stay safe 

Make sure your contact information is up to date. This ensures we can inform you of potential power outages. Choose to receive alerts in your preferred language. 

Address Alerts 

 

Address Alerts can alert you of a possible PSPS at any address that is important to you or a loved one, such as: 

  • Your child's school 
  • Your parent's home 
  • Your work 
  • Other properties you own 
  • A rental unit where your landlord pays the PG&E bill 

Receive Address Alerts for any address by phone and text in multiple languages.

Medical Baseline and Vulnerable Customer alerts 

 

If you rely on power for health and safety, we offer extra PSPS alerts. This may include alerting you in person to ensure you're aware of a possible PSPS. 

  • The Medical Baseline Program supports those who depend on power for certain medical needs.  
  • Vulnerable Customer Status also supports those who rely on power for health and safety. You can self-certify if you’re not eligible for Medical Baseline.  

 

Sign up for the Medical Baseline Program

 

Sign up for Vulnerable Customer Status

 

Translated alerts 

 

We provide information about when power will be turned off and back on via phone, email and text. This is available in English, plus 15 languages.

 

We work with our partners to conduct multilingual outreach. We also pre-record alert messaging in American Sign Language to serve those who are deaf and hard of hearing. 

 

Sign up for alerts in your preferred language

Alerts for business customers. We'll contact all phone numbers and email address on file.

Support for residential and business customers

General PSPS support resources

 

Learn about outage resources

 

What to expect during a PSPS

Download Your Guide to Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PDF)

 

Learn the facts about PSPS

Download the Public Safety Power Shutoff fact sheet (PDF)

 

Find non-English PSPS resources

Visit translation resources

 

Prepare for potential power shutoffs

View a 7-day PSPS forecast

 

Help tenants prepare for a PSPS

Download the master meter flyer (PDF)

Make sure your electric vehicle’s battery is fully charged.

Alerts for businesses

All phone numbers and email addresses we have on file will be contacted. Add contact information for more than one employee to your account. If employees wish to receive outage alerts via text, you can also add their cell phone numbers. 

 

PSPS resources for businesses

 

Prepare your facility for potential power outages

Large business emergency preparedness checklist (PDF)

 

Ensure your small business is prepared for potential power outages

Emergency preparedness checklist for small and medium businesses (PDF)

 

Find more resources to help you prepare for potential power shutoffs

PSPS preparedness checklist for businesses (PDF)

Critical Facility Customer Fact Sheet (PDF)

 

For any inquiries, please contact the Program Manager of Critical Facilities at Businessadvisor@pge.com.

PSPS reports

PG&E files a report with the CPUC after each PSPS.

We also submit progress reports on our efforts to:

  • Develop best practices for PSPS 
  • Improve communications, community preparedness and regional coordination
  • Use technology to improve safety 

Outages in real time 

View current outages and a 7-day PSPS forecast. 

More information on outages and safety

Safety

At PG&E, nothing is more important than safety.

Outage preparedness and support

Stay prepared for power outages and get support.

Community Wildfire Safety Program (CWSP)

Find out how we are making our system safer and more reliable.