Public Safety Power Shutoffs
Utilities may temporarily turn off power to specific areas to reduce the risk of fires caused by electric infrastructure. This action is called a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS).
History and Background
In 2012, the CPUC ruled that California Public Utilities Code Sections 451 and 399.2(a) give the electric IOUs authority to shut off the electric power to protect public safety. This allows the electric IOUs (San Diego Gas & Electric, Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison, Liberty Utilities, Bear Valley Electric Service, and PacifiCorp) to shut off power to prevent catastrophic wildfires when strong winds, heat events, and related conditions are present.
In 2017, fires raged in Santa Rosa, Los Angeles, and Ventura, making it one of California’s most devastating wildfire seasons. In 2018, the CPUC adopted Resolution ESRB-8 to strengthen customer notification requirements before de-energization events and required utilities to submit a report within 10 days after each de-energization event.
In December 2018, the CPUC opened Order Instituting Rulemaking (OIR) 18-12-005 to examine its rules allowing electric utilities to de-energize power lines in case of dangerous conditions and seek input from affected communities, governments, first responders, and other stakeholders.
In May 2019, the CPUC issued the decision in the first phase of the PSPS proceeding (Phase 1 Decision). Phase 1 focused on IOU notification and communication guidelines for Public Safety Partners, Local Governments, and customers (including Access and Functional Needs customers).
In June 2020, the CPUC issued the decision in the second phase of the PSPS proceeding (Phase 2 Decision). Phase 2 expanded on notification and communication guidelines, working groups/advisory boards, PSPS exercises, Community Resource Centers (CRC), restoration, transportation/communications/water system resilience, and transparency.
In June 2021, the CPUC issued the Phase 3 decision in the PSPS proceeding. Phase 3 continued expansion of CRCs, critical facilities and infrastructure, PSPS exercises, definitions, education and outreach, Medical Baseline/Access and Functional Needs customers, mitigation, notification, Regional Working Groups, and reporting.
In September 2023, the CPUC established the PSPS Citation Program. The PSPS Citation Program established a tool that CPUC staff may use when appropriate to swiftly cite utilities for lack of compliance with PSPS guidelines. It will help encourage complete and timely compliance with the PSPS guidelines and deter violations. For additional details, please see the press release here.
2023
August 2-3, 2023: Pre-Season Briefings for 2023 PSPS Events
What: The CPUC will host the 2023 PSPS pre-season briefings for electric investor-owned utilities to present to the CPUC and the public on their preparedness for PSPS events in 2023. The electric utilities will provide updates on their efforts and coordination with public safety partners, critical infrastructure and facilities, and customers, including those most vulnerable or with access and functional needs.
Why: The CPUC is requiring the electric utilities to present on their preparedness for PSPS events in 2023. The CPUC oversees the utilities' preparation for and execution of PSPS events and has been driving the utilities to improve in response to lessons learned from previous PSPS events. The electric utilities submitted their 2023 Pre-Season Reports to the CPUC on July 3, 2023. The reports include a community resource center plan, critical facilities plan, PSPS exercise reports, education and outreach-related surveys and accessibility efforts, notification plan, identification of highest risk circuits, and lessons learned from 2022.
Meeting Documents
- Press Release
- Day 1 Agenda, Day 2 Agenda
- Day 1 Presentations, Day 2 Presentations
- Follow-up Questions and Responses from IOUs
April 18, 2023: Post-Season Public Briefings on Utility 2022 PSPS Events
What: The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) hosted public briefings for the electric investor-owned utilities to present to the CPUC and the public on their Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program and events in 2022. The electric utilities provided updates on their efforts and coordination with public safety partners, critical infrastructure and facilities, and customers, including those most vulnerable or with access and functional needs in 2022. The utilities presented on efforts to mitigate customer impacts and identified changes to processes or operations in 2023 based on lessons learned.
Why: The CPUC required electric utilities to publicly present on their PSPS program and events in 2022. The CPUC oversees the utilities’ execution of PSPS events and has been driving the utilities to improve in response to lessons learned from previous PSPS events. The electric utilities submitted 2022 PSPS Post Season reports to the CPUC on March 1, 2023. The reports detailed their 2022 efforts regarding community resource centers, public safety partners, education and outreach, medical baseline, access and functional needs program, and notifications.
Meeting Documents
- Media Advisory
- Agenda
- PG&E Presentation
- SCE Presentation
- SDG&E Presentation
- BVES Presentation
- Liberty Presentation
- PacifiCorp Presentation
- IOU Follow-up Responses
2022
August 1 and 2, 2022: Pre-Season Public Briefings on Utility Preparedness for 2022 PSPS Events
What: The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), in ongoing efforts to hold utilities accountable for executing safe and appropriate Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events, required the state’s electric investor-owned utilities to publicly present on their preparedness for PSPS events in 2022. The electric utilities provided updates on the status of preparation efforts and coordination with public safety partners, critical infrastructure and facilities, and customers, including those most vulnerable or with access and functional needs. The utilities will present on efforts to mitigate customer impacts and will identify changes to processes or operations in 2022 based on lessons learned.
Why: The CPUC oversees the electric utilities’ preparation for and execution of PSPS events and has been driving the utilities to improve in response to lessons learned from previous PSPS events. The electric utilities submitted 2022 PSPS Pre-Season reports to the CPUC on July 1, 2022. The reports included specific plans for Community Resource Centers, critical facilities, PSPS exercises, education and outreach-related surveys and accessibility efforts, notifications, highest risk circuits, and identified lessons learned from 2021.
Meeting Documents
July 2022: Utility Staff Briefings for 2022 PSPS Preparation
What: The electric investor-owned utilities presented Staff Briefings to CPUC staff in July 2022 on their preparedness for PSPS events. These Staff Briefings informed the utilities' Pre-Season Public Briefings on August 1 and August 2, 2022.
- SCE Staff Briefing Presentation
- PG&E Staff Briefing Presentation
- SDG&E Staff Briefing Presentation
- PacifiCorp Staff Briefing Presentation
- Liberty Staff Briefing Presentation
- Bear Valley Staff Briefing Presentation
February 23 and 25, 2022: Post-Season Public Briefings on Utility 2021 PSPS Events
- Media Advisory
- Agenda
- Presentations
2021
November 10, 2021: Electric Utility Safety Update Public Briefing
What: The CPUC and the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety (Energy Safety), in a joint commitment to safety and transparency, will hold a public briefing to hear from Bear Valley Electric Service (BVE) and PG&E regarding updates on electric safety related efforts, pursuant to Public Utilities Code section 8389(e)(5). Members of the Board of Directors of BVE and PG&E will present and answer questions from the CPUC and Energy Safety.
Meeting Documents
August 25, 2021: Public Meeting on Utility Safety Practices
What: The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the Office of Energy Safety Infrastructure (Energy Safety), in their joint commitment to safety and transparency, called on San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Edison (SCE) to present updates on their electric safety related efforts. Members of the Board of Directors of SDG&E and SCE were present to answer questions from the CPUC and Energy Safety. There was the opportunity for public comment.
Meeting Documents
August 2-4, 2021: Public Briefings on Utility Preparedness for 2021 Public Safety Power Shutoffs
- Media Advisory
- San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)
- Southern California Edison (SCE)
- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)
- Small Multi-Jurisdictional Utilities (Bear Valley Electric Service, Liberty Utilities, and PacifiCorp)
June/July 2021: Utility Staff Briefings for 2021 PSPS Preparation
- SCE Staff Briefing Presentation
- PG&E Staff Briefing Presentation
- SDG&E Staff Briefing Presentation
- PacifiCorp Staff Briefing Presentation
- Liberty Staff Briefing Presentation
- Bear Valley Staff Briefing Presentation
April 20, 2021: CPUC Tree Overstrike Workshop on PG&E’s Proposed Implementation of Proposed Probation Conditions in its PSPS Program
March 29, 2021: Joint Utility 2020 PSPS Workshop
March 26, 2021: Meeting on Wildfire Risk Analysis Results
- Media Advisory
- Agenda
- Technosylva Presentation
March 1, 2021: SCE 2020 PSPS Corrective Action Plan Public Briefing
January 26, 2021: SCE Meeting on Execution of 2020 PSPS Events
2020
August 10-13, 2020: Public Briefing on Utility Preparedness for 2020 PSPS Events
Related Information
August 31, 2021: President Batjer's letter to PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E and SMJUs re: August 2021 Public Safety Power Shutoff Public Briefings
- September 16, 2021: PG&E's Response Letter
- September 16, 2021: SCE's Response Letter
- September 16, 2021: SDG&E's Response Letter
- September 16, 2021: BVES's Response Letter
- September 16, 2021: Liberty Utilities Response Letter
- September 16, 2021: Pacific Power's Response Letter
June 25, 2021: Executive Director's Letter to PG&E re: Implementation of Tree Overstrike Criteria
Prior Actions
Sept. 21, 2023: CPUC Augments Enforcement Efforts with New Citation Program
Jun. 28, 2021: CPUC Executive Director letter to PG&E on Tree Overstrike
Feb. 12, 2021: SCE's Correction Action Plan
Jan. 22, 2021: SCE Reply Letter to President Batjer
Jan. 19, 2021: CPUC President Marybel Batjer letter to SCE re: 2020 PSPS Events
Jan. 14, 2021: CPUC Adopts Strategies To Help Facilitate Commercialization of Microgrids Statewide
Sept. 8, 2020: PG&E Response Letter
Sept. 8, 2020: SCE Response Letter
Sept. 8, 2020: SDG&E Response Letter
Nov. 1, 2019: Consumer Protections and Resources for Wildfire Victims
Power Shutoff Planning
- Consumer Protections and Resources for Wildfire Victims
- Evolution of PSPS Guidelines
- Potential Impacts on Telephone Service during De-Energization
- Public Safety Power Shutoff PSPS FAQs
- Technosylva 2019 PSPS Event Wildfire Risk Analysis Reports
- Utility Company PSPS Reports: Post-Event, Post-Season and Pre-Season