Public Safety Power Shutoff

Pacific Power will notify customers as soon as possible through phone, email, text, social media and media advisories if extreme weather conditions combined with on-the-ground observation signals that a Public Safety Power Shutoff is required to safeguard customers against a wildfire from starting.

Whenever possible, we will provide advance notice of a Public Safety Power Shutoff. Although worsening conditions may require swift action, our goal is to alert public safety partners approximately 72 hours in advance, and, working in tandem with these local partners, to begin alerting customers. Customers will typically receive 48 hours’ advance notice of a Public Safety Power Shutoff.

Timeline for a Public Safety Power Shutoff

3 to 7 days before: Hazardous weather conditions are forecasted that could lead to a Public Safety Power Shutoff. Pacific Power is actively monitoring those conditions.

Up to 2 days before: Once extreme weather conditions and other hazardous variables (such as extreme drought) are met and sustained, Pacific Power begins coordinating with local officials. Customers receive first notification of a possible Public Safety Power Shutoff.

1 day before: Continue monitoring extreme wildfire conditions. Coordination between Pacific Power and local officials continues. Customers in potential shutoff area receive additional notice including why a Public Safety Power Shutoff might occur, number of customers potentially impacted, area impacted, potential event timeline and if Community Resource Centers are opening.

Power shutoff: Extreme wildfire conditions remain and on-the-ground coordination continues. Customers in affected area receive third notification that power will be turned off to prevent wildfire ignition.

Power restoration: Extreme wildfire conditions have lessened. Pacific Power crews patrol lines during daylight hours to inspect for damage and hanging debris. Power is restored once all lines are cleared and once repairs are made. Customers receive a fourth notification that power has been restored.

We look at a range of factors before considering using a Public Safety Power Shutoff for community safety.

• Dry trees and brush and other potential wildfire fuel
• High, sustained winds
• Extremely low humidity
• Current and forecasted weather conditions from multiple third parties and our own weather stations 
• Population density
• Real-time observation from on-the-ground experts
• Input from local public safety and health agencies

No single factor, such as high winds, would necessitate a Public Safety Power Shutoff.

While it is impossible to predict the long-term impacts of climate change on future wildfire seasons, we do not expect Public Safety Power Shutoffs to be a common occurrence. To date, there have been only three PSPS events throughout Pacific Power’s service area — in Weed, California in 2020; Dunsmuir, California in 2021; and in parts of Oregon in September 2022.

The growth in our forecasting capabilities has allowed us to mature beyond the use of pre-drawn analog maps for determining when to deploy a local Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS).

Now, as high-risk weather events increasingly happen in areas where they haven't typically occurred, we have the forecasting power and flexibility to issue a PSPS wherever it is necessary to keep customers and communities safe.

Our new flexibility to use a PSPS throughout our service area does not increase the likelihood that we will use one in any particular location. It just means that we have the tools to see potential wildfire conditions coming ahead of time — wherever those conditions occur, regardless of whether the area is historically high-risk or low-risk for wildfires.

A number of variables are used to predict how long a Public Safety Power Shutoff would last, based on real-time factors. The shutoff would continue until the risk has passed, after which line inspection, repairs and power restoration will occur during daylight hours.

We will use all communication channels available to us to notify customers. This includes outbound calls, text messages, social media updates, media advisories, website banners and alerts.

Sign up for alerts and update your contact information so we can reach you. 

If you rely on electricity- or battery-dependent medical technologies such as breathing machines, a power wheelchair or scooter, and home oxygen or dialysis, it is critical that you have a plan in place for a power outage during all seasons, year-round. 

If you or someone in your household has electricity-dependent medical needs, please contact us at 1-888-221-7070 or use our contact form to let us know about your medical situation. We rely on customers to self-identify having medical needs dependent on electricity so we can provide additional outreach prior to a Public Safety Power Shutoff.

We can also help you determine if a portable generator or portable power station is right for your home and learn how to safely use these sources of backup power generation. Customers may be eligible for rebates on qualifying equipment. 

The short answer is we don’t need them anymore, because our forecasting capabilities have matured to the point that we can see threats coming in real-time, throughout our service area. Likewise, we’ve expanded our ability to respond to threats wherever they occur, by activating a Public Safety Power Shutoff precisely when and where it is necessary to reduce risk and to keep customers and communities safe.

Public Safety Power Shutoff Handout

Wildfire Safety and Resilience Pamphlet

Wildfire Safety and Resilience Brochure

Wildfire Safety and Resilience Infographic

Staying Safe During Wildfire Season Handout

Wildfire Safety Checklist

Preparing for Power Outages Brochure

Building a Future-Ready Grid

Pacific Power provides prioritized restoration, backup power evaluation, additional communications and other resources before and during Public Safety Power Shutoff events to critical facility customers who provide services that are essential to public safety. 

See more on critical facilities & critical infrastructure

Pre-season Public Safety Power Shutoff reports

• 2024 Pre-Season Public Safety Power Shutoff Report (Refiled December 2024)
  • 2024 Pre-Season Public Safety Power Shutoff Tables (December 2024)
• 2024 Pre-Season Public Safety Power Shutoff Report (July 2024)
  • 2024 Pre-Season Public Safety Power Shutoff Tables (July 2024)
• 2023 Pre-Season Public Safety Power Shutoff Report (July 2023)
  • 2023 Pre-Season Public Safety Power Shutoff Tables (July 2023)
• 2022 Pre-Season Public Safety Power Shutoff Report (July 2022)
  • 2022 Pre-Season Public Safety Power Shutoff Tables (July 2022)

California 2020 Public Safety Power Shutoff Plan (May 2020)

California Public Safety Power Shutoff Phase 2 Guidelines – First Progress Report (Aug 2020)

California Public Safety Power Shutoff Phase 2 Guidelines – Second Progress Report (Dec 2020)

California post-PSPS event reports:

• Public Safety Power Shutoff Post-Event Report for August 17, 2021
• Public Safety Power Shutoff Report for September 13-17, 2020
• Public Safety Power Shutoff Report for October 25, 2020 Watch Event

Access and Functional Needs reports

• 2021 Access and Functional Needs Report (Feb 2021)
• 2022 Access and Functional Needs Report (Jan 2022)
• 2023 Access and Functional Needs Report (Jan 2023)
• 2024 Access and Functional Needs Report (Jan 2024)

PSPS  Annual Report,  December 21, 2022

PSPS  Annual Report,  December 29, 2023