Staff Report
PG&E will conduct a company-wide Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) ***EXERCISE*** to practice response during a simulated PSPS event on Friday, June 26. Power will not be interrupted as a result of the drill. Locally, the company will use helicopters and ground-based crews in Paso Robles, Santa Maria and Buellton to inspect circuits that are included in the exercise.
Given the continued and growing threat of extreme weather and wildfires, PG&E is enhancing our Community Wildfire Safety Program to further reduce wildfire risks and help keep our customers and communities safe. PG&E’s Public Safety Power Shutoff program includes all electric lines that pass through high fire-threat areas – both distribution and transmission. In the event of extreme weather conditions, PG&E will proactively de-energize the lines, shutting off power for the safety of our customers and communities. During an actual PSPS event, crews will inspect every component along every de-energized line—inspecting from the sky and from the ground–to identify and repair damaged lines or equipment before restoring power.
During Friday’s ***DRILL*** PG&E and contractor personnel will practice those inspections in order to reduce the time it takes to safely return electrical service to our customers. As part of the drill, we will fly helicopters in the vicinity of Paso Robles, Santa Maria and Buellton on June 26, between the hours of 8:00am and 3:00pm. Members of those communities may see more PG&E and contractor trucks than usual, as well.
More information about the Community Wildfire Safety Program, including a schedule of upcoming open houses and informational webinars for the public, can be found at www.pge.com/wildfiresafety.
