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Office of Emergency Management
Office of Emergency Management

Power outage

A PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) occurs in response to severe weather. Learn more about what to expect and how to plan for a power outage.

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Prepare for a power outage

A person checking his or her electrical panel in the dark with a flashlight

During months when the risk of wildfire is high or periods of extended drought, Santa Clara County is at risk of wildfire and a Public Safety Power Shutoff. Weather and fire conditions are subject to change, so everybody needs to be ready. Several important ways to prepare for emergencies are:

  1. Sign up for AlertSCC, the County’s official alert and warning system.
  2. Make a plan.
  3. Build an emergency supply kit.
  4. Help family, friends and neighbors.

Register for alerts

PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff

A PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) occurs in response to severe weather. PG&E turns off power to help prevent wildfires and keep communities safe. Although you may not live or work in a high fire-threat area or an area experiencing high winds, your power may be shut off if your home or business relies on a line that runs through an area with extreme weather. Power lines aren't always connected according to neighborhood, so your power could stay on while a neighborhood across the street could be turned off. 

Enhanced powerline safety settings

To help prevent wildfires during an ongoing drought, PG&E is continuing to evolve our safety efforts to protect our customers and communities. This includes adjusting the sensitivity on some equipment to automatically turn off power within one-tenth of a second if the system detects a problem. We call this Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS). This year, we are expanding these safety settings to all powerlines in high fire-risk areas (HFRAs) and some lines that are adjacent to HFRAs. For more information, please visit pge.com/epss.

The map below shows the approximate areas in your community powered by EPSS-capable circuits, which will be enabled during times of heightened wildfire risk.

For PG&E customers

  • Stay informed on the latest Public Safety Power Shutoff updates.
  • Update contact information online or by calling 1 (866) 743-6589 during normal business hours. PG&E will use this information to alert customers when and where possible before turning off electric service for safety.
  • If you or a household member requires a medical or life support device for medical conditions, apply for the PG&E Medical Baseline Program.
  • If your device qualifies, you'll receive a lower rate on your monthly energy bill and receive extra notifications in advance of a Public Safety Power Shutoff. Download the Pacific ADA Center’s Emergency Power Planning Fact Sheet.
  • Prepare for and practice an emergency plan to be emergency-ready and safe during an outage. Keep in mind family members who are elderly, younger children, and pets. Information and tips, including a safety plan checklist, are available.
  • Emergency supply kits can be a lifesaver during a power outage, earthquake, wildfire, flood, or other disasters. See the emergency supply checklist for a Public Safety Power Shutoff.

PG&E customers can also call the customer service line at 1 (800) 743-5000 and check PG&E's social media accounts for more information on how to prepare before and during a power outage:

Visit the PG&E website for information in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Korean, and Russian.

To receive additional information and referrals to services in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Cantonese, and other languages, call 211.