|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The rising summer heat can put local residents at risk for power outages as PG&E tries to prevent ignitions and hazards on power lines with unplanned shutoffs. While inconvenient, they aim to protect high fire-risk areas such as Woodside and Portola Valley.
As temperatures soar into the 90s this week, towns with elevated fire risks are warning residents to prepare for PG&E’s “Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings” (EPSS) outages. Portola Valley’s Emergency Preparedness Committee advises households to invest in backups like power stations to get through outages that could last for days.
Transformer failures are the top cause of heat-related outages, PG&E spokesperson Tamar Sarkissian said in a statement. Transformers distribute power across buildings and require a cool-down period when temperatures drop — usually at night.
“Transformer failure is likelier in coastal areas with more moderate and average temperatures, rather than in interior valleys that routinely experience extremely hot weather,” said Sarkissian. Areas that experience high temperatures have transformers that are built to withstand the heat.
The EPSS system is a safety setting that detects an object of hazard on PG&E powerlines and is able to shut off power within one-tenth of a second to prevent ignition. Since 2021, it has been able to reduce ignitions by 69% in high fire-risk areas, stopping “wildfires before they have a chance to start,” said Sarkissian.
While they have been helpful in preventing wildfires, the safety setting makes outages last longer and occur more frequently as PG&E crew must inspect the entire circuit to ensure there are no hazards present. EPSS is used to keep customers safe while PG&E works on making long-term improvements to strengthen the electrical grid, Sarkissian added.
Although the summer heat can cause lack of power, outages can happen year-round. Craig Heberer, chair of Portola Valley’s Emergency Preparedness Committee, said he recommends residents be prepared for outages lasting at least 72 hours.
“These power outages are probably going to continue to happen, and they may actually get more frequent and perhaps even longer,” said Heberer, emphasizing the importance of being prepared with backup power, through solar, battery and generators, across all seasons.
Safety and preparation tips
PG&E encourages residents to keep a list of important phone numbers near the phone for hospitals, fire departments, police, friends and relatives.
Battery-operated flashlights and radios, nonperishable food and a manual can opener should be kept on hand. In order to keep perishable foods in the refrigerator from spoiling, freeze plastic water jugs to make blocks of ice. These can be placed in freezers and fridges to keep food cold.
Heberer recommends investing in power backups. Small power stations to charge phones and laptops with 300 watt hours can cost from $100-$300 while large stations with 1000-2000 watt hours that power large home appliances can cost over $1,000. He added that in order to prepare, residents should decide what they want to power and how much they want to spend.
PG&E recommends having a licensed electrician properly install a generator before using it as improper installation can pose a significant danger to their crews.
PG&E also offers qualified customers with backup portable batteries to help power medical devices, assistive technology and medical equipment during outages. The company’s Medical Baseline Program also assists customers with certain medical needs with an additional monthly allotment of energy at a lowest price available on their rate along with additional alerts for outages.
Residents who reside in an elevated and extreme risk high fire-threat district or serviced by an EPSS circuit may also qualify for PG&E’s generator and battery rebate of $300.
In the warmer months, PG&E also recommends residents save energy by clearing the area around air conditioning units for better circulation, unplugging electronics when not in use, closing window shades, and opening windows and doors when temperatures cool down.
The company also suggests setting the thermostat at 78 degrees or higher — health permitting.
“Every degree you lower the thermostat means your air conditioner has to work even harder to keep your home cool,” PG&E officials said.
Where to find outage updates and alerts
To view updates on outages, residents can visit pgealerts.alerts.pge.com/outage-tools/outage-map. To receive alerts from the county about extreme weather conditions, major utility outages and disasters, sign up for SMC Alerts at smcgov.org/dem/smc-alert.
