PG&E Prepares for Third Public Safety Power Shutoff of 2026 Amid High Wind Threat — Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)

Event summary

PG&E is monitoring a high wind event expected to impact portions of 10 counties starting July 15, 2026.
Approximately 7,800 customers across small portions of 10 counties may face power shutoffs.
This will be the third Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) event of 2026 for PG&E.
PG&E has activated its Emergency Operations Center and begun sending advanced notifications to affected customers.
The duration of outages will depend on weather conditions and any necessary repairs.

The big picture

PG&E's proactive approach to PSPS events reflects broader industry trends in utilities managing wildfire risks through preventive measures. The utility's efforts to reduce customer impacts align with regulatory expectations and highlight the strategic importance of balancing safety with service reliability. The scale of potential outages, though smaller than in previous years, underscores the ongoing challenge of mitigating wildfire threats in high-risk regions.

What we're watching

Wildfire Risk Management: How PG&E's PSPS strategy will evolve in response to increasing wildfire risks and regulatory scrutiny.
Customer Impact Mitigation: Whether PG&E's improvements in energy storage and automated notifications will significantly reduce customer impacts during PSPS events.
Regulatory Compliance: The pace at which PG&E can adapt to changing regulations from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) regarding PSPS protocols.