When gusty winds and dry conditions, combined with a heightened fire risk, are forecasted, PG&E will determine if they will need to turn off electricity for public safety.

MCE is not directly involved in transmitting and distributing electricity or evaluating if weather conditions meet the criteria for planned power shutoffs. We are committed to building climate resilience within the communities we serve — providing almost 500,000 residential and commercial customers throughout the Bay Area with access to clean, affordable energy.

Below is a collection of power shutoff and wildfire safety tips and resources from PG&E, MCE member counties, and CAL FIRE. MCE encourages all of our customers to take the time to stay informed and prepare for wildfire and power shutoff events.

Get Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) Alerts

Sign up for the following alerts to receive information about PG&E’s upcoming PSPS and emergency events in your area.

PG&E PSPS Alerts (for PG&E account holders)

PG&E will notify residents and businesses ahead of time (when possible) about PSPS events that will impact them. To ensure you receive these alerts, log in to your PG&E account and review the contact information that PG&E has on file for you.

PG&E PSPS Zip Code-based Alerts (for non-account holders)

These alerts can be helpful if:

• Your landlord or property manager is the account holder for your electric service.
• You care for someone who relies on electricity for medical needs, but you are not the PG&E account holder at their address.
• You or your organization provide critical care or services dependent on electricity.
• Your child(ren) attend a school outside of your community.
• You would like to receive a notification about any Public Safety Power Shutoff in PG&E territory. (Select “all ZIP Codes” at time of enrollment.)

Apply for Medical Baseline (for qualifying medical device users)

If you use a medical or life support device to treat ongoing medical conditions, apply for PG&E’s Medical Baseline Program. If you qualify, you’ll receive a lower rate on your monthly energy bill and receive extra notifications in advance of a Public Safety Power Shutoff.

Public Safety Power Shutoff Tips

1. Have a personal safety plan in place for every member of your household (including pets).
2. Plan for any medical needs like medications that need to be refrigerated or devices that require power.
3. Build or restock your emergency supply kit, including food, water, flashlights, a radio, fresh batteries, first aid supplies and cash.
4. Identify backup charging methods for phones.
5. Learn how to manually open your garage door.
6. If you own a backup generator, ensure it is ready to safely operate.
7. To learn more ways to prepare, visit prepareforpowerdown.com.

Essential Wildfire Preparedness Tips from the Experts

CAL FIRE’s “Ready, Set, Go!” campaign breaks down the actions needed to be ready for wildfire.

• Be Ready: Create and maintain defensible space and harden your home against flying embers.
• Get Set: Prepare your family and home ahead of time for the possibility of having to evacuate.
• Be Ready to GO!: Take the evacuation steps necessary to give your family and home the best chance of surviving a wildfire.