The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutPW Presentation by PG&E on Wildfire Planning PPTCommunity Wildfire Safety Program CITY OF SAN RAFAEL August 16, 2021 Safety General Safety Tips Identify two exit routes from your current work area in the event of a fire or other emergency. “Drop, cover and hold” in the event of an earthquake. Notify emergency services if you are in danger. You can also ask for help by putting a message in the chat function of this meeting. 3Some of the measures included in this presentation are contemplated as additional precautionary measures intended to further reduce the risk of wildfires. Wildfire Risks Across PG&E’s Service Area Source: California Public Utilities Commission High Fire-Threat Areas Tier 2 -Elevated Tier 3 -Extreme PG&E service area The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has a map that designates areas that are most at risk for wildfire. This map helps us plan and prioritize wildfire prevention efforts. MARIN COUNTY Total Customers Served 121,002 Customers in HFTD 28,943 Total Distribution Line Miles 1,024 Distribution Line Miles in HFTD 528 Total Transmission Line Miles 155 Transmission Line Miles in HFTD 64 ia.cpuc.ca.gov/FireMapThe CPUC HFTD map can be accessed at: 2021 data as of June 30. City of San Rafael 4Some of the measures included in this presentation are contemplated as additional precautionary measures intended to further reduce the risk of wildfires. Community Wildfire Safety Program REDUCE IMPACTS OF PSPS Focus on areas of highest risk Continuously improve based on feedback and past experience Further expand our ongoing coordination with and support for customers and communities Enhanced microgrid capability IMPROVE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS Wildfire Safety Operations Center Weather stations High-definition cameras Meteorology Satellite detection Bolster field-based wildfire expertise for program validation REDUCE WILDFIRE POTENTIAL Asset inspection and repair Enhanced vegetation management (EVM) System hardening Targeted device replacement Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) 5Some of the measures included in this presentation are contemplated as additional precautionary measures intended to further reduce the risk of wildfires. What’s New in 2021 We are continuing to harden our electric grid to reduce wildfire risks, working nonstop to lessen the impact of Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) and providing more resources to customers and communities before, during and after PSPS. REDUCING WILDFIRE RISKS 180System hardening on: CIRCUIT MILES 1,800Enhanced vegetation management on:HIGH-RISK CIRCUIT MILES SUPPORTING CUSTOMERS AND COMMUNITIES Customer notifications in 16 languages and new Address Alerts to keep informed about any address Targeting additional partnerships with Community-Based Organizations to support customers with Access and Functional Needs Meal replacement options for customers in 46 counties ~5,550 batteries available, covering all interested income qualified Medical Baseline customers in high fire-threat areas Targeting additional ADA-accessible Community Resource Center sites REDUCING PSPS IMPACTS Limiting the number of customers impacted by installing 275+additional distribution sectionalizing devices and transmission switches Helping to keep the power on with 10 substations prepared for temporary generation and 5 additional microgrids constructed to power key community resources Weather modeling improvements and 5 days of forecast data 300 NEW WEATHER STATIONS Tracking conditions with: 135 NEW HIGH-DEF CAMERAS Monitoring for wildfires with: 6Some of the measures included in this presentation are contemplated as additional precautionary measures intended to further reduce the risk of wildfires. Marin County Overview WILDFIRE SAFETY AND CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM EFFORTS COMPLETE THROUGH 2020* 2021 PROGRESS 2021 PLAN System Hardening Stronger poles, covered power lines and/or targeted undergrounding 3 LINE MILES 0 LINE MILES 0.08 LINE MILES Sectionalizing Devices Separating the grid into small sections for operational flexibility 60 DEVICES 1 DEVICE 2 DEVICES Enhanced Vegetation Management Address vegetation that poses a higher potential for wildfire risk 51 LINE MILES 0.18 LINE MILES 5 LINE MILES Community Resource Centers (CRC) Provide basic power needs and up-to-date information 3 INDOOR 12 OUTDOOR 4 INDOOR 11 OUTDOOR ONGOING† Weather Stations Enhancing weather forecasting and modeling 27 STATIONS 1 STATION ONGOING‡ High-Definition Cameras Improving real-time monitoring of high-risk areas and conditions 12 CAMERAS 0 CAMERAS ONGOING‡ 2021 data as of June 30. *Cumulative progress from 2018 through 2020. †CRC planning for 2021 is conducted in coordination with local agencies/tribes and is ongoing. ‡Identified on a monthly basis. Quarterly progress updates are available at: pge.com/wildfiresafety 7Some of the measures included in this presentation are contemplated as additional precautionary measures intended to further reduce the risk of wildfires. 0.08 LINE MILES2021 TARGET 2 DEVICES2021 TARGET System Hardening and Sectionalizing in Marin County 3 Total Line Miles Hardened to date 61 Total Sectionalizing Devices to date We are installing more resilient infrastructure and replacing equipment where possible. We are also installing new sectionalizing devices to reduce the number of customers impacted during an outage. Local work plans are subject to change. Locations are approximate. Local work plans are subject to change. Locations are approximate and may overlap. MAP LEGEND: Completed System Hardening Work Planned System Hardening Work MAP LEGEND: Sectionalizing Devices: 2021 Planned 2019 & 2020 Completed System Hardening Sectionalizing 2021 data as of June 30. 8Some of the measures included in this presentation are contemplated as additional precautionary measures intended to further reduce the risk of wildfires. Weather Stations and Cameras in Marin County We are adding weather stations and supporting the installation of cameras to better monitor severe weather that can impact our system so we can proactively respond to potential threats. 28 STATIONSCOMPLETE TO-DATE 12 CAMERASCOMPLETE TO-DATE Local work plans are subject to change. Locations are approximate and may overlap. Local work plans are subject to change. Locations are approximate and may overlap. MAP LEGEND: PG&E Weather Station Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS) within PG&E’s service area MAP LEGEND: PG&E HD Camera Non-PG&E Camera In PG&E’s Service Area Proposed 2021 HD Camera Install Location Weather Stations Cameras 2021 data as of June 30. 9Some of the measures included in this presentation are contemplated as additional precautionary measures intended to further reduce the risk of wildfires. Planning for Community Resource Centers in Marin County 2021 CRC LOCATIONS* Indoor Event-Ready 1 San Rafael Albert J. Boro Community Center 2 Novato Hamilton Community Center 3 Fairfax Fairfax Community Church 4 Marin City St. Andrew Presbyterian Church Outdoor Event-Ready 5 San Rafael Albert J. Boro Community Center 6 San Rafael Trinity Community Church 7 Novato Costco Wholesale 8 Novato Hamilton Gym 9 Novato Presbyterian Church of Novato 10 Novato Unity in Marin 11 Olema Sacred Heart Church 12 San Anselmo Archie Williams High School 13 Marin City Marin City Health & Wellness Center 14 Mill Valley Old Mill Elementary School 15 Stinson Beach Stinson Beach Library Note: PSPS impact areas are approximate and may overlap Indoor Event-Ready Outdoor Event-Ready CRC LEGEND: PSPS AREA: OCT 25 –28 2020 *CRC locations may change without notice. Sites in progress or proposed may fall out of the process for any number of reasons. Proposed locations are subject to finding a suitable site. 2021 data as of June 30. 10Some of the measures included in this presentation are contemplated as additional precautionary measures intended to further reduce the risk of wildfires. What is a Public Safety Power Shutoff? High winds and dangerous conditions can cause branches and debris to contact energized power lines. This could damage our equipment and cause a wildfire. Once severe weather has passed, we will inspect the system and repair any damage. Once inspections and any repairs are complete, power is restored. To prevent such fires, we may need to turn off power. Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). This is called a Safety is our most important responsibility. That is why we may need to turn off power as a last resort to prevent wildfires during severe weather conditions. 11Some of the measures included in this presentation are contemplated as additional precautionary measures intended to further reduce the risk of wildfires. What Conditions Could Lead to a PSPS Event? We carefully review a combination of factors when deciding if power must be turned off for safety. These factors include: Low humidity levels generally 30% and below Forecasted high winds above 20 mph and gusts above 30-40 mph Condition of dry material on the ground and vegetation near lines A Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service On-the-ground, real-time observations This year, our decision-making process is evolving to also account for the presence of trees tall enough to strike power lines when determining if a PSPS event is necessary. 12Some of the measures included in this presentation are contemplated as additional precautionary measures intended to further reduce the risk of wildfires. Enroll at: pge.com/addressalerts How Will Customers be Notified? 1-2 days before power is turned off (WATCH) Just before power is turned off (WARNING) When power is turned off Daily until power is restored Once power has been restored Timing of Notifications (when possible) When severe weather is forecast, we provide advance notice prior to turning off power and updates until power is restored. @pacificgasandelectric @pacificgasandelectric @PGE4Me Notifications sent via automated calls, texts and emails. We will also use pge.com, social media and will inform local news and radio. New for 2021 | Address Alerts Receive PSPS notifications, available in multiple languages, for any location, such as: The home of a friend or loved one Your child’s school or day care Your work or business 13Some of the measures included in this presentation are contemplated as additional precautionary measures intended to further reduce the risk of wildfires. Customer Preparedness and Resources We are increasing resources to help customers and communities before, during and after PSPS events: Partnerships with 250+ Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) to provide emergency preparedness information and PSPS event assistance Sponsored food replacement through partner food banks and Meals on Wheels organizations California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC) providing emergency planning, portable backup power, accessible transportation, hotel stays and food stipends Providing portable backup batteries for low-income Medical Baseline customers in high fire-threat areas Generator rebate programs offered to customers who depend on well water pumps and live in high-fire threat areas Providing better information about when power will be turned off and back on in 16 languages Marin County Community-Based Organizations CFILC •Marin Center for Independent Living Food Bank •The San Francisco Food Bank Other •California Council of the Blind In-Language Media •ABS-CNB •Alianza News •KBTV -Crossings TV •KDTV Univision •KIQI Radio •KRON4.2-Skylink TV •KSFN-News for Chinese Radio •KTSF-TV •KTVO-Sing Tao Radio •La Voz •PAMA One Radio •Radio Lazer SJ (KSFN) •Russian American Media •Sound of Hope Radio Network Potential Partnership: •Meals on Wheels Marin County •211 (Other) 2021 data as of June 30. 14Some of the measures included in this presentation are contemplated as additional precautionary measures intended to further reduce the risk of wildfires. More Information and Tools to Prepare For more information about our wildfire safety efforts, visit For specific information, please consider the following: Would you like to receive PSPS notifications but are not the PG&E account holder? Sign up to receive PSPS alerts for any address at Do you need information in a language other than English? Find assistance at Do you want to learn more about the live weather conditions we are tracking in your area? Get up-to-the-minute weather information at Are you looking for tools and activities to help children prepare for an emergency? Visit our interactive site at Are you looking for more information on how to stay safe before and during a PSPS event? Learn more about wildfire risks and how to prepare for emergencies at Do you need backup power? Check out backup power options, safety tips and financing at pge.com/wildfiresafety pge.com/addressalerts safetyactioncenter.pge.com pge.com/weather pge.com/backuppowerSee if you qualify for the Portable Battery Program at pge.com/storage kidsemergencysafety.com pge.com/mywildfirealerts Thank You For more information, please: •Call us at 1-866-743-6589 •Email us at wildfiresafety@pge.com •Visit pge.com/wildfiresafety Additional Information 17Some of the measures included in this presentation are contemplated as additional precautionary measures intended to further reduce the risk of wildfires. We are collaborating with the Disability Disaster Access and Resources (DDAR) Program to provide qualifying customers with targeted outreach, personalized emergency planning support, energy needs assessments and in-event Public Safety Power Shutoff support. In-event support can include the following support based on customer needs: During 2020 PSPS events, the following resources were provided: Response to Escalations received through PG&E’s call center Hotel Accommodations Accessible Transportation to hotels and Community Resource Centers Food Vouchers Portable Backup Batteries ~1,700 customer assessments ~1,000 batteries ~560 hotel accommodations ~900 food vouchers ~30 accessible transit rides Learn more about DDAR by visiting disabilitydisasteraccess.org Data is subject to change and is based on best available information at this time. Disability Disaster Access and Resources Program 18Some of the measures included in this presentation are contemplated as additional precautionary measures intended to further reduce the risk of wildfires. We are also conducting Public Safety Power Shutoff emergency preparedness outreach and energy needs assessments to support income qualified Medical Baseline customers in high fire-threat areas with critical medical equipment and delivering fully subsidized portable battery solutions to eligible customers. To date, this program has included the following: Establishing relationships with seven external battery delivery partners Providing outreach to ~22,000 customers Completing energy assessments for over 8,800 customers Providing over 5,550 batteries to customers Portable Battery Program For more information, visit:pgebatteryprogram.com 19 Generator and Battery Rebate Program PRIOR PROGRAM NEW AS OF JUNE 2021 ELIGIBILITY •PG&E customers who depend on water well pumps to satisfy their primary water needs •Located in Tier 2/3 High Fire Threat Districts (T2/3 HFTD) •Customers must: •Have an active PG&E account •Reside in Tier 2 or 3 high-fire threat area •Meet one of the following criteria: •Rely on water pumping for your premise •Enrolled in the Medical Baseline program •Are a small/micro non-critical care essential business (i.e., Grocery Stores, Veterinarian Services, Urgent Care/Clinics) REBATE STRUCTURE •$300 if eligible •$500 if eligible and on CARE/FERA program Tiered based on retail pricing* •Level 1: $0 -$500/product = $300 •Level 2: $501 -$1,000/product = $500 •Level 3: $1,001+/product = $1,000 *Each tier receives an additional $200 kicker if on CARE/FERA PRODUCT OFFERINGS •Portable Fuel Generators •Portable Fuel Generators (well pump, SMB) •Portable Backup Batteries (MBL) Note: Product must be in the Qualified Product List PG&E is offering eligible customers a rebate on the purchase of a qualifying product (generator or battery) to prepare for outages. For more information, visit:pge.com/backuppower