Title
Sheriff's Office recommending the Board receive a presentation on PG&E’s decision to terminate power during periods of high fire risk. (Est. Time: 30 Min.)
FUNDING: None.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On March 30, 2018, the El Dorado County Office of Emergency Services (OES) met with PG&E to discuss the new PG&E safety measure of shutting off power to customers who are served by PG&E electric lines that run through extreme fire-threat areas. At that meeting, OES was given a general outline of the program.
OES staff expressed concerns to PG&E about the safety measure. These concerns included the effect on vulnerable citizens, the logistics of mass care and shelter during evacuations due to wildfires, infrastructure concerns, notification timelines, and trigger points.
On July 3, 2018, OES and El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) staff met again with PG&E to follow up on the discussion had on March 30th. PG&E provided a presentation on their Community Wildfire Safety Program, specifically focusing on the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) portion. More details were given including the frequency and duration of any PSPS and the notifications made to customers affected. PG&E’s meteorologists and working closely with the National Weather Service (NWS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to predict conditions that would cause a PSPS. Due to the unique nature of each possible weather situation triggering a PSPS, PG&E could not provide a list of conditions that would initiate a PSPS. OES has requested PG&E provide a list of “potential” trigger points to help El Dorado County better prepare for events. OES will also be included on the daily 7 day weather forecast used by PG&E. PG&E has also agreed to notify OES 96 hours prior to an anticipated PSPS.
Although this July 3rd meeting was very productive, OES and HHSA still have concerns that PG&E will need to address in the near future. These include trigger ...
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