California PSPS: How to Prepare for Planned Power Shutoffs
If you live in California wildfire country, you know the drill: a hot, dry, windy forecast arrives, and your utility warns that the power might be shut off — on purpose. These Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) are a wildfire-prevention measure, and while they save lives and property, they can leave you without power for hours or days. The upside? Unlike a storm, a PSPS is planned, so you get warning and can prepare. Here’s how to be ready.
The short version: sign up for alerts, keep backup power charged, plan for medical and food needs, and know your utility’s resources. Because PSPS events are announced in advance, a prepared household barely feels them.
What is a Public Safety Power Shutoff?
A PSPS is when a utility proactively turns off power to certain areas to prevent its equipment from sparking a wildfire during dangerous conditions — typically hot, dry weather with high winds and low humidity (often during Red Flag Warnings). California’s major utilities — PG&E, Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) — all run PSPS programs.
The goal is safety: power lines can spark fires in extreme conditions, so de-energizing them removes that risk. The trade-off is that affected customers lose power, sometimes for an extended period, until crews can inspect the lines and safely restore service after the weather passes.
How long do PSPS events last?
A PSPS can last anywhere from a few hours to several days, depending on the weather and how long it takes to inspect lines afterward. Power isn’t restored until the dangerous conditions pass and crews confirm the lines are safe — which can add time after the wind dies down. Plan for at least 24–72 hours without power to be safe.
How you’ll be notified
Utilities aim to give advance warning, typically:
- 48 hours before, an initial alert that a PSPS is possible
- 24 hours before, and again just before the shutoff
- During and after, updates on restoration
To receive these, make sure your contact information is current with your utility, and sign up for alerts through their website or app. Don’t rely on a single channel — enroll for text, email, and phone notifications, since a dead phone can’t receive them.
How to prepare for a PSPS
1. Get backup power (the game-changer)
Because PSPS events are planned and can last days, backup power transforms the experience:
- A portable power station or solar generator is ideal — silent, safe indoors, and (with solar) rechargeable during a multi-day shutoff. Since PSPS happens in hot, dry, fire-prone conditions, a fume-free, spark-free battery is far safer than a gas generator. See Best Solar Generators of 2026.
- A home battery provides automatic backup and, with solar, can ride out repeated shutoffs indefinitely.
- If you use a generator, run it outdoors only, away from dry brush — fire risk is the whole reason for the shutoff.
Keep your backup power fully charged whenever a PSPS is forecast.
2. Plan for medical needs
If anyone in your home relies on powered medical equipment:
- Enroll in your utility’s Medical Baseline Program, which provides extra notifications and priority consideration (and discounted rates) for medically vulnerable customers.
- Have backup power sized for your devices — see Best Backup Power Options for Medical Devices at Home.
- Keep a plan for refrigerated medications and a backup location if needed.
3. Stock up and get ready
- Charge everything — phones, power banks, power stations, laptops.
- Fuel your car and keep cash on hand (gas pumps and ATMs go down).
- Store water and non-perishable food, and prep your fridge/freezer (see How to Keep Food Cold During a Power Outage).
- Gather flashlights, lanterns, and a battery radio.
- Refill prescriptions ahead of a forecast event.
4. Know your community resources
During PSPS events, utilities often open Community Resource Centers where you can charge devices, get water and snacks, and access Wi-Fi and restrooms. Locate the nearest one ahead of time through your utility’s website.
Why silent, clean backup power fits PSPS best
PSPS events happen precisely because conditions are hot, dry, and fire-prone — which makes a gas generator a poor fit (fire risk, fumes, and it must run outdoors near the very dry brush that’s the concern). A battery power station or solar generator is the natural choice: it’s silent, produces no sparks or exhaust, runs safely indoors, and — with solar — recharges each day of a multi-day shutoff. For California’s fire-country homeowners, solar-plus-battery backup is arguably the ideal PSPS solution. See How to Power a House During a Blackout to compare.
Important safety notes
Planned-shutoff events vary in timing and length and the rules change, so treat specifics here as general guidance and rely on your utility’s official alerts for your address. Sign up for notifications, keep devices charged ahead of red-flag weather, and plan for medical and refrigeration needs. Follow official emergency instructions during an event.
This guide is general information, not professional, legal or medical advice. During an outage, follow guidance from your utility and local authorities, keep fuel-burning generators outdoors and away from windows, and seek professional help for medical power needs.
Frequently asked questions
What is a PSPS in California? A Public Safety Power Shutoff is when a utility (PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E) proactively turns off power in certain areas to prevent wildfires during hot, dry, windy conditions. It’s a planned outage that can last from hours to several days.
How long does a PSPS last? Anywhere from a few hours to several days. Power is restored only after dangerous weather passes and crews inspect the lines for safety, which can add time. Plan for 24–72 hours without power.
How do I prepare for a PSPS? Sign up for utility alerts and keep your contact info current, charge backup power (a solar generator or battery is ideal), stock food and water, fuel your car, plan for medical needs, and locate your nearest Community Resource Center.
What’s the best backup power for a PSPS? A battery power station or solar generator — silent, spark-free, and safe indoors, which fits the fire-prone conditions of a PSPS far better than a gas generator. With solar, it recharges through multi-day shutoffs.
What is the Medical Baseline Program? It’s a utility program for customers who rely on powered medical equipment, providing extra PSPS notifications, priority consideration, and discounted rates. Enroll through your utility if anyone in your home has medical power needs.
Which California utilities do PSPS events? The three major investor-owned utilities: Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E). Each runs its own PSPS program and notification system for wildfire-risk conditions.
Do I get notified before a PSPS? Yes — utilities aim to notify affected customers about 48 and 24 hours ahead, and again just before the shutoff, provided your contact information is current. Sign up for text, email, and phone alerts so a dead phone doesn’t leave you uninformed.
The bottom line
A California PSPS is a planned outage, which means preparation is entirely within your control. Sign up for alerts, keep backup power charged (a silent, spark-free solar generator or battery is the ideal fit for fire-prone conditions), stock food and water, and enroll in the Medical Baseline Program if you have medical needs. Know where your Community Resource Center is, and keep your car fueled and phones charged whenever a shutoff is forecast. Do that, and a Public Safety Power Shutoff goes from a multi-day ordeal to a manageable, well-handled inconvenience.