City of Biggs
Where the People Own the Water and Power
Electric Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS)
As PG&E implements their Public Safety Power Shut-off Program (PSPS), the information below is provided to clarify if and how the PSPS program might impact City of Biggs electric customers, and how to prepare for a power outage.
PGE PSPS Information:
The City of Biggs very appropriately clears vegetation from the vicinity of power lines in an effort to prevent system reliability and fire issues. Biggs is not in a CalFIRE designated fire danger area. The City does not anticipate the need to shut off power in the same manner as PG&E.
In general, we do not expect PG&E PSPS of their distribution systems in designated fire risk areas to impact the City of Biggs, however, PSPS of certain electrical transmission facilities has the potential to impact the region, including the City of Biggs.
PSPS can be performed when certain conditions exist, typically when extreme weather events can pose an increased risk of wildfire. Examples of these conditions include high wind days, low humidity levels, dry vegetation that could fuel a wildfire, and Red Flag Warnings declared by the National Weather Service. When these conditions raise a heightened potential for wildfires, areas of high fire risk may experience power outages to reduce the risk of a wildfire occurring.
The City of Biggs is not in a designated fire risk area.
- Please see the Butte County Map of fire risk areas****
- City of Biggs water and waste water facilities include back-up generator facilities for added reliability.
The City of Biggs will continue to discuss with PG&E the specific impacts to Biggs and will post any information on any such impacts on the City web site at www.biggs-ca.gov
Regardless of the reason for any outage, every step will be taken to restore power as soon as possible. In the meantime, The City of Biggs encourages you to prepare for emergencies by following these tips:
Tips for Customer Preparedness:
- Sign-up for LOCAL emergency alerts! This is a vitally important step.
- Update your contact information with the City of Biggs, including e-mail addresses and mobile numbers. - We are working to add more localized City of Biggs notification systems in early 2020, but we need your current information for those systems to function effectively.
- Identify backup charging methods for phones and other electronic devices.
- Keep emergency, family, and other important phone numbers accessible in hard copy.
- Plan for any medical needs like medications that need to be refrigerated or devices that require power. If you are dependent on an electric or battery-dependent medical technologies such as breathing machines, a power wheelchair or scooter, and home oxygen or dialysis, it is critical that you have a plan in place for an extended power outage.
- Plan for the needs of pets and livestock
- Build or restock your emergency kit with flashlights, fresh batteries, first aid supplies, cash, and food that will last up to five days.
- Designate an emergency meeting location
- Know how to manually open your garage door
- Ensure any backup generators are ready to safely operate.
- Identify any unique needs of your family and loved ones in the area for your emergency plan
Additional Resources
- Investor-owned Utilities Public Safety Power Shutoff: https://prepareforpowerdown.com/
- Disaster preparedness information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security: https://www.ready.gov/wildfires
- CAL FIRE wildfire preparedness information: http://www.readyforwildfire.org/
- California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services website: https://www.caloes.ca.gov/
- Butte County Fire Safe Council: http://www.buttefiresafe.net/
- City of Biggs web site: www.biggs-ca.gov
Transmission and Distribution Basics
- Engineering World Channel: “Electrical Grid 101: All You Need to Know!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbPmsBmo03Y
- U.S. Department of Energy Infographic: “Understanding the Grid”
- American Public Power Association Infographic: “Where Does My Electricity Come From?” https://www.publicpower.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/29-Electrcity-Flow-Infographic.jpg
