Pacific Gas and Electric Company discussing wildfire safety through open houses, webinars and workshops

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced Monday that it has hosted nearly 6,000 individuals in a series of informational open houses, webinars, and workshops throughout its service area as part of its expanded Community Wildfire Safety Program.

The program was implemented following the 2017 and 2018 wildfires to further reduce wildfire risks and help keep customers and communities safe and educated.

The company held 23 regional open houses, which more than 3,000 participants attended. PG&E also held three informational webinars, which had more than 2,000 attendees. Additional meetings and webinars are planned for the coming months.

“In order to be successful in wildfire safety efforts, we know we need to work together with our customers and our communities to share information and help everyone prepare,” Laurie Giammona, senior vice president and chief customer officer, said. “Having the opportunity to listen to our customers’ feedback and answering their questions is essential, and we appreciate everyone who has taken the time to participate in these events.”

PG&E’s Community Wildfire Safety Program also includes real-time monitoring and intelligence capabilities, new and enhanced safety measures, and hardening of the electric system. It also consists of the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program, which enables PG&E to proactively turn off power for safety if gusty winds, dry conditions, and a heightened fire risk occur.

“Many customers thanked us for hosting these open houses,” Jim Monninger, a PG&E senior manager in Customer Care who staffed meetings in Auburn, Grass Valley, and Placerville, said. “Even customers who understandably have a lot of questions about PSPS said they generally understand the reasoning behind it and appreciate that we are taking the time to answer their questions.”

PG&E said it is working with civic and community leaders, first responders and local agencies to host workshops to prepare for Public Safety Power Shutoffs. So far, more than 850 local and state representatives and critical service providers have attended 17 workshops to discuss how their communities can prepare a shutoff.

“We know how much our customers rely on electric service and that we need to work closely with customers and communities so that they know what to expect and what steps can be taken right now,” Aaron Johnson, a vice president in electric operations who participated in the webinars, said. “We want everyone to have a plan, and to make sure that we have accurate contact information so that we can provide advance notification before a Public Safety Power Shutoff occurs.”