PG&E’s enhanced weather tech network reduces 2020 power shutoff events by 55%

San Francisco-based Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) last year cut by more than half every public safety power shutoff event that occurred thanks to its expanded network of enhanced weather technology.

The utility’s expanded network, which includes weather stations and high-definition fire-watch cameras located in areas of elevated or extreme fire risk, helped reduce the size of each public safety power shutoff (PSPS) event in 2020 on average by 55 percent, according to data from reports PG&E filed with the California Public Utilities Commission following each PSPS event.

“As a real-time situational awareness tool, we’re able to use our high-density weather observation network at the start of a PSPS event to assess if forecasted critical fire weather conditions are materializing or not,” said Ashley Helmetag, PG&E senior meteorologist. “In a PSPS event, if the conditions are not materializing above risk thresholds, then we’re able to use this data as a one of our decision-making support tools to significantly shrink or eliminate an area that was originally in scope for power shut off.”

PG&E, a subsidiary of the PG&E Corp., last year had 1,000 weather stations and 340 cameras in operation throughout northern and central California, along with devices that isolate the grid into smaller segments and its deployment of temporary generation and microgrids. The equipment enabled PG&E to protect more than 800,000 customers during 2020 PSPS events.

In 2020, PG&E also installed 400 new weather stations and 216 HD cameras as part of its Community Wildfire Safety Program. The high-tech tools will provide better situational awareness and more precise weather monitoring and forecasting of a PSPS event, the company said.

The expanded weather tech network provides real-time information to PG&E’s in-house meteorology team and its Wildfire Safety Operations Center staff, as well as outside agencies and first-responders, who rely on the utility’s data to help make critical decisions during wildfire season.

“We are working every day to improve the safety of our electric system and reduce wildfire risks,” said Debbie Powell, PG&E’s interim head of electric operations. “In addition to preventing wildfires, our focus is on improving weather awareness and reducing the impact of public safety power outages on customers and communities.”

PG&E has been adding to its network of weather stations and cameras since 2018 and plans to install 1,300 weather stations by year’s end. By the end of 2022, the company also plans to have nearly 600 cameras installed and expects to have the ability to see roughly 90 percent of the high fire-risk areas it serves in real-time.