2025 FRAMEWORK FOR AFN SUPPORT
Supporting Customers with Access and Functional Needs During Power Shutoffs
The Framework for AFN Support was created in partnership with the California Joint IOUs and the AFN Collaborative Council.
Executive Summary
This document outlines a support framework, developed through the work of the Collaborative Council, which can be used to reduce risk and ensure safety for electricity-dependent customers with access and functional needs during PSPS.
California has experienced a significant increase in catastrophic wildfires and other weather-related disasters. As the number of these wildfires has increased, so has the scope, scale, and devastation associated with them. To keep communities in high fire-risk areas safe from the risk of wildfires, California’s Electric Investor-Owned Utilities might shut off power when there are high winds and very dry vegetation as a tool of last resort. These outages are called Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). To reduce the risk of infrastructure-related wildfires, power providers have deployed a variety of efforts (e.g., grid hardening, vegetation management, weather forecasting) in conjunction with the implementation of PSPS, which have proven to be an effective mitigation tool for preventing ignitions. However, the incorporation of PSPS within wildfire mitigation operations poses alternative risks associated with loss of electricity, particularly for those with a disability or access and functional needs.
To address these impacts, California’s Joint Investor-Owned Utilities, comprised of Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric, and leaders from the AFN community came together to create a Collaborative Council. The Collaborative Council provides a mechanism to foster trust and collaboration between electric utilities and the AFN community. This has led to better informed processes, increased awareness of customer needs, and enhanced efforts to support electricity-dependent customers before, during, and after PSPS, as well as a secondary effect of supporting customers throughout the year in other situations where power may be lost for other reasons.
While the Council has been a venue for progress to date, ongoing dialogue regarding potential improvements can serve to ensure the continued health and safety of customers who are electricity dependent. The framework of the Collaborative Council facilitates continued engagement and programmatic evolution that can aid in mitigating the impacts of being without power, while increasing community safety throughout the PSPS process.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Climate-driven extreme heat and severe drought have led to the increased likelihood, scope, and severity of wildfires. In response, utilities in California continue to invest in tools, methods, and resources that increase community safety by mitigating wildfire ignitions. Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) have proven to be an effective tool for preventing wildfires when used as a last resort during periods of high risk.
PSPS reduce the risk and occurrence of wildfires by proactively de-energizing powerlines during periods of high winds, very dry vegetation, and low humidity. The use of PSPS, while effective at mitigating wildfires, does not impact all individuals equally. Individuals with access and functional needs (AFN) may be disproportionately impacted by these shutoffs. The loss of power during PSPS poses potentially dangerous health and safety-related implications for individuals who rely on electricity to power durable medical equipment and assistive devices.
Before operationalizing PSPS throughout their service territories, Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs) held a series of outreach sessions with emergency managers and community partners. These sessions facilitated meaningful dialogue, which led to an increased understanding on the part of IOUs regarding the adverse and disproportionate impacts PSPS have on electricity-dependent individuals with AFN.
To address these impacts, California’s IOUs, comprised of Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E), and leaders from the AFN community came together to create a Collaborative Council. Together, the Council works to mitigate the negative health, safety, and financial impacts of PSPS through a forward-leaning process of continuously identifying and improving support services, enhancing the accuracy, timeliness, and accessibility of notifications, and the maintenance of an ongoing dialogue that expands the overall understanding of AFN-specific considerations. These actions empower personal preparedness and build resilience.
The Collaborative Council includes executive representation from community partners at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), Disability Rights California (DRC), the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD), the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), and the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC).
The success of the Collaborative Council has come amidst the backdrop of a balanced approach between the ongoing voluntary engagement of community partners and a regulatory environment driven by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which requires IOUs to provide funding for customer support efforts and mandates executive-level participation in Council activities.
By creating a regulatory framework that enables IOUs to address the needs of electricity- dependent customers with access and functional considerations before, during, and after PSPS, the CPUC empowered utilities to establish priorities, dedicate budgets, and lean into partnerships in ways not feasible without regulation.
Recognizing the importance of expanding their own in-house subject matter expertise, capability, and operational capacity, the IOUs also established AFN-specific teams within each of their respective organizational structures.
Definition
Individuals with Access and Functional Needs
Individuals who have developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, chronic conditions, injuries, limited English proficiencies, who are non-English speakers, older adults, children, people living in institutional settings, or those who are low income, homeless, or transportation disadvantaged, including but not limited to, those who are dependent on public transit and those who are pregnant.
Definition
Electricity-Dependent
Individuals who rely on electricity to maintain necessary life functions, including to power durable medical equipment, assistive devices, or health and independence-related technologies or resources
Overview
Public Safety Power Shutoffs Background
California utilities proactively turn off power to prevent wildfire ignitions during high-risk conditions, including dry and windy weather. As a wildfire prevention tool, PSPS are highly effective. Recognizing the potential negative cascading impacts associated with their use, PSPS are used as a mitigation tool of last resort.
Community Partnerships
Power outages, whether planned or not, create serious disruptions for everyone affected. This is particularly true among individuals with AFN who rely on electricity to power health, safety, and independence-maintaining devices and equipment. Prolonged outages impact their ability to regulate temperature, keep medicines cool, operate ventilators and breathing devices, and use communication tools.
As part of their process to plan for a PSPS, utilities should identify, engage, and partner with the AFN community. An effective approach to AFN-specific collaboration is to partner with community-based organizations and individuals with lived experience. Doing so informs utility processes, leads to the development of better plans and operations, and builds trust within the community. The IOUs utilize the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) six- step planning process from the Comprehensive Planning Guide 101 to foster a repeatable and thorough approach to promote consideration of community planning and perspectives.
Utility Regulations
Formally mandated by the CPUC in 2021, the Collaborative Council consists of executive- level representatives from each of the IOUs and respective leaders from AFN-specific partner groups, organizations, and leadership teams. Additional regulatory action from the CPUC required IOU funding for the ongoing support of customers with AFN before, during, and after a PSPS. Although utilities began these conversations and partnerships in advance of the regulations, the rulemaking helped solidify important benefits and expected outcomes to drive progress forward in the space.
Regulatory action created a formal space for the executive-level collaboration of the Council, which enabled utilities to establish AFN-specific priorities, dedicate budgets for serving electricity-dependent Californians, and lean further into partnerships to support the AFN community.
Working with regulators to outline AFN support requirements allows utilities to allocate appropriate funding and resources for the programs they plan to implement. Furthermore, it enables meaningful collaboration with community partners that enhances PSPS implementation plans that foster safety, preparedness, and resilience.
California regulatory requirements for PSPS include, but are not limited, to the following:
Phase 1 PSPS OIR Appendix (pg. 12)
“…the electric investor-owned utilities should seek to identify and expand registration under their medical baseline tariffs.”
Impact
Enabled customers to self-ID and established affiliation with Medical Baseline Program.
Phase 3 PSPS OIR Appendix A (G. 3-3A)
“IOUs must conduct appropriate outreach to ensure that individuals who rely on elevators to access or leave their residence receive PSPS notifications and are aware of resiliency support.”
Impact
Launch of Multi-Family Dwellings communications campaigns and development of the Mobile Home Park Resiliency program.
Phase 3 PSPS OIR Appendix A (G.5)
“IOUs must administer a program for electric-dependent individuals that offers support and services and ensures they can use necessary medical equipment before and during a PSPS.”
Impact
Formal adoption of the Collaborative and Statewide Advisory councils which produced Prepare for Power Down (P4PD) website, organized engagement with In-Home Support Service (IHSS) / Independent Living Centers (ILCs) and established the statewide 2-1-1 partnership.
Phase 3 PSPS OIR Appendix A (G. 6)
“Utility representatives must meet with AFN leaders at least quarterly to develop, implement, and review each IOU’s annual AFN plans.”
Impact
Launch of Multi-Family Dwellings communications campaigns and development of the Mobile Home Park Resiliency program.
Formally mandated by the CPUC in 2021, the Collaborative Council consists of executive- level representatives from each of the IOUs and respective leaders from AFN-specific partner groups, organizations, and leadership teams. Additional regulatory action from the CPUC required IOU funding for the ongoing support of customers with AFN before, during, and after a PSPS. Although utilities began these conversations and partnerships in advance of the regulations, the rulemaking helped solidify important benefits and expected outcomes to drive progress forward in the space. Regulatory action created a formal space for the executive-level collaboration of the Council, which enabled utilities to establish AFN-specific priorities, dedicate budgets for serving electricity-dependent Californians, and lean further into partnerships to support the AFN community. Working with regulators to outline AFN support requirements allows utilities to allocate appropriate funding and resources for the programs they plan to implement. Furthermore, it enables meaningful collaboration with community partners that enhances PSPS implementation plans that foster safety, preparedness, and resilience.
Support Framework
AFN Support Team
Within a Utility
To successfully address the complex access and functional considerations of electricity-dependent customers, utilities must adapt their internal infrastructure accordingly. This may include having an internal team in place whose specific role is to understand, identify, and address the needs of electricity-dependent customers with access and functional considerations before, during, and after PSPS throughout their respective service areas.
Internal AFN-specific organizational support includes:
Establishing an internal AFN team with a correlated staffing structure and dedicated funding to support customers with AFN.
Designating an AFN manager whose job responsibilities are separate and distinct from an ADA coordinator.
Training the AFN and PSPS teams on AFN-specific considerations, disability etiquette, and best practices for inclusion.
Dedicated AFN team in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to identify and address customer needs. This includes on-call support, managing escalated customer issues, and delivering to other community stakeholders/partners.
A utility’s AFN staffing structure should be in place before proactive de-energizations are implemented. This ensures the team is prepared to respond to customer needs and can PSPS liaise with local AFN-specific community-based organizations on behalf of the utility.
Getting to Know Customers
To provide comprehensive support for customers with AFN, it is important to understand their unique needs and experiences. An essential part of that process is identifying customer demographics where risks are the greatest, as well as throughout a utilities’ service territory. Understanding local demographics and knowing where PSPS are most likely to occur based on wildfire risk enables focused utility operationalization of AFN-specific engagement strategies.
Existing programs that identify customers with electric-dependent medical needs, such as the Medical Baseline Allowance program, can serve as a starting point for identifying customers with AFN. However, criteria for these programs have not been developed around the framework of extended outages and should not be relied on as the sole way to identify customers who may need additional AFN-related support. Existing programs may not be sufficient for identifying customers who will need support before, during, and after PSPS.
To better understand the AFN-related needs of their customers, utilities should provide the ongoing opportunity for customers to self- certify that they have an access or functional need and may require additional support during PSPS. This enables customers to access support before and during PSPS.
Once customers indicate the need for additional support during extended power outages, the utility can act to connect them with appropriate mitigation, preparedness, and/or response resources. This also allows the utility to educate and encourage customers about how they can take action and be self-resilient ahead of a PSPS, leveraging tools and resources offered by the utility.
It is essential to ensure customer contact information remains up-to-date for anyone who may require support during PSPS. A steady flow of communications reminding customers to update their contact information is crucial to help ensure a utility can successfully notify and support customers before, during, and after PSPS.
AFN support programs require accurate customer contact information, which enables utilities to communicate with the community in their preferred and accessible formats.
Identification of Customers with AFN
California utilities provide a variety of ways for customers with AFN to self-identify as electricity-dependent.
Methods for enabling customers to self-certify as electricity-dependent vary among utilities, but typically include direct mail, email outreach, or by directly contacting the utility. California utilities promote the option to self-identify on their webpages, social media, and through partnerships with state agencies and community-based organizations.
Measuring Awareness and Satisfaction
- Pre-PSPS Season (i.e., prior to peak wildfire season)
- Post-PSPS Season (i.e., immediately following peak wildfire season)
Survey questions measure customer:
- Recall of wildfire safety communications from their utility, general satisfaction of communications, and if language preference has been met;
- Awareness of PSPS programs;
- Preparedness level for an extended power outage;
- Actions taken to prepare for a PSPS, including specific preparedness activities;
- Notifications received ahead of a PSPS (i.e., Post-PSPS Season survey); and
- Satisfaction with resources provided.
Administering these surveys has enabled California utilities to better understand their customers and adjust PSPS communication strategies and AFN support programs. Additional surveys administered throughout the year also measure awareness and satisfaction of customers with AFN relating to PSPS. As a part of these surveys, the Commission also mandated three key performance indicators (KPIs) to promote tracking while allowing the Council/IOUs to add or adjust Key Performance Indicators to provide feedback and the flexibility necessary to refine offerings.
PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E came together with members of the AFN Core Planning Team, leaders from the AFN community who advise the utilities on AFN planning, to develop the three KPIs. These KPIs seek to measure the impacts of PSPS on individual
The 2022 - 2025 KPIs are:
The percentage of individuals with AFN who were aware of what support and resources were available to them during a PSPS
The percentage of individuals with AFN who were able to use necessary medical equipment to maintain necessary life functions for the duration of any PSPS that affected them
The percentage of individuals who utilized mitigation services (e.g., 211 support, Community Resource Centers, battery programs) and reported they were satisfied with the level of support
These KPIs are a way to track the performance of the utilities against their AFN Plans, as well as year-over-year program performance and improvement.
Collaboration with Community Partners
Support for individuals with AFN begins within the utility, but becomes most effective when there is a partnership with the local community. This includes working with Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), emergency management practitioners, healthcare providers, and government organizations to understand and meet the diverse needs of all customers, guided by regulatory framework. To be successful, preparedness efforts require a whole community approach.
The Collaborative Council addresses support gaps, develops solutions, and provides guidance for the operationalization, execution, and evolution of PSPS programs. Unlike a company-specific AFN Advisory Committee, the Council is comprised of leaders from across each of the utilities and major AFN organizations. Together, they serve as a source of deep knowledge, offer insight, provide feedback, and give expert input on IOU customer support strategies, programs, and priorities.
Beyond the Council, the utilities have partnered with a broad network of CBOs to support community members where it is most accessible and convenient for them. Partner CBOs include local food banks and Meals-on-Wheels, as well as organizations providing specialized services such as the California Council of the Blind.
This partnership has led to the identification of opportunities to enhance resource allotments, expand programs, and provide greater support for individuals with AFN while minimizing CBO costs. The partnership also creates opportunities to connect with the broader community through local workshops and meetings, which helps raise greater community awareness of the PSPS program and the resources available to mitigate their impact.
Statewide and Collaborative Councils
California utilities partner with AFN experts throughout the state to ensure a consistent, comprehensive portfolio of support programs, to coordinate with other resource providers, and to raise awareness about PSPS.
These partnerships are formalized through strategic, and ongoing collaboration with state and local councils, community representatives, and AFN leaders.
Supporting Individuals with
AFN Impacted by PSPS
This document outlines a support framework, developed through the work of the Collaborative Council, which can be used to reduce risk and ensure safety for electricity-dependent customers with AFN during PSPS.
Support provided to individuals with AFN should aim to mitigate the impacts of de-energization through improved customer outreach, education, assistance, and support services. The activities outlined on the following pages have been developed through partnership with community leaders, CBOs, and key stakeholders representing communities with AFN. With appropriate support and regulatory structures in place, utilities can develop comprehensive programs that provide meaningful support to impacted customers.
Profile: Medical Baseline Program
The Medical Baseline Program is a California-wide assistance program offered through local utilities for residential customers who use medical equipment at home or have a condition that requires heating or cooling. There is no income requirement and customers can apply to the program directly through their utility.
Informing Customers
There are a variety of communication tools that can be employed to help customers prepare for PSPS, as well as notifying them before, during, and after. Utilities can utilize a multi- pronged approach to communicate with customers who depend on electricity for health and safety regarding PSPS awareness, preparedness, education, and mitigation services through direct communications, mass media, CBO collaborations, and partnership with State agencies.
Example channels of preparedness communication include:
- Direct-to-customer preparedness outreach (e.g., newsletters, bill inserts, direct mail, brochures, and emails)
- Multilingual direct notifications via calls, text, and/or email for all account holders
- An option for non-account holders to enroll in direct notifications based on an address to assist providing timely notifications (e.g., notifications to a caregiver to support those that may need assistance, etc.)
- Mass media channels such as broadcast TV, radio and print ads targeted to AFN and rural populations, and social media (including multi-cultural media partners)
- AFN and PSPS preparedness web pages
- Network of CBO partners to expand reach and amplify messaging
- Emergency preparedness promotion, proactive outreach, and identification of customers with AFN who require assistance from community partners
When possible, customers should be notified of a PSPS two days before power is turned off with additional notification updates one day before, just before power is turned off, and during the PSPS. Communications and support before and during PSPS should be offered in a customer’s preferred language, including ASL, and be in plain language that is easy to understand.
Customer Notifications
Ahead of a PSPS, all customers enrolled in the Medical Baseline Allowance program, rely on life support, or who rely on electricity for their health and safety, must be notified via texts, phone calls, and/or emails in their preferred language. If customers do not acknowledge message receipt, California utility personnel perform in-person, door-to-door notifications to ensure they are reached.
The coordination and dispatch of these personnel takes place through a centralized Incident Management Team (IMT) during a PSPS. The coordination of direct outreach requires a multi-team approach leveraging a wide range of resources to support customers. The responsibility should be shared across the organization and include integration of the AFN team in the EOC. This ensures customers can be reached before power is turned off and facilitates response to customer needs during PSPS.
Address Alerts
Address Alerts are a type of notification about PSPS anyone can sign up to receive for any location. They allow individuals to receive alerts even if they are not a customer and for addresses other than their own, such as the home of a friend or family member or their work. This is also a useful tool for customers who may not have their contact information associated with the account where they live.
Phase Resources
To fully support the PSPS-related needs of the AFN community, utilities should be prepared to address considerations during each of the following phases of de-energization.
Some examples include:
Before De-energization/Ongoing Activities
Prepare for Power Down Website
As a fixed, year-round resource, PrepareforPowerDown.com serves as a one-stop-shop for customers to learn about and access resources in their area, while learning about preparedness steps they can take, either independently or with support, in case of a power-related emergency.
Preparedness Communication Campaigns
In advance of PSPS, utilities should proactively educate all customers, including individuals with AFN, that an outage may occur in their area. The outreach should be continuous and utilize a variety of channels to reach as many individuals as possible.
Joint IOU/AFN Collaborative and Statewide Advisory Councils
Developing AFN leadership and partner advisory councils that meet regularly, advise utilities on all phases of PSPS, and support customers with AFN creates better programs and generates buy-in from the community.
PSPS Regional Working Groups
Regional Working Groups meet regularly to promote planning and preparedness for the general population, including those with AFN.
Backup Power Support Programs
Backup power programs can provide a variety of power solutions tailored for customers who use medical equipment at home or require heating or cooling. Offering backup power solutions at reduced or no-cost can help protect and alleviate the financial burden on these customers.
- Developing a program that allows customers to self-mitigate the impacts of outages though backup power solutions before a PSPS occurs.
- Specific types of backup power solutions may include:
- Whole-home backup power
- No-cost portable backup batteries
- Portable generator rebates
- Permanent battery storage rebates
During De-energization
Utilizing Key Partnerships
CBOs are critical throughout a PSPS and especially during a de-energization. These organizations can leverage their expertise and existing relationships with community members to proactively provide support.
Community Resource Centers (CRCs)
With proper planning, CRCs can be opened quickly during PSPS to provide cooling/heating, provide device charging stations that are capable of powering medical devices, cellular network services, and access to other immediate resources.
Accessible Communications
Utility customers need the option to choose their preferred method of communication, including language considerations.
After Power is Restored
Assess Impact and Success of Response
The post-PSPS season survey administered to customers provides valuable feedback and insight into customer awareness, interest, and utilization of available resources. Utilities, in partnership with CBOs and other partners, should use the information gathered from surveys to inform future PSPS planning and operations.
PSPS Communication Plan
Implementing a PSPS communication plan that reaches all AFN population segments is imperative to ensuring the community is informed, prepared, and supported. Communication about potential outages, as well as consistent notifications when outages are imminent, empowers customers to plan how they will stay safe, and access needed resources.
Informational Tools
The AFN Collaborative Council has worked to continuously improve informational tools to make them easy to understand and navigate for individuals and external organizations.
Communication Accessibility
- Enabling customers to sign up for PSPS alerts and notifications. The sign-up process includes updating contact information, indicating a preferred language, and requesting specific accommodations for accessibility.
- Enabling non-customers outside service territories to sign up for PSPS alerts and notifications. This ensures individuals and organizations who may support customers have situational awareness.
- Make alerts and notifications available in accessible formats, including American Sign Language (ASL), Braille, and English large print. The specific formats used may vary from one utility to another.
- Provide alerts and notifications in the preferred language of customers.
- Provide an option for a customer to update their communication channel preference, should it change.
- Ensure Section 508, a federal electronic accessibility standard, compliance with all electronically posted information, including utility websites, social media, and emails.
Including questions regarding communication preferences and accessibility needs in customer surveys can help utilities identify gaps in current wildfire safety outage communication methods, processes, or formats.
Connecting Customers to Resources
A primary focus of the Collaborative Council is to ensure individuals with AFN are supported and safe during emergency power outages. While utilities can provide many key resources, there are many organizations that provide crucial support to the AFN community in partnership with utilities.
A few of those essential resources include:
1. Partnering with Disability Disaster Access & Resources (DDAR) and 211
In many cases, DDAR and 211 work together closely to ensure that customers are being connected to the appropriate organization for support and that their needs are met as quickly as possible.
Administered by the California Foundation of Independent Living Centers (CFILC), DDAR provides tailored solutions for customers with disabilities. DDAR staff have deep knowledge of customer needs and provide personalized, effective PSPS-specific support.
During a PSPS, utility EOCs can activate DDAR support and refer customers with power needs to local centers for quick and personalized resolution. Additionally, DDAR staff can begin proactive outreach to known clients, resolve challenges, and support customer needs.
DDAR provided resources include:
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Backup battery options
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Accessible transportation
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Short-term housing support
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Food and fuel vouchers
-
Preparedness resources
211 is a free telephone service that provides callers with a broad range of community services for all California residents, including those with AFN. 211 acts as both a contact center for triage and referral, as well as a resource for directly providing certain services such as food support and accessible transportation. For customers with AFN, 211 is able to provide some immediate resources as well as refer individuals to an organization that can best serve them directly.
In the SDG&E service territory, DDAR is not available; in this case, 211 is able to provide many of the resources that DDAR provides in other areas.
2. Prepare for Power Down Webpage
In collaboration with Council partners, California utilities developed PrepareForPowerDown.com, a one-stop-shop website that offers CBOs, partner agencies and customers easy access to a wide list of PSPS resources and programs.
This joint website serves as a centralized resource for statewide CBO and agencies serving AFN communities, providing easy access to IOU information on PSPS preparedness and resources. The website offers downloadable content, including the Joint IOU CBO training presentations, PSPS social media graphics, and utility-specific PSPS support materials.
Prepare for Power Down is a customer-facing website with user-friendly features and emergency preparedness tools. The site offers utility-customized views through ZIP Code entry of programs and resources, customized preparedness checklists, and additional encouragement to sign up for outage alerts, apply to Medical Baseline Program if eligible, and gain access to other utility customer support programs. The webpage is a resource that can be promoted by partners conducting statewide outreach, as it is not utility specific.
3. Community Resource Centers (CRCs) and Community Crew Vehicles
To minimize impacts during a PSPS, California utilities open CRCs in potentially impacted counties and Tribal communities. CRCs provide customers and residents with a safe location to meet their basic power needs, such as charging medical equipment and electronic devices. The strategy to open CRCs was developed in consultation with regional, local and Tribal governments, advisory councils, public safety partners, representatives of the disability and AFN communities, senior citizen groups, business owners, CBOs, and public health and Health Care providers.
In most cases, CRCs open the day de-energization begins and operate during set hours until the day electric service is restored to nearly all customers.
When identifying potential CRC locations, consider locations easily known to the public that can be identified in coordination with local and Tribal agencies, such as community centers, libraries, schools, churches, and senior centers.
Indoor CRCs were found to be the ideal option for safely serving customers. However, outdoor CRCs (tent, micro and mobile) were used during the Covid-19 pandemic and can be set up quickly in unexpected emergencies.
Consider the below example criteria when identifying and reviewing potential CRC locations:
Indoor CRC Site Criteria:
- Compliant with safety requirements (i.e., earthquake/fire codes, occupancy limits, meets all local codes and possesses interior/exterior lighting)
- ADA-accessible, meeting all associated facility and parking guidelines
- Has own back up generation or capable of receiving temporary back up generation
- Outfitted with restroom(s) and indoor plumbing and able to accommodate portable ADA-compliant restroom(s)
- Able to accommodate off-street paved parking
- Equipped with a level-loading area for loading and unloading materials
Outdoor CRC Site Criteria:
- Approximately half an acre or more in size
- Paved, ADA-accessible lot
- Able to accommodate portable ADA-compliant restrooms
- For outdoor CRCs or rural locations, utilities might deploy a mini-van or other large vehicle to augment resources at a site.
A utility can prepare ahead of a PSPS by securing locations with site agreements executed between the utility and landowners. Posting a list of potential CRC sites on a dedicated PSPS preparedness website can also help customers feel prepared and better understand how they can receive support during a PSPS. Before a PSPS, the utility should complete ADA spot checks at CRC locations to ensure ADA compliance and accessibility.
During a PSPS, CRC site locations can be publicized on a utility’s website, social media, and press releases. They are also shared with state and county officials and CBOs to help reach customers with AFN.
4. Accessible Hotel Stays and Transportation
Accessible transportation resources are provided through partner organizations during a PSPS to ensure customers can reach places such as CRCs and hotels.
California utilities also work with hotels throughout their service territory to offer discount or no-cost, accessible hotel stays for customers with AFN.
5. Food Replacement and Meal Vouchers
Another resource provided during PSPS in partnership with local CBOs, including food banks and Meals-on-Wheels, are food support and meal vouchers. These services ensure that customers have meals available and can even be delivered if needed during a PSPS.
Conclusion
Utilities navigating PSPS for the first time have the opportunity to integrate support for customers with AFN into their planning and response structure, and proactively build relationships with key partners and AFN leaders.
Public Safety Power Shutoffs are a necessary measure of last resort to protect customers against wildfires. These outages carry risks for all customers; however, the risks for individuals with access and functional needs are even more substantial, causing very immediate danger and distress.
With the risk of increasing occurrence and broadening scope of wildfire-related outages in California, utilities and emergency organizations have recognized the need for supporting customers with AFN and have put significant effort and resources into providing that support.
Through collaboration, ongoing engagement, and feedback, the Collaborative Council has worked to deepen the understanding of this issue group and better support and protect electricity-dependent Californians with access and functional needs before, during, and after outages.
The Council is committed to continually improving these efforts and ensuring individuals with AFN are aware of, and able, to access emergency resources.
Appendix
Resources
Utility Programs and AFN Plans
- AFN Plans
- Backup Power Programs
- PSPS Phased Decisions
- Order Instituting Rulemaking to Examine Electric Utility De-Energization of Power Lines in Dangerous Conditions
- Decision D1905042 - Decision Adopting De-Energization (Public Safety Power Shut-Off) Guidelines (Phase 1 Guideline)
- Decision D2005051 - Decision Adopting Phase 2 Updated and Additional Guidelines for De-Energization of Electric Facilities To Mitigate Wildfire Risk
- Decision D2106034 - Decision Adopting Phase 3 Revised And Additional Guidelines And Rules For Public Safety Power Shutoffs (Proactive De-Energizations) Of Electric Facilities To Mitigate Wildfire Risk Caused By Utility Infrastructure
- PSPS Post-Season Reports
- 2024 PG&E Post-Season Report
- 2024 SCE Post-Season Report
- 2024 SDG&E Post-Season Report
- Wildfire Mitigation Plans
