Overview
Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), also known as de-energization, is a proactive safety measure where electric utilities temporarily shut off power to specific areas during extreme weather conditions to reduce the risk of utility equipment causing catastrophic wildfires. PSPS events are implemented when environmental conditions create an unacceptably high risk that energized electrical infrastructure could ignite a wildfire with severe consequences.
Purpose and Rationale
PSPS became a critical wildfire mitigation tool following several catastrophic utility-caused fires. These events demonstrated that under extreme fire weather conditions, the consequences of utility-caused ignitions can be catastrophic, making proactive de-energization a necessary risk management tool despite the hardships power outages create for affected communities.
Utilities continuously work to improve PSPS programs through better forecasting, targeted scope reduction, faster restoration, and long-term investments in grid hardening, enhanced safety settings, and vegetation management to reduce future reliance on de-energization. Utility commissions nationwide are now expecting quantifiable risk analysis to justify every PSPS decision, and regulators expect documentation that can withstand rigorous review and defensible decision-making processes.
Analysis Process
Effective PSPS determination combines Technosylva modeling capabilities with utility-specific operational knowledge:
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Fire Danger Metrics such as fire potential metrics, wind conditions, and fuel conditions
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Fire Risk Metrics including consequences to populations and infrastructure
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Customer impact assessment (number affected, critical facilities)
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Infrastructure condition and failure probability
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Local firefighting resources and emergency response capacity
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Timing, duration, and community hardship considerations
Most utilities require multiple conditions to align before implementing PSPS.