PG&E hosts webinar series on safety, wildfire prevention

SAN FRANCISCO — PG&E is hosting a series of county webinars to keep customers and communities informed on its numerous actions as part of the Community Wildfire Safety Program.

The schedule has been set up so that customers in adjoining counties can participate and hear details specific to their county. The webinars will feature a brief presentation and provide ample  opportunity for participants to ask questions and provide feedback.

“As we all work to meet the challenge of COVID-19, we also know wildfire season is around the corner,” said Laurie Giammona, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer for PG&E. “We want to ensure our customers understand the steps that we are taking in their community to prepare and improve for this year.”

PG&E has sought feedback and is listening to customers and communities about how it can do better, make improvements and take action. Since last year’s wildfire season, PG&E has participated in nearly 200 meetings with state and federal agencies, local emergency managers, local elected leaders, customers and community groups to listen, partner and improve. PG&E is continuing to conduct outreach to counties and tribes for coordination meetings, in addition to weekly webinars.

Given COVID-19 guidelines, these meetings have transitioned from in-person to web-based gatherings and the company continues to share its plans, seek feedback and make additional improvements.

This year, PG&E is enhancing and expanding its efforts to reduce wildfire risks and keep customers and communities safe. Changes reflect feedback from customers, elected leaders and other stakeholders. This includes:

• Making Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events smaller in size, shorter in length and smarter for customers
• Installing new grid technology
• Hardening the electric system
• Performing enhanced vegetation management

The webinars will take place on Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., beginning April 29 and continuing through the summer. The following are the webinars planned through May:

• April 29: For customers in Butte, Plumas and Lassen counties
• May 6: For customers in Sonoma and Napa counties
• May 13: For customers in Placer, Nevada, Sierra and Yuba counties
• May 20: For customers in Solano, Yolo and Colusa counties
• May 27: For customers in El Dorado, Amador and Calaveras counties

Although the webinar events will highlight work in the listed counties, they will be open to all PG&E’s customers throughout the service area. Closed captioning will be available in English, Spanish and Chinese, and there will dial-in numbers for those who aren’t able to join online.

PG&E will share the web address and phone number closer to each event. The full webinar schedule, along with more information about PG&E’s Community Wildfire Safety Program, can be found at www.pge.com/wildfiresafety.