Types of Outages

Outages can be planned for a variety of reasons. What are they, and what do they mean?

Repair Outage

Severe weather events, car accidents or other damages caused by external factors may cause outages and necessitate repairs. During this time, PWP crews work diligently to restore power as soon as possible. The length of such repairs varies with the extent of the damage, but stay tuned to our outage map and our social media for the latest information.

It is important to stay away from downed wires or anything in contact with wires during these events. Please see our outage preparation tips and electric safety tips for more information.

Rotating Outage

Rotating outages are exceptionally rare. They are enacted with statewide with Energy Emergency Alert Level 3 (EEA 3) to help ease demand on the electrical grid. These controlled outages prevent larger, longer and more disruptive power outages. These decisions are made by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) and must take effect within minutes of the declaration.

Maintenance Outage

In order to safely perform maintenance on our electrical infrastructure, PWP may need to occasionally shut off power. In this instance, PWP will notify affected customers 72 hours in advance. Be prepared for a scheduled outage by signing up for notifications and reviewing our emergency preparation tips and learn what to do about food, appliances, medical equipment and more.