California’s wildfire season is once again underway, bringing renewed focus to hospital preparedness and operational continuity during public safety power shut-off (PSPS) events.
Earlier this month, Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) announced planned power outages, intended to mitigate the risk of wildfires during a particularly hot, windy stretch. While no hospitals ultimately fell within the PSPS footprint, the announcement served as an important reminder that California hospitals must remain continuously prepared for rapidly evolving emergency conditions.
To support that preparedness, PG&E recently hosted a webinar for critical infrastructure partners and healthcare facilities, providing updates on wildfire mitigation planning, emergency coordination protocols, situational awareness tools, and operational response resources. The session also highlighted PG&E’s enhanced data portals and planning platforms designed to improve visibility and coordination before and during PSPS events.
Hospital Council continues to work closely with PG&E leadership and state officials to reinforce hospitals’ designation as essential critical infrastructure during wildfire season. Hospitals are not simply large energy customers. During emergencies, they are often the center of a community’s response and resilience. Ensuring hospitals remain fully operational during PSPS events is non-negotiable for patient care, emergency response, and community safety.
That partnership has produced meaningful results. Through coordinated planning, executive-level engagement, infrastructure improvements, and operational coordination between PG&E and Hospital Council member hospitals, there have been zero PSPS-related hospital disruptions across Northern and Central California over the past five years.
If you weren’t able to attend the webinar, please take a moment to view the resources PG&E has made available. They’re a critical piece of support for the vital work that you do, and your engagement will be instrumental in navigating this year’s fire season safely.
Your preparation and engagement remain essential to protecting uninterrupted patient care during California’s wildfire season.