Provides Safety Tips to Help Keep Customers Stay Safe During Winter Storm
The safety of our customers, employees and the communities we serve is of the utmost importance to SDG&E, which is why the company has taken proactive steps to prepare for a series of winter storms this week. SDG&E’s meteorologists continue to closely monitor weather conditions and while the first in a series of storms is subsiding, a more widespread and significant winter storm is approaching and expected to arrive in San Diego late Friday and continue through the weekend, according to forecasts.
Last night at its peak 11,000 SDG&E customers were without power during the night, in addition to momentary outages caused by high winds. Crews have made significant progress in restoring thousands of customers and are working to restore remaining customers as quickly and safely as possible.
In anticipation of these storms, SDG&E increased the number of field crews and equipment available to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. The company’s meteorology team is also monitoring weather conditions minute-by-minute to help provide situational awareness to crews working hard to maintain the infrastructure that serves our communities. However, preparedness is a community effort, and the company encourages all of its customers to have a plan in place in case of unplanned outages.
To help customers prepare for the upcoming storm, the company is sharing the following safety tips to help keep you and the region safe:
If you see a downed power line or damaged electrical equipment:
- Always assume it is energized and stay away. Never touch a downed power line or damaged electrical equipment.
- Call 9-1-1 and SDG&E at (800) 411-SDGE (7343) to report it.
- If a person has come into contact with a power line, do not touch them. Call 9-1-1 immediately.
- Secure any loose outdoor items like umbrellas, patio furniture and garbage bins to prevent them from flying away and damaging power lines.
- Drive safely. During storm conditions, the number of cars hitting transformers or power poles increases, so be sure to slow down and allow more time for braking.
- Have a plan and kit with essential supplies. Keep a battery-operated radio and flashlights handy in case the power goes out. Check the batteries now to make sure the equipment works, and do not rely on candles for lighting during a power outage.
- In the event you do experience a power outage, customers are encouraged to visit sdge.com/outages for status updates and to view SDG&E’s outage map.
- If you rely on electrically operated medical equipment for your health and safety, make sure you have made backup power arrangements in case of an unplanned outage.
- If you see SDG&E crews working in the field, please be sure to slow down while driving to give them space to restore power as safely as possible.
- For additional tips, customers can view SDG&E’s storm safety video here.