San Diego Gas and Electric regularly shuts off power during high wind or extreme weather conditions to avoid fire risk from the combination of downed power lines and dry vegetation, which can leave residents without any way to charge their phones or other communication devices, as well as without refrigeration and potentially without water.
In the event of a power outage, however, SDG&E also sets up community resource centers to support residents affected by those power outages.
A full list of local resource centers including Pine Valley, Descanso, Dulzura and Potrero can be found online at www.sdge.com/wildfire-safety/community-resource-centers, where information is available on which centers are currently in use.
When activated, select community resource centers are open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Each center has water, snacks, cell phone and medical device charging stations available.
Stations also have water trucks available for livestock; residents are asked to bring their own containers to transport vessels back to animals in need.
The centers also have up-to-date information on power outages so residents know when they might have power returned to their homes.
Resource centers are currently set up drive-thru style to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
After power is restored, residents may find they have spoiled food, property damage, bodily injury or a business interruption, all of which might be reimbursed, although the power company cautions customers that they process claims according to rules set by the California Public Utilities Commission and are not liable for weather conditions that result in power shut- offs.
Still, a claim can be submitted along with sales receipts to support and verify any alleged loss and the company will investigate each claim.
The application for those claims can be found at www.sdge.com/residential/customer-service/assistance-help/claims, or a claim can be opened by calling the SDG&E Customer Service Center at (800) 411-7343.