PSPS planning: annual reality for Marin businesses.
Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) affect Marin businesses 5-15 times annually. Planning involves backup power, operational continuity, communication, and recovery.
By Steven Lockhart · Reviewed by Alex Towery, C-10 #989290
Updated 2026-06-16
PSPS business continuity planning for Marin: backup power (generator, battery, or hybrid) for essential operations, operational continuity plan (what continues, what stops, how staff and customers are communicated), refrigeration protection (key for restaurants, food retail, medical, life sciences), customer communication strategy, post-event recovery procedures. Marin businesses without PSPS planning face significant disruption; planning costs less than single major outage impact for most businesses.
01PSPS impact on Marin businesses.
PSPS frequency in Marin: 5-15 events annually typical (variable with fire weather conditions), 1-4 days per event typical, can affect different parts of Marin during same event. Restaurant industry hard-hit: food spoilage, lost revenue, customer disruption. Medical practices affected: equipment continuity, patient care impact. Retail affected: extended closure, perishable inventory losses. Most businesses affected to some degree.
Planning matters because PSPS events are predictable in occurrence (not date but pattern), can be anticipated 24-72 hours in advance via PG&E PSPS forecasts, and impact varies based on preparation. Prepared businesses minimize disruption; unprepared face significant impact. Annual PSPS planning is standard business practice for Marin commercial.
02Three planning elements.
Backup power scope
Generator, battery, or hybrid sized for essential operations during multi-day outages. Refrigeration protection priority for food businesses; revenue continuity for service businesses. Backup power scope $14,000-$80,000 typical depending on operational priorities.
Operational continuity plan
Document: what operations continue during PSPS, what stops, what staffing needs change, what customer communication happens. Annual review with operational changes. Reference during actual events for consistent execution.
Communication strategy
Customer communication (closure or modified operations notification via website, social media, email, phone), staff communication (working status, expected duration), vendor communication (delivery delays, payment terms). Pre-drafted templates for fast deployment during events.
03Marin-specific PSPS reality.
PG&E PSPS forecasts: 24-72 hour advance notice typically, sometimes shorter. PG&E PSPS website and notifications provide event details. Businesses monitor for affected areas; PSPS coverage varies across Marin during events. Some Marin areas affected more frequently than others.
Recovery from PSPS: power restoration after event sometimes phased (some areas before others). Refrigerated/frozen inventory inspection (temperature excursion may require Health Department disposal). Operational restart procedures (equipment cold-start, network reconnection, customer notification of resumed operations). Documented recovery procedures speed normal operation resumption.
Common questions.
How long do PSPS events typically last?
Most events 1-3 days; some extend to 5+ days during major fire weather conditions. PG&E forecasts typical duration during event announcements but actual duration depends on weather conditions clearing. Plan for 2-4 day events; longer events possible during major weather windows.
What's the most cost-effective PSPS planning?
Refrigeration protection (generator sized for walk-ins) typically highest-value initial investment for food businesses — protects inventory worth $5,000-$25,000+ per event. POS continuity protects revenue capability. Beyond refrigeration: tier additional investment based on operational priorities.
Do my insurance cover PSPS losses?
Some business interruption policies cover utility outages including PSPS; many don't or have specific exclusions. Review policy carefully for PSPS coverage. Some insurers offer riders for utility outage coverage. Documentation of business interruption (revenue, expenses) important for claims regardless. Backup power often more reliable than insurance for operational continuity.
How do you handle pricing — flat fee or hourly?
Both, depending on scope. Routine service calls and predictable scope (panel replacement, EV charger install, transfer switch install, fixture replacement) are flat-fee quoted up front. Diagnostic visits and emergency scope are hourly because we don't know what we'll find. Either way, you get a written quote before work starts on anything significant, and we don't proceed beyond the quote without your sign-off.
How quickly can you schedule?
Depends on scope and season. Emergency dispatch: same-day across Marin County (1-3 hours business hours, 1-4 hours after-hours). Same-day standard service: 3-6 hours from call when capacity allows; otherwise next business day. Scheduled service work: 1-3 weeks typical. Larger projects requiring permits and PG&E coordination: 4-12 weeks depending on scope. We're upfront about timeline at the quote stage.
What warranty do you offer on work?
Our standard residential warranty: 2 years on labor, manufacturer warranty on parts (varies by product — typically 1-10 years). Major installs (panels, generators, EV chargers) often have longer manufacturer warranties (5-10 years). If there's an issue with our work in the warranty period, we come back and fix it at no cost. We also stand behind work past warranty — repeat customers and referrals matter more than a transactional fix.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. California State License Board C-10 Electrical Contractor #989290, in good standing. Carry general liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance as required by California law. Bondable on projects requiring it. Happy to provide proof of insurance to clients or property managers on request. License lookup: cslb.ca.gov.
Schedule a consult before storm season.
Best window for prep work: October before Marin's atmospheric-river season starts. Beat the rush, lock pricing.