Quick Answer
A Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) is a planned, preventive power cutoff PG&E uses during high fire-risk weather in the North Bay. Getting ready means deciding what you need to keep running, choosing between a portable or whole-home standby generator, and — critically — connecting it through a proper transfer switch so power can’t backfeed onto utility lines. A licensed electrician sizes and installs that safe connection. If a simpler setup covers your needs, we’ll say so.
Key Takeaways
- A PSPS is a planned, preventive shutoff PG&E uses during dangerous fire weather — not a fault, and something the North Bay now plans around each fall.
- The first readiness step is deciding what you actually need to keep running: refrigeration, medical devices, well pumps, internet, and a few circuits often matter most.
- Any generator must connect through a transfer switch so it can’t backfeed power onto utility lines — a safety issue for you and for line crews.
- Portable and whole-home standby systems solve the problem differently; the right one depends on your loads, budget, and how hands-off you want to be.
- The safe, legal path is a permitted, inspected install by a licensed electrician — and if your needs are modest, an honest one will scope it that way.
A Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) is a planned, preventive power outage that PG&E initiates during high-risk fire weather to keep energized lines from sparking a wildfire. That’s the key thing to understand before you plan backup power: a PSPS isn’t a malfunction, it’s a deliberate safety measure, and the North Bay’s mix of dry hills, wind, and overhead lines makes Marin and Sonoma frequent candidates. According to the California Public Utilities Commission, shutoffs are used as a measure of last resort during dangerous conditions — which means they’re announced ahead of time, but can still last from hours to days.
What is a PSPS, and why does the North Bay get them?
Because a PSPS is weather-driven and planned, it behaves differently from a storm outage: it can arrive on a clear, windy afternoon and stay until conditions ease. That predictability is actually useful — it’s why readiness, rather than reaction, is the right frame. The question isn’t whether the North Bay will see shutoffs; it’s whether your home is set up to ride through one comfortably. That starts with deciding what you need to keep running, then choosing a backup system and, most importantly, connecting it safely.
A Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) is a planned, preventive power outage a utility initiates during high fire-risk weather to reduce the chance that energized lines start a wildfire.
Why Marin and Sonoma see shutoffs so often
This is a regional reality more than a rare event. Homes across Novato, the Sonoma corridor through Petaluma and Rohnert Park, and the wooded parts of Marin have all planned around shutoff season in recent years. Well pumps, refrigeration, medical equipment, and home offices don’t pause for the weather, so a growing number of North Bay homeowners treat backup power as ordinary infrastructure. Our guide to standby vs. portable generators gets into which system fits which household.
A transfer switch is the device that safely connects a generator to your home’s wiring and prevents backfeed onto utility lines; it’s what makes backup power both safe and code-compliant.
What should you plan to keep running during an outage?
The loads most North Bay homeowners prioritize during a PSPS are refrigeration, any medical equipment, well or sump pumps, heating or cooling, internet and phone charging, and a handful of lighting and outlet circuits. Starting from what you need — rather than from a generator size — is what keeps a backup plan sensible and affordable. A home on a well has very different priorities than one on municipal water; a household with a medical device has non-negotiables a neighbor may not. Listing your must-run loads first is the step that makes every later decision easier. Our guide to sizing a standby generator walks through turning that list into a system.
Loads that deserve special planning
A few loads warrant extra thought because they’re either critical or electrically demanding. Medical equipment — from oxygen concentrators to CPAP machines — belongs at the top of any list, and PG&E maintains a Medical Baseline program worth knowing about. Well pumps and HVAC compressors draw a large surge when they start, which affects sizing. And EV charging, if you rely on it, is a big continuous load that usually isn’t a backup priority but shapes the conversation. Naming these up front keeps the plan honest about what a given system can and can’t cover.
Good backup power starts with a list of what you need to keep running — not with the biggest generator someone can sell you.— Towery Electric
What are your backup power options?
Your two main options are a portable generator paired with a manual transfer switch, or a permanently installed whole-home standby generator with an automatic transfer switch. They solve the same problem at very different levels of cost, capacity, and convenience. A portable unit is less expensive and covers essential circuits, but it needs fuel, manual startup, and safe placement outdoors. A standby system starts itself, powers more of the home, and runs on natural gas or propane — at a higher install cost. For the full comparison, see our guide to whole-home standby vs. portable generators.
The table below lays the two side by side. Neither is the “right” answer universally — the fit depends on your must-run loads, your budget, and how hands-off you want the system to be when a shutoff hits.
| Feature | Portable + manual switch | Whole-home standby |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | Manual — you start it and switch over | Automatic — starts and transfers on its own |
| Coverage | Selected essential circuits | Much of the home, depending on sizing |
| Fuel | Gasoline or propane you supply and refill | Natural gas or propane, typically continuous |
| Install cost & effort | Lower cost; needs safe outdoor placement each use | Higher cost; permanent, permitted installation |
How does a backup generator safely connect to your home?
A backup generator connects to your home through a transfer switch, which isolates your wiring from the utility grid so the generator can never backfeed power onto utility lines. This is the single most important safety point in any backup plan — backfeed can energize lines that crews believe are dead and can damage your equipment when utility power returns. A licensed electrician installs the transfer switch, sizes the connection, and permits the work. Our guide to automatic transfer switches explains how the automatic version makes the whole thing seamless.
- Needs assessment. We review your must-run loads and how long you want to ride through an outage, then recommend a portable or standby approach.
- System & transfer-switch selection. We size the generator and choose a manual or automatic transfer switch matched to your panel and loads.
- Permit & installation. We pull the permit and install the transfer switch and connection so the generator can never backfeed the grid.
- Inspection & test. Your local jurisdiction inspects the work, and we test the transfer so you know it works before you need it.
After inspection and a test run, you have a backup system that connects safely and predictably when the power goes out. What you should expect from a good electrician is a plan built around your actual loads, a proper transfer switch every time, and a walkthrough so you’re not learning the system in the dark during your first shutoff.
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Request Your EstimateWhen is backup power worth it for a North Bay home?
Backup power is most clearly worth it when your home is on a well, relies on medical equipment, sits in a high fire-risk zone that sees repeated shutoffs, or simply can’t tolerate losing refrigeration and connectivity for days. Those are the households where a PSPS moves from inconvenient to genuinely disruptive. The decision is really about your tolerance for going without — a home that’s empty much of the year has different needs than one with a home office and a full fridge.
When a simpler setup is enough
For some homes, a full standby system is more than the situation calls for. A household on municipal water, without medical devices, that mainly wants to keep the fridge cold and phones charged through an occasional shutoff can often be well served by a portable generator and a manual transfer switch. There’s no prize for over-buying. A good electrician will scope the system to your real exposure — and if your needs are modest, will say a portable setup is plenty rather than steer you to the largest unit on the shelf.
What are the most common backup-power mistakes?
The most dangerous and common mistake is backfeeding — running a generator into a regular outlet through a double-ended cord instead of a transfer switch. This can energize utility lines and injure or kill line workers, and it’s exactly what a transfer switch exists to prevent. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission also ties portable generators to carbon-monoxide deaths every year, almost always because a unit was run indoors or too close to the house. Backup power done wrong isn’t a convenience — it’s a hazard.
How to avoid them
Avoid these pitfalls by always connecting through a proper transfer switch, always running portable generators well outside and away from windows, and having the permanent parts of the system installed and inspected by a licensed C-10 electrician. Never use a “suicide cord,” and never run a generator in a garage, even with the door open. If your plan grows into a whole-home system, our standby-vs-portable guide covers the safe, permitted path. The right partner treats the transfer switch and permit as the job, not an add-on.
Key Terms
- Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS)
- A planned, preventive utility power outage during high fire-risk weather, common in the North Bay each fall.
- Transfer switch
- The device that safely connects a generator to a home and blocks backfeed onto utility lines; required for a safe, legal install.
- Standby generator
- A permanently installed backup generator that starts automatically during an outage, usually fueled by natural gas or propane.
- Backfeed
- The dangerous flow of generator power onto utility lines when a generator is connected without a transfer switch.
About the Author
Founder of Healthcare Marketing Group and author of The Ultimate Guide to Digital Marketing. Previously led a digital marketing company with 8,000+ clients. Writes on local-service SEO and E-E-A-T content strategy.
Reviewed By
Alex founded Towery Electric in Novato in 2014 and has installed backup power across Marin and Sonoma homes that plan around shutoff season. Reviewed this article for technical accuracy on Aug 8, 2026, 2026.
“The transfer switch isn’t the part anyone gets excited about, but it’s the part that keeps a line worker safe and keeps your gear from getting fried. I won’t connect a generator any other way, and I’ll size the system to what you actually need to keep running.”
— Alex Towery, Licensed Electrical Contractor
How We Ensure Accuracy
Sources
- California Public Utilities Commission. “Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS).” cpuc.ca.gov
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. “Portable Generator Safety.” cpsc.gov
- National Fire Protection Association. “NFPA 70 — National Electrical Code.” nfpa.org
- Pacific Gas & Electric. “Public Safety Power Shutoff and Medical Baseline.” pge.com
- California Contractors State License Board. “License Detail — Towery Electric, Inc. (#989290).” cslb.ca.gov
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a PSPS?
A Public Safety Power Shutoff is a planned, preventive power outage that PG&E uses during high fire-risk weather to keep energized lines from sparking a wildfire. It’s a deliberate safety measure, not a malfunction, and it’s usually announced ahead of time. Because the North Bay’s dry hills and wind make Marin and Sonoma frequent candidates, shutoffs can last from hours to days — which is why readiness matters more than reaction.
Do I really need a transfer switch for a generator?
Yes. A transfer switch isolates your home’s wiring from the utility grid so your generator can’t backfeed power onto utility lines. Backfeed can injure or kill line workers who believe those lines are dead, and it can damage your equipment when utility power returns. Connecting a generator through a regular outlet with a double-ended cord is unsafe and against code. A licensed electrician installs the transfer switch so your backup power is both safe and legal.
Should I get a portable or a whole-home standby generator?
It depends on what you need to keep running and how hands-off you want to be. A portable generator with a manual transfer switch costs less and covers essential circuits, but needs fuel and manual startup. A whole-home standby system starts automatically, powers much more of the home, and runs on natural gas or propane at a higher install cost. A licensed electrician can size both options to your loads and let you choose.
How big a generator do I need?
The right size comes from your must-run loads, not a rule of thumb. Refrigeration, medical equipment, well pumps, heating or cooling, and a few lighting and outlet circuits are common priorities, and some loads — like well pumps and HVAC compressors — draw a large surge when they start that affects sizing. A licensed electrician lists your critical loads and sizes the generator and transfer switch to match, so you’re neither short nor overbuilt.
Is it safe to run a portable generator during a shutoff?
Only if you run it correctly. Portable generators must be run well outside, away from windows and doors, and never in a garage — even with the door open — because they produce carbon monoxide that causes deaths every year. They also must connect through a transfer switch, never a regular outlet. Run outdoors with a proper connection and a working carbon-monoxide alarm indoors, a portable generator is a safe way to ride out a PSPS.
Editor’s Summary
A PSPS is a planned safety shutoff, not a fault — which makes readiness, not reaction, the right frame for the North Bay. Start by listing what you need to keep running, then choose between a portable setup and a whole-home standby system. Whichever you pick, the non-negotiable is a proper transfer switch that blocks backfeed onto utility lines. A licensed C-10 electrician sizes and installs that safe connection, and will right-size it to your real needs rather than the biggest unit available.