City of Irvine
2020 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
• In the process of installing new emergency power hook-ups at storm/ground water pump stations to allow them to operate during an outage • Procured 3 additional generators for use as backup power for traffic signals • Planning to procure three more generators to expand back up power capabilities for traffic signals • Constructed a field supply cabinet and provided the City’s maintenance contractor 24/7 access to additional backup generators, power cables, supplies and fuel • Tested every Battery Backup System (BBS) in the city • Procured & Installed 300+ BBS batteries (this project is ~80% complete) • Designed generator plugs to accommodate quick deployment of generators at traffic signals (this new plug design was deployed at two intersections to test) As a result of this event, the City has identified a need to better prepare for future power failure incidents. This, coupled with SCEs Public Safety Power Shutoff program, indicates that energy resilience will become a primary focus for City investment in the foreseeable future.
Public Safety Power Shutoff
The State's investor-owned utilities have general authority to shut off electric power to protect public safety under California law. Utilities exercise this authority during severe wildfire threat conditions as a preventative measure of last resort through Public Safety Power Shut-offs (PSPS). 15
In 2019, the City began preparation for PSPS events by understanding the potential circuits that could be impacted ( Figure 2-2 ) and the City needs and special populations that may be affected by these events. These incidents typically occur during high fire threat conditions (i.e., dry conditions and strong winds) and may affect communities located far away from any fires that are actively occurring. With several SCE circuits in the City that could be affected by future PSPS events, residents and businesses are sure to feel the impacts of these events if they do not have alternative options for electricity at their homes and places of business. These events are anticipated to affect City resources as well since many of the City’s facilities rely on electricity to function. As a result, the City has prioritized back up power generation at City facilities in these affected areas to ensure residents have a safe place to stay during these events. Figure 2-2: SCE Public Safety Power Shutoff Circuits surrounding the City
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