Bay Area Orgs To Create Backup Power System For Future Shutoffs

BAY AREA, CA — Following a spate of recent public safety power shutoffs by PG&E that have left thousands of Bay Area customers in the dark, four community energy groups are joining forces to set up a battery storage system that could provide backup power to thousands of homes in the area by next year's fire season.

The effort would supply power to about 6,000 homes and hundreds of businesses in Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties, the agencies said in a statement.

The program was announced Tuesday morning by the four agencies: East Bay Community Energy, Peninsula Clean Energy, Silicon Valley Clean Energy and Silicon Valley Power — all of which are either nonprofit, public or community-owned.

The agencies called for potential vendors to submit proposals for battery systems that could be installed on local homes. The winning proposals will be chosen in early 2020, in order to have the system ready by the next fire season.

"The systems will lower energy bills, increase reliability, and help stabilize the power supply for the community at large," the statement read.

At least half of the new systems will be reserved for residents, with the rest serving multifamily properties and commercial buildings.

Customers interested in participating can sign up to get updates at ebce.org/resilience, in San Mateo County at peninsulacleanenergy.com/resilience, or in parts of Santa Clara County at svcleanenergy.org/resilience.

The agencies' request for proposals can be found at ebce.org/solicitations.