Santa Cruz Wants $462K To Brace For Future Power Shutoffs

SANTA CRUZ, CA — The Santa Cruz City Council is scheduled Tuesday to decide whether it will approve a request for $462,000 in state funding to better prepare the city for future power shutoffs.

California's major electricity providers — including the Pacific Gas & Electric Co. — have the power to shut off power to swaths of customers, should they determine weather conditions are conducive to the spread of wildfire. In anticipation of future outages, the city has asked the state Office of Emergency Services to award money that allows it to: buy a renewable diesel fuel trailer and six tanks to ensure city generators can run ($32,000); improve back-up power sources that serve important facilities such as the Water Department, Fire Station 3, the police station and City Hall ($360,000); and improve emergency communications and training for the Disaster Operations Center ($70,000).

The total of the funds requested came in $38,000 under the $500,000 maximum, according to the City Manager's report to the City Council. The city has sought the funding thanks to the California Office of Emergency Services Public Safety Power Shutoff Resiliency Allocation to Cities program.

The city has already submitted the proposal to the state due to a Nov. 12 deadline, but the council will decide Tuesday whether to allow the city to move forward.

Read more about the city's grant application here.