Solar During a PSPS in California: The Honest Answer
If you have grid-tied solar and PG&E cuts power during a Public Safety Power Shutoff, your panels will not keep your lights on. Here's why — and what it takes to actually keep the lights on.
If you are still deciding whether a battery fits your home, start with home battery storage in California.
The Short Answer
Standard grid-tied solar shuts off automatically when the grid loses power. This is required by UL 1741 safety standards — the inverter must detect grid outage and disconnect within 2 seconds to prevent backfeeding dead lines and electrocuting utility workers.
During a PSPS, your solar panels literally cannot power your home unless you have one of the following:
- A battery system with grid-forming (off-grid-capable) inverter (Tesla Powerwall, Enphase IQ Battery, FranklinWH, Generac PWRcell, SolarEdge Energy Hub + battery).
- A dedicated transfer switch / generator setup.
- A hybrid solar inverter with Secure Power Supply (SPS) daytime-only outlets.
What Actually Works During a PSPS
Option 1: Solar + Battery (Most Common Solution)
A solar battery system with grid-forming inverter creates a micro-grid when the utility grid is down. Solar recharges the battery during the day; the battery powers your home through the night. With 13.5 kWh of battery and conservative load management, most California households can survive a 24-36 hour PSPS outage indefinitely (until the grid comes back) while keeping fridge, internet, lights, and medical equipment running.
Coverage of AC depends on battery size. A single 13.5 kWh Powerwall runs a modest home without AC; two Powerwalls or a FranklinWH aPower 2 (15 kWh) can run a home with limited AC use.
Option 2: Gas / Propane Generator
A whole-home standby generator (Generac, Kohler, Briggs & Stratton) kicks in automatically when the grid drops. More outage capacity per dollar than a battery, but:
- Natural gas supply can be cut during wildfire events (PG&E has done this).
- Louder, noisier, more maintenance, more space.
- Several California cities ban new gas generators under electrification reach codes (Berkeley, Oakland, Palo Alto).
- Generators run during PSPS whether you need them or not, burning fuel you may need for vehicles.
Option 3: Portable Power Stations + Solar Panels
EcoFlow Delta Pro, Jackery 3000 Pro, Bluetti AC500, large portable batteries that can be paired with portable solar panels. Usually cheaper than installed battery systems, but require manual plugging of appliances and cannot power hard-wired loads.
SGIP Equity Resiliency Program
California's SGIP Equity Resiliency tier specifically subsidizes batteries for homes in HFTD Tier 2 / Tier 3 zones, the same areas PG&E targets for PSPS shutoffs. Eligible households can receive up to 100% battery-cost coverage. Check your address against the CPUC Fire-Threat Map. If you're in Tier 2 or 3 and have been subject to multiple PSPS events, you likely qualify.
Battery Sizing for PSPS Survival
- Bare minimum (essential loads 24 hours): 5–10 kWh battery + solar recharge. Covers fridge, lights, internet, phone charging, medical equipment.
- Typical whole-home (no AC): 13–15 kWh battery + solar. One Powerwall or FranklinWH unit.
- Whole-home with AC: 26–30 kWh battery + larger solar array. Two Powerwalls or stacked FranklinWH.
The Real PSPS Math
The average PSPS event lasts 2–4 days. A well-sized solar + battery system can survive this indefinitely if the home stays on essentials (no pool pump, limited AC, lights and fridge and internet only). Most California homeowners in PSPS-prone territory find that once they experience one extended outage without backup power, the battery investment becomes obvious.
Related Reading
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