Residents in San Bernardino County, California, facing wildfire-related power shutoffs may have a more familiar place to turn than a temporary shelter: their local library. Under a new partnership with Southern California Edison, select San Bernardino County Library branches will open as community resource centers during designated Public Safety Power Shutoff events.

Here's what to know

According to San Bernardino County, the county library system and Southern California Edison will activate certain locations during PSPS events.

Board of Supervisors Chairman and Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe described the program as part of the county's wider public safety efforts.

"Ensuring our residents have access to reliable information and community resources during emergencies is an important part of strengthening public safety across San Bernardino County," Rowe said. "By bringing together the County Library, Southern California Edison, and our emergency management partners, we are expanding opportunities for residents to find support close to home when unexpected power disruptions occur. Partnerships like this help build stronger, more prepared and resilient communities."

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Utilities can use PSPS outages as a wildfire-safety measure when fire danger is especially great. When that happens, households that depend on power for communication, updates, and other basic needs can run into problems.

More background

In practice, the agreement gives familiar library branches an official role as places residents can rely on during outages.

County librarian Melanie Orosco said that familiarity becomes even more valuable in stressful situations.

"During an emergency, having a safe and trusted place in the community can make a tremendous difference," Orosco said. "Our partnership with Southern California Edison brings together two organizations with a shared commitment to helping residents prepare for and navigate power disruptions. When electricity is unavailable at home, participating libraries can provide an important point of connection for the communities we serve."

County officials said the library partnership fits into San Bernardino County's larger preparedness work through the Office of Emergency Services, which coordinates emergency response across the region. This and other similar moves are meant to make outages less disruptive for residents.

What's being done?

During PSPS outages, participating San Bernardino County Library branches may open as resource sites for people affected by the shutoffs. These locations are intended to help residents stay connected and find information and other necessities when power is unavailable at home.

The program is meant to provide local assistance during wildfire precaution outages. By centering that response at nearby library branches, the county and Edison use spaces already part of the community.

For households thinking long-term, Palmetto says the average Southern California resident can save 40% on their electric bills, which can add up to thousands of dollars per year. That makes the company's $0 down offer especially valuable for residents trying to lower monthly costs while preparing for a grid that extreme weather and wildfire conditions can strain.

Where can I learn more?

These stories examine why utilities use wildfire-related shutoffs and how communities respond when the power goes out. They cover West Coast PSPS policies and new approaches to backup power and grid resilience.

• Across West Coast states, utilities expanded public safety power shutoffs as wildfire danger rose.

• Homeowners facing long outages are turning to backup generators and battery systems for relief.

• Eversource developed a rapid-replacement power pole to restore service faster after disasters.

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