Does Solar Work When the Power Goes Out? Why Panels Shut Off and What a Battery Changes

It’s the most common surprise for new solar owners in San Diego: the grid goes down on a sunny afternoon, and the house goes dark anyway. Here is why that happens, and what has to be added for solar to keep your home running.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnQt502CGRA

Key takeaways

• A grid-tied solar system without a battery shuts off during an outage, even on a sunny day. It’s designed and required to, to protect line crews.
• Under IEEE 1547, a grid-tied system has to stop energizing the grid within two seconds of an outage. This is called anti-islanding.
• A battery with a backup switch isolates your home from the grid, so the solar can keep running and recharging the battery.
• A Powerwall 3 stores 13.5 kWh, delivers up to 11.5 kW continuously and accepts up to 20 kW of panels through its built-in solar inverter.
• A battery can usually be added to existing solar, and on normal days it covers SDG&E’s expensive 4 to 9 p.m. hours.

Frequently asked questions

Do solar panels work during a power outage?

Not on their own. A standard grid-tied system shuts down when the grid does. A system with a battery and a backup switch keeps powering the home, and it can keep doing it for days as long as the sun recharges the battery.

Why does my solar shut off when the power goes out?

It’s a safety requirement called anti-islanding. Utility crews expect de-energized lines, so the IEEE 1547 standard requires a grid-tied system to stop energizing the grid within two seconds of an outage, and inverters are tested and certified to that behavior under UL 1741.

Can I add a battery to my existing solar system?

Usually, yes. The design depends on your current inverter and electrical panel, so that’s the first thing an installer should look at.

Will solar recharge my battery during an outage?

Yes, with a battery like the Powerwall 3, which has a built-in solar inverter. Once the backup switch isolates your home, the panels power the house and refill the battery during the day. Tesla says that if the battery runs down below about 10 percent, it goes into standby and tries to restart from solar each hour during the day.

Should I choose whole-home or partial backup?

Whole-home backup keeps every circuit on the battery and is the most seamless. Partial backup moves essential circuits to a backup panel, so the battery lasts longer. The right choice depends on how long outages run in your area and what you can’t do without.

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The panels are on the roof. The sun is out. SDG&E has a Public Safety Power Shutoff in effect, or a transformer blew down the street. And your home, with its solar system producing at full output, has no power.

Nothing is broken. That’s how a standard grid-tied solar system is designed to behave, and it’s required to.

The short answer

A typical solar system without a battery does not power your home during an outage. A solar system with a battery and a backup switch does, and it can keep doing it for days as long as the sun keeps recharging the battery. That pairing is what people mean by solar battery backup, or blackout protection, in San Diego.

Why grid-tied solar shuts off

Most San Diego solar systems are grid-tied: the panels feed an inverter, the inverter feeds your home, and anything extra flows out to SDG&E’s lines. When the grid goes down, that last part becomes a hazard. Utility crews working to restore power expect de-energized lines. A solar system pushing electricity back onto those lines could injure them.

So the industry standards that govern inverters require them to detect an outage and stop exporting quickly. Under IEEE 1547, a grid-tied system has to cease energizing the grid within two seconds of an outage. Inverters are tested and certified to that behavior under UL 1741. This protection is called anti-islanding, and it’s the reason your panels go quiet the moment the grid does, no matter how sunny it is.

What a battery adds

A battery fixes the problem by changing what the system is connected to. With a Tesla Powerwall 3, a Backup Switch installed at the meter disconnects your home from SDG&E’s lines automatically when the grid fails. Once your home is physically isolated, there’s no risk to line crews, and your solar system is allowed to keep running inside that small, self-contained “island.”

From there, the pieces work together:

• The battery runs the house. Each Powerwall 3 stores 13.5 kWh and delivers up to 11.5 kW continuously.
• The panels recharge the battery. The Powerwall 3 has a built-in solar inverter that accepts up to 20 kW of panels, according to Tesla’s datasheet, so daytime production goes into the battery and your home.
• The system manages itself. Tesla says that when the battery is nearly full during an outage, the Powerwall tells the solar inverter to throttle back or shut off, since there’s nowhere for extra power to go. If the battery runs down below about 10 percent, it goes into standby and tries to restart from solar each hour during the day.

The U.S. Department of Energy puts it simply: for solar to keep running in an outage, it needs a properly configured inverter and a storage system. Its solar and resilience basics page explains the concept.

Whole-home backup or partial backup

When you add a battery, you also decide what it powers:

• Whole-home backup keeps every circuit on the battery. It’s the most seamless option, and Tesla says a Powerwall 3 system can provide whole-home backup to most homes. Large loads like central air, pool pumps and EV charging will drain the battery faster.
• Partial backup moves essential circuits (refrigerator, lights, internet, medical devices, a few outlets) to a backup panel. The battery lasts longer because it isn’t feeding everything.

Neither is better in general. The right answer depends on how long outages run in your area and what you can’t do without.

What about the solar you already have?

If you have solar and no battery, you’re not starting over. A battery can usually be added to an existing system, but the design depends on your current inverter and electrical panel, so that’s the first thing an installer should look at. Under SDG&E’s current solar billing rules, a battery also earns its keep on normal days by covering the expensive 4 to 9 p.m. hours, so the added backup comes with bill savings attached.

What a multi-day shutoff looks like with solar and a battery

Here is how a well-designed system behaves through a two-day Public Safety Power Shutoff:

1. Before: Tesla’s Storm Watch sees the red flag warning and charges the battery to full.
2. Shutoff begins: the Backup Switch disconnects the home and the battery takes over automatically.
3. First evening and night: the battery runs the house.
4. Next day: the panels power the home and refill the battery.
5. Restoration: when SDG&E re-energizes the line, the system reconnects to the grid automatically.

SDG&E says shutoffs can last from several hours to multiple days, which is why the daytime recharge matters as much as the battery itself.

Make your solar work when you need it most

If your panels go dark when the grid does, a battery is the missing piece. Stellar Solar can look at your existing system, or design a new one, so your home keeps running through the next outage. Stellar Solar has been San Diego’s trusted solar installer since 1998, A+ rated with the BBB and a repeat winner of San Diego’s Best Solar in the Union-Tribune Readers Poll. Call 866.787.6527 for a free evaluation, or get your free quote here.

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Keeping a CPAP and Other Medical Devices Running When SDG&E Shuts Off Power

If someone in your home depends on a CPAP, an oxygen concentrator or another powered device, a Public Safety Power Shutoff is more than an inconvenience. Here is how SDG&E’s notifications work, how much power common devices actually use, and how to keep them running for a night or for days.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OrLRiMkaHY

Key takeaways

• SDG&E’s Medical Baseline program may bring extra outreach during a shutoff, including in-person contact attempts. Notification is not backup power.
• A ResMed AirSense 11 CPAP draws about 56 watts, roughly 0.45 to 0.6 kWh over an eight-hour night.
• Oxygen concentrators are a different scale. A Philips EverFlo averages about 350 watts, or roughly 8.4 kWh a day.
• A portable power station can often cover a CPAP for a night or two. A home battery with solar covers the household and recharges every sunny day.
• Put the device on a backed-up circuit, test it before fire season, and ask your doctor and supplier what the device needs.

Frequently asked questions

How long will a CPAP run on a battery during a power outage?

It depends on the battery’s capacity. An AirSense 11 uses roughly 0.45 to 0.6 kWh over an eight-hour night, and most of that goes to heated humidification, so a portable power station can often cover a night or two, especially with the humidifier off if your doctor says that’s acceptable. Compare the station’s watt-hours to your device’s nightly use and leave a margin.

Does SDG&E notify Medical Baseline customers before a power shutoff?

SDG&E says Medical Baseline customers may receive additional support during a PSPS, including in-person contact attempts, on top of the calls, texts and emails every affected customer gets. Enrollment is what triggers the extra outreach, so apply before fire season.

Does SDG&E guarantee power for medical devices?

No. SDG&E’s Medical Baseline materials say the utility cannot guarantee uninterrupted service and that customers on life support should arrange a backup power supply.

Can a home battery run an oxygen concentrator?

Yes, with the right sizing. A home concentrator like the Philips EverFlo averages about 350 watts and often runs around the clock, roughly 8.4 kWh a day. A Tesla Powerwall 3 stores 13.5 kWh, and solar recharging during the day is what makes a multi-day shutoff manageable.

Does SDG&E help pay for backup power for medical devices?

The 2026 Generator Assistance Program offers a $150 rebate toward a portable power station ($200 for CARE and FERA customers) to customers in High Fire Threat District Tier 2 or Tier 3 areas who have experienced a PSPS. SDG&E’s Generator Grant Program also offers a short resiliency assessment by phone for Medical Baseline customers and customers with access and functional needs in those areas who have experienced a PSPS since 2019.

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For most households, a shutoff means warm drinks and a dark living room. For a household with a CPAP machine, an oxygen concentrator, a powered bed or a medication refrigerator, it means planning. The good news is that a Public Safety Power Shutoff is usually announced ahead of time, and the power these devices need is often smaller than people expect.

This article covers the power side of the plan. Talk to your doctor and your equipment supplier about the medical side, including what your device needs and how long it can safely go without power.

How SDG&E notifies Medical Baseline customers

SDG&E’s Medical Baseline program is best known for its billing benefit: extra gas and electricity at the lowest baseline rate, or a discount on untiered time-of-use plans, for households where someone has a qualifying medical need. It’s the program most people mean when they search for an “SDG&E CPAP discount” or a “medical device discount.” It also matters during shutoffs. SDG&E says Medical Baseline customers may receive additional support during a PSPS, including in-person contact attempts, on top of the calls, texts and emails every affected customer gets.

Two things are worth knowing:

• Enrollment is what triggers the extra outreach. If someone in your home uses a powered medical device and you’re not enrolled, apply now rather than at the start of fire season. We explain how the allowance works in our guide to the SDG&E Medical Baseline Allowance.
• Notification is not backup power. SDG&E’s own Medical Baseline materials say the utility cannot guarantee uninterrupted service and that customers on life support should arrange a backup power supply.

How much power a CPAP actually uses

Less than most people think. ResMed’s user guide for the AirSense 11 lists a typical power draw of about 56 watts, with a peak around 73 watts. Over an eight-hour night, that works out to roughly 0.45 to 0.6 kWh.

Most of that comes from the heated humidifier and heated tubing. ResMed’s figures for the earlier AirSense 10 show the machine alone using a small fraction of what it uses with humidification turned on. That’s useful during an outage: if your doctor says it’s acceptable to run without heated humidification for a night or two, your battery or power station will last much longer.

Oxygen concentrators are a different scale

A home oxygen concentrator draws far more than a CPAP and often runs around the clock. Philips lists its EverFlo home concentrator at about 350 watts on average. Run for 24 hours, that’s roughly 8.4 kWh a day, roughly 14 to 19 times what a CPAP uses in a night. Some newer concentrators use less, but the scale is the point. It needs to be in the plan from the start, not added at the last minute.

Option 1: a portable power station

A portable power station is a large rechargeable battery with outlets. For a CPAP, it’s often enough to cover a night or two, especially with the humidifier off.

• Check the capacity. Compare the station’s watt-hours to your device’s nightly use, and leave a margin.
• Check how it recharges. Once it’s empty, it needs a working outlet, a car, or a solar panel.
• Check whether SDG&E helps pay. The 2026 Generator Assistance Program offers a $150 rebate toward a portable power station ($200 for CARE and FERA customers) for customers in High Fire Threat District Tier 2 or Tier 3 areas who have experienced a PSPS.

SDG&E also runs a Generator Grant Program for Medical Baseline customers and customers with access and functional needs in those same areas who have experienced a PSPS since 2019. It offers a short resiliency assessment by phone and information on resources you may be eligible for.

Option 2: a home battery with solar

A power station covers one device. A home battery covers the household. During a shutoff, a Tesla Powerwall 3 disconnects your home from the grid automatically, stores 13.5 kWh and delivers up to 11.5 kW continuously. With solar panels, it recharges during the day, which is what makes a multi-day shutoff manageable for a home running an oxygen concentrator around the clock.

A few setup details make the difference:

• Put the device on a backed-up circuit. If your system uses partial backup, make sure the bedroom outlet for the CPAP or concentrator is on the backup panel. Label it.
• Turn on Storm Watch. Once enabled in the Tesla app, Tesla’s Storm Watch charges the battery to full when alerts such as red flag or high wind warnings are issued for your area.
• Test it. Before fire season, flip the main breaker or run a test with your installer and confirm the device keeps running.

A plan for the next shutoff watch

1. Enroll in Medical Baseline if you qualify, and confirm SDG&E has your current phone numbers.
2. Ask your doctor or equipment supplier how long your device can go without power and what backup they recommend.
3. Know your device’s wattage and estimate its daily energy use.
4. Pick a backup that covers at least the longest shutoff your area has seen, with room to spare.
5. When the watch notice arrives, charge everything to full.

Build backup around the device that matters most

If someone in your home depends on powered medical equipment, Stellar Solar can design solar and battery backup around that device first and the rest of the house second. Stellar Solar has been San Diego’s trusted solar installer since 1998, A+ rated with the BBB and a repeat winner of San Diego’s Best Solar in the Union-Tribune Readers Poll. Call 866.787.6527 for a free evaluation, or get your free quote here.

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Do You Live in an SDG&E High Fire Threat District? Backup Power for Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Scripps Ranch and Rancho Santa Fe

Some San Diego neighborhoods see power shutoffs that coastal homes never do. Here is how to find out whether your address is in the High Fire Threat District, what that means for outages, and how to size backup power for a larger inland home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgIxdon_rew

Key takeaways

• The CPUC’s statewide fire threat map rates areas Tier 2 (higher risk) or Tier 3 (extreme risk). Together with Tier 1 High Hazard Zones, they make up the High Fire Threat District.
• You can look up your address on the CPUC’s interactive Fire Threat Map. Tier lines don’t follow city limits or ZIP codes.
• Homes in or near the HFTD are more likely to see SDG&E power shutoffs, and some qualify for SDG&E’s Generator Assistance Program.
• Larger inland homes can choose partial backup for essentials or whole-home backup, and a Powerwall 3 system can grow to as many as seven units.
• Solar recharging is what turns hours of battery backup into days.

Frequently asked questions

What is an SDG&E High Fire Threat District?

The High Fire Threat District (HFTD) is made up of Tier 2 (higher risk) and Tier 3 (extreme risk) areas on the CPUC’s statewide fire threat map, along with Tier 1 High Hazard Zones from the state’s tree mortality map. Utilities apply stricter safety rules there, and they’re the areas where SDG&E is most likely to shut off power during Santa Ana winds.

How do I find out if my home is in Tier 2 or Tier 3?

Open the CPUC’s interactive Fire Threat Map, click the magnifying glass icon, type your address and look at the shading around your home. Check your own address rather than your neighbor’s, because two homes in the same neighborhood can land in different zones.

Are Poway, Rancho Bernardo and Scripps Ranch in the High Fire Threat District?

Parts of these communities sit near or inside fire-threat areas, which is why they see shutoff watches that coastal neighborhoods rarely do. In early October 2026, SDG&E named Poway and Ramona among the areas that could see shutoffs. Tier boundaries vary, so look up your exact address.

Does living in the HFTD qualify me for help with backup power?

It can. SDG&E’s 2026 Generator Assistance Program offers rebates toward a fuel generator or portable power station to customers in Tier 2 or Tier 3 areas who have experienced at least one PSPS.

Can a home battery back up a well pump or central air?

Yes, if the system is designed for it. The Powerwall 3 is rated for motor starting current (185 A locked rotor, per Tesla’s datasheet), but large loads like central air and pool pumps drain the battery faster, so your installer should check each motor load against the design.

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Ask someone in Carlsbad about a Public Safety Power Shutoff and you may get a blank look. Ask someone east of the I-15 and you’ll probably hear about the last time the alert came in. The difference isn’t luck. It’s geography, and it’s written down on a state map most homeowners have never looked at.

What the High Fire Threat District map is

The California Public Utilities Commission adopted its statewide fire threat map on January 19, 2018. It was developed by a utility mapping panel and reviewed by an independent team chaired by CAL FIRE. The map sorts areas served by overhead power lines into tiers:

• Tier 2: areas at higher risk from utility-associated wildfires
• Tier 3: areas at extreme risk

Tiers 2 and 3, along with Tier 1 High Hazard Zones from the state’s tree mortality map, make up the High Fire Threat District, or HFTD. Utilities apply stricter safety rules in these zones, and they’re the areas where SDG&E is most likely to de-energize lines during Santa Ana winds. The CPUC explains the map on its fire threat maps page.

How to look up your address

The CPUC publishes an interactive Fire Threat Map. Open it, click the magnifying glass icon, type your address and look at the shading around your home. Tier boundaries don’t follow city limits or ZIP codes, so two homes in the same neighborhood can land in different zones. Check your own address rather than your neighbor’s.

Why inland neighborhoods carry more risk

Inland North County and the I-15 corridor sit where Santa Ana winds funnel through canyons into chaparral-covered hills. That’s the setting for two of the largest fires in county history:

• The 2003 Cedar Fire burned more than 280,000 acres and destroyed 2,820 buildings. Within the City of San Diego, Scripps Ranch and Tierrasanta were hit hardest.
• The 2007 Witch Creek Fire, which merged with the Guejito Fire, burned nearly 198,000 acres, moving through Ramona, Rancho Bernardo and Poway toward Rancho Santa Fe. All 365 homes lost inside the City of San Diego were in Rancho Bernardo.

That history is why so many homeowners in Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Scripps Ranch, Rancho Santa Fe, Rancho Peñasquitos and Carmel Valley ask about battery backup installation. Parts of these communities sit near or inside fire-threat areas, and in early October 2026 SDG&E named Poway and Ramona among the areas that could see shutoffs.

What being in or near the HFTD means for you

• Shutoffs are more likely. SDG&E’s Public Safety Power Shutoffs target circuits in high-risk areas. Alerts typically start about 48 hours ahead, and shutoffs can run from several hours to multiple days.
• You may qualify for help with backup power. SDG&E’s 2026 Generator Assistance Program offers rebates toward a fuel generator or portable power station to customers in Tier 2 or Tier 3 areas who have experienced at least one PSPS.
• Planning ahead pays off. A battery installed before fire season is ready for the first watch notice. One installed in the middle of it may not be.

Backup for larger inland homes

Homes in Poway, Rancho Santa Fe and Rancho Bernardo often have bigger loads than a typical coastal house: central air, pool equipment, EV chargers, and on some rural lots, a well pump. That changes how backup should be designed.

Start by choosing what to back up. There are two approaches:

• Partial backup puts essential circuits (refrigerator, lights, internet, a few outlets, a well pump) on a dedicated backup panel. It stretches a battery further.
• Whole-home backup keeps everything on the battery. Tesla says a Powerwall 3 system can provide whole-home backup to most homes, but large loads like pool pumps and central AC will drain it faster.

Then size the storage. Each Tesla Powerwall 3 stores 13.5 kWh and delivers up to 11.5 kW continuously, with a built-in solar inverter that lets your panels recharge it during the day. A single system can grow to as many as seven units (up to four Powerwall 3s plus up to three Powerwall 3 Expansions), which gives a large home room to cover a multi-day shutoff. Tesla’s system design guide walks through the options.

Motor loads deserve a look. Well pumps and air conditioners draw a surge when they start. The Powerwall 3 is rated for that kind of starting current (185 A locked rotor, per Tesla’s datasheet), but your installer should check each motor load against the design rather than assume.

Solar is what makes it multi-day. Without panels, a battery is a countdown. With them, every sunny day of the shutoff refills the battery, which is why inland homes in fire-prone areas get the most out of pairing the two.

Know your tier before the next watch

Look up your address on the CPUC map, then decide what you’d want running if SDG&E called a shutoff tomorrow. If you’re in or near the HFTD, Stellar Solar can design solar and battery backup around your home’s real loads and your neighborhood’s shutoff history. Stellar Solar has been San Diego’s trusted solar installer since 1998, A+ rated with the BBB and a repeat winner of San Diego’s Best Solar in the Union-Tribune Readers Poll. Call 866.787.6527 for a free evaluation, or get your free quote here.

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Solar Plus Battery vs. a Generator: The Better Backup Plan for SDG&E Power Shutoffs

A generator and a home battery both keep the lights on when SDG&E cuts power for fire weather. They do it in very different ways, and only one of them does anything for you the rest of the year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlgLXJu8g9o

Key takeaways

• A solar-charged battery switches on automatically during an outage. A portable generator has to be started, fueled and connected by someone at home.
• In a multi-day shutoff, fuel is a generator’s weak point. A battery refills from the panels every sunny day.
• The CPSC says never to run a portable generator in a home or garage, and to keep it at least 20 feet from the house.
• A battery also lowers bills the rest of the year by covering SDG&E’s 4 to 9 p.m. peak hours. A generator sits idle until the next outage.
• SDG&E’s 2026 Generator Assistance Program offers $300 toward a qualifying generator or $150 toward a portable power station for eligible customers in Tier 2 or Tier 3 fire areas.

Frequently asked questions

Is a solar battery or a generator better for SDG&E power shutoffs?

For automatic, whole-home or large-circuit backup that lasts through a multi-day shutoff without refueling, a solar-charged battery is the better fit. A portable generator or power station is the lowest upfront cost if you only need to run one or two appliances.

Can a Powerwall replace a generator?

In many homes, yes. Each Powerwall 3 stores 13.5 kWh, delivers up to 11.5 kW continuously and switches over automatically, and the panels recharge it during the day. Tesla says a Powerwall 3 system can provide whole-home backup to most homes, though large loads like central air and pool pumps drain it faster.

Does SDG&E offer a generator rebate?

Yes. The 2026 Generator Assistance Program offers $300 toward a qualifying fuel generator and $150 toward a portable power station ($500 and $200 total for customers enrolled in CARE or FERA) to customers in High Fire Threat District Tier 2 or Tier 3 areas who have experienced at least one PSPS. Fuel generators must be CARB-compliant and include a carbon monoxide sensor and automatic shut-off.

Where is it safe to run a portable generator?

Outdoors only. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says never to run one inside a home or garage, to keep it at least 20 feet from the house, and to point the exhaust away from windows and doors.

Will gas generators still be sold in California?

California’s Air Resources Board adopted rules under which most new portable generators made for sale in California must be zero-emission starting with model year 2028.

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If you live in inland San Diego County, the question usually comes up the first time a Public Safety Power Shutoff watch lands on your phone: should we get a generator, or should we get a battery? In Poway, Ramona and San Marcos it often sounds like “do I want a backup generator or a solar generator?” Both are real answers. A portable generator is the cheapest way to keep a refrigerator cold for a weekend. A solar-charged battery is the most hands-off way to keep a whole home running for days. Here is how they compare on the things that actually matter during a shutoff.

The two ways to keep power on

Generators burn fuel (gasoline, propane or natural gas) to make electricity. They come in two broad types:

• Portable generators sit outside and power appliances through extension cords or a manually switched transfer connection.
• Standby generators are permanently installed, wired to an automatic transfer switch, and usually run on natural gas or a propane tank.

A solar-charged battery stores electricity from your panels and the grid. When the grid goes down, a backup switch disconnects your home and the battery takes over automatically. With a Tesla Powerwall 3, each unit stores 13.5 kWh and delivers up to 11.5 kW continuously, and the panels recharge it every sunny day of the outage.

How each one starts

A battery switch-over is automatic. Nobody has to be home, and nobody has to pull a cord or run an extension line.

A portable generator starts when you start it. Someone has to be home, pull it out, fuel it, run the cords and decide which appliances get power. A standby generator starts on its own, but it still runs only as long as its fuel lasts.

Fuel during a multi-day shutoff

SDG&E says a shutoff can last from several hours to multiple days, because crews must inspect de-energized lines in daylight before restoring power. That makes fuel the weak point for a portable generator. You need enough stored gasoline to run through the event, a safe place to keep it, and a plan to refill if the shutoff drags on. Gas stations inside the shutoff area may be without power too.

A battery’s fuel is the sun. During a fall shutoff, the days are often clear and bright, so the panels can refill much of what the home used overnight.

Safety: carbon monoxide

This is the biggest practical difference. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says never to run a portable generator inside a home or garage, to keep it at least 20 feet from the house, and to point the exhaust away from windows and doors. Even so, the CPSC attributes about 100 deaths a year to carbon monoxide from portable generators. A home battery produces no exhaust and can be installed in a garage or on an exterior wall.

Air rules are changing

California’s Air Resources Board adopted rules requiring most new small off-road engines to be zero-emission. Under those rules, most new portable generators made for sale in California must be zero-emission starting with model year 2028. If you’re buying a gas generator now, it’s worth knowing the direction the state is headed.

What each does the other 360 days a year

A generator is insurance. It sits in the garage until the next outage.

A battery works every day. On SDG&E’s time-of-use plans, the most expensive hours run from 4 to 9 p.m. A battery charged by midday solar can power the house through those evening hours, which is where much of the value of a solar system comes from under California’s current solar billing rules. SDG&E explains its time-of-use windows on its residential pricing plans page.

So the honest comparison isn’t generator price versus battery price. It’s generator price versus battery price minus what the battery saves on your bill over its life.

SDG&E’s Generator Assistance Program

If you just want a small backup for a refrigerator, phones and a CPAP, a portable unit can make sense, and SDG&E helps pay for it in some areas. The 2026 Generator Assistance Program offers rebates to customers who live in High Fire Threat District Tier 2 or Tier 3 areas and have experienced at least one PSPS:

• $300 toward a qualifying fuel generator
• $150 toward a portable power station
• $500 and $200 total for customers enrolled in CARE or FERA

Fuel generators must be CARB-compliant and include a carbon monoxide sensor and automatic shut-off. Many homeowners pair a small portable power station for one or two critical devices with a home battery for everything else.

Which one fits your home

If you want…	Better fit
The lowest upfront cost for one or two appliances	Portable generator or power station
Automatic, whole-home or large-circuit backup	Solar plus battery
Backup that lasts through a multi-day shutoff without refueling	Solar plus battery
Lower SDG&E bills between outages	Solar plus battery
No fumes, noise or fuel storage	Solar plus battery

Build the backup plan once

The right time to decide is before the next watch notice, not during it. If you’re weighing a generator against a battery, Stellar Solar can show you what your essentials actually draw and what a solar-charged battery would save between outages. Stellar Solar has been San Diego’s trusted solar installer since 1998, A+ rated with the BBB and a repeat winner of San Diego’s Best Solar in the Union-Tribune Readers Poll. Call 866.787.6527 for a free evaluation, or get your free quote here.

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Santa Ana Winds and Power Shutoffs: How Solar Plus a Battery Keeps a San Diego Home Running During a PSPS

When SDG&E shuts off lines during fire weather, the outage is planned, announced ahead of time, and can last for days. That makes it the kind of outage a home battery handles best, as long as the system is ready before the wind arrives.

Key takeaways

• A Public Safety Power Shutoff is a planned outage: SDG&E turns off lines during fire weather so damaged equipment can’t spark a wildfire.
• Santa Ana season typically runs September through December, but shutoffs don’t always follow the calendar. Both of SDG&E’s 2025 events came in January.
• SDG&E’s notices usually start about 48 hours ahead, and a shutoff can last from several hours to multiple days.
• Solar panels without a battery go dark with the grid. A battery with a backup switch keeps the home running, and the panels recharge it every sunny day.
• Size backup around your essentials and set it up before fire season, not during a shutoff watch.

Frequently asked questions

What is an SDG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff?

A Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) is a preventive outage. When wind, temperature, humidity, dry vegetation and input from fire agencies point to a high wildfire risk, SDG&E turns off specific circuits until the weather passes and crews can inspect the lines.

How much notice does SDG&E give before a power shutoff?

SDG&E’s customer notices typically start about 48 hours before a possible shutoff, followed by a confirmation a few hours before power is turned off. Alerts go out by phone call, text and email, and through the Alerts by SDG&E app.

How long does a PSPS last?

Anywhere from several hours to multiple days. Crews have to inspect every de-energized line in daylight before power comes back, and SDG&E’s January 2025 event ran from January 7 to January 16.

Will my solar panels work during a power shutoff?

Not without a battery. Grid-tied solar inverters are required to shut down when the grid goes down, so the house goes dark even on a sunny day. A battery with a backup switch disconnects your home from the grid, so the solar can keep running and recharging the battery.

How many Powerwalls do I need for a multi-day shutoff?

It depends on what you need running. Each Powerwall 3 stores 13.5 kWh. If your essentials use about 10 kWh a day, one Powerwall 3 can carry the evening and overnight, and a sunny day can refill much of what you used. Central air, pool pumps and EV charging raise the requirement quickly.

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Most power outages are accidents. A Public Safety Power Shutoff is a decision. When fire weather builds in the backcountry, SDG&E can de-energize power lines on purpose so that a damaged line can’t spark a wildfire. For the homes on those circuits, the result is the same as any outage: no lights, no refrigerator, no Wi-Fi, no well pump. The difference is that you usually see it coming, and it often lasts longer than a typical outage.

That combination, advance warning plus long duration, is exactly where solar plus a battery earns its keep.

What a Public Safety Power Shutoff is

A PSPS is a preventive outage. According to SDG&E, the decision weighs wind speed and direction, temperature and humidity, how dry the vegetation is, field observations and input from fire agencies. When those conditions line up in high-risk areas, the utility turns off specific circuits until the weather passes and crews can inspect the lines.

You can see active and potential shutoffs on SDG&E’s PSPS dashboard, and SDG&E explains how decisions are made on its PSPS information page.

Why fall is shutoff season in San Diego

SDG&E describes Santa Ana wind season as typically running from September through December. Those hot, dry, offshore winds push down through the canyons of inland San Diego County, and they are the main reason shutoffs happen. They don’t always follow the calendar: both of SDG&E’s 2025 shutoff events came in January. And in early October 2026, SDG&E warned that nearly 35,000 customers, including parts of Poway and Ramona, could see their power shut off as fire weather moved in.

If your home sits in or near the inland foothills, plan for at least one shutoff watch each fall and winter.

How much warning you get

SDG&E monitors conditions days ahead. Its customer notices typically start about 48 hours before a possible shutoff, followed by a confirmation a few hours before power is turned off, updates during the event, and a notice when power is restored. Alerts go out by phone call, text and email, and through the Alerts by SDG&E app.

That lead time matters. Two days is enough to top off a battery, check which circuits are backed up and move the things you care about onto them.

How long a shutoff lasts

This is the part people underestimate. SDG&E says a PSPS can last from several hours to multiple days. Even after the wind dies down, crews have to patrol and inspect every de-energized line before power comes back, and SDG&E notes that inspection takes daylight, typically four to eight hours of it.

The January 2025 event shows the range: SDG&E’s own post-event report covers a shutoff that ran from January 7 to January 16 and affected more than 15,000 customers at various points. A plan that only covers one evening isn’t a plan for a PSPS.

Why solar panels alone go dark

If you already have solar, you might assume you’re covered. You’re not, unless you also have a battery. Grid-tied solar inverters are required to shut down when the grid goes down, so they don’t push power onto lines that crews are working on. On a bright, windy October afternoon, your panels will be producing and your house will still be dark.

What a Powerwall 3 does during a shutoff

A battery with a backup switch changes the picture. When the grid drops, a Tesla Backup Switch automatically disconnects your home from SDG&E’s lines. Your home becomes its own small, isolated system, and the Powerwall takes over.

• Storage: each Powerwall 3 stores 13.5 kWh.
• Power: it can deliver up to 11.5 kW continuously, enough to run most household loads at once.
• Solar recharge: the Powerwall 3 has a built-in solar inverter, so your panels keep charging the battery during the day while the grid is off. That’s what turns a one-night battery into a multi-day one.
• Storm Watch: once enabled in the Tesla app, Tesla’s Storm Watch charges the battery to full when alerts such as red flag or high wind warnings are issued for your area.

Sizing for a multi-day shutoff

Start with what you need to keep running, not with how many batteries you can fit in the garage. That’s the first question in any home battery backup plan in San Diego, and it decides everything else about the installation. A typical essentials list looks like this:

• Refrigerator and freezer
• Lights in the rooms you use
• Wi-Fi, phones and laptops
• Furnace fan or a window AC unit if it’s hot
• A well pump, if your property has one
• Medical devices, if anyone in the home depends on them

Add up the daily kilowatt-hours for those loads. If your essentials use about 10 kWh a day, one Powerwall 3 can carry the evening and overnight, and a sunny day can refill much of what you used. Central air conditioning, pool pumps and EV charging change the math quickly, which is why the design conversation should happen before fire season, not during a shutoff watch.

A pre-shutoff checklist

When SDG&E sends a watch notice for your area:

1. Confirm your contact information with SDG&E so you get every alert.
2. Make sure Storm Watch is on and the battery is charging to full.
3. Know which circuits are backed up, and plug essentials into those outlets.
4. Hold off on charging an EV from the battery during the shutoff.
5. Keep the refrigerator and freezer closed as much as possible.
6. Run large appliances like the dishwasher and laundry before the shutoff starts.

Get a backup plan built for your home

A Public Safety Power Shutoff is one of the few outages you can plan for, and solar plus a battery is the cleanest way to ride one out: quiet, automatic, no fuel and no extension cords. If you want a system sized to your essentials and your neighborhood’s shutoff history, Stellar Solar can design it with you. Stellar Solar has been San Diego’s trusted solar installer since 1998, A+ rated with the BBB and a repeat winner of San Diego’s Best Solar in the Union-Tribune Readers Poll. Call 866.787.6527 for a free evaluation, or get your free quote here.

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