With wildfire danger continuing to escalate, California utilities have begun to implement blackouts to reduce fire-risk during high wind events. In October 2018, with 50+ mph winds forecast across the Bay Area, Pacific Gas & Electric shut off power in extreme fire-risk areas of six Northern California counties cutting power to tens of thousands of customers, and was prepared to turn off electricity in all or parts of an additional 6 counties. PG&E, Southern California Edison and SDG&E continue to caution their customers statewide that they may also face a “potential public safety power shutoff” when high-wind conditions arise.

What can home and business owners do to protect their power, on their terms?

As extreme weather events, wildfires, earthquakes and other threats to energy security become more frequent and longer in duration SimpliPhi energy storage solutions can provide peace of mind.

With SimpliPhi’s turn-key AccESS energy storage system, you can still have all the power you need when the grid is unavailable. The AccESS is a plug-and-play Energy Storage System (ESS) that easily integrates power storage into new and existing solar installations both on and off grid. It combines SimpliPhi's non-toxic LFP batteries with industry leading inverter charge controllers, power electronics, and system management in a sleek NEMA-3R outdoor-rated cabinet. The AccESS unit can be installed inside or outside in temperatures from -4° to 122° without cooling, thermal monitoring or the risk of thermal runaway or fire.

To replace or supplement a home generator and save on precious fuel, SimpliPhi’s ExprESS can be charged by your generator in two hours, allowing you to turn your generator off instead of running it 24/7. The ExprESS is a battery-powered AC generator and Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) that stores electricity for use when power from the grid is unavailable or intermittent, including during emergencies and black-out scenarios. Fully charged, the ExprESS offers either 5.4 kWh/24V or 7 kWh/48V — a sufficient reserve to operate computers, appliances, AV equipment, refrigerators, power tools, fans, electric blankets and medical equipment for hours or days at a time. Because it is enclosed in a NEMA-3 R rated cabinet on wheels, the ExprESS can be deployed inside or outside in a wide variety of residential, commercial and emergency use cases. In the event you are evacuated from your home, the ExprESS can be rolled onto a truck so you can take your power with you.

As of 8:03 PM, PG&E has proactively turned off power in extreme fire-risk areas of Lake, Napa and Sonoma counties based on localized weather forecasts calling for wind gusts of up to 50 mph tonight into Monday AM. Approx. 17,483 customers are impacted. https://t.co/Cr4Rqoc651 pic.twitter.com/kwJrMuRgI1

— PG&E (@PGE4Me) October 15, 2018

As of 8:48 PM, PG&E has proactively turned off power in extreme fire-risk areas of El Dorado, Amador & Calaveras counties based on localized weather forecasts calling for wind gusts of up to 50 mph tonight into Mon. AM. Approx. 42k customers impacted. pic.twitter.com/I6OgAmfNlK

— PG&E (@PGE4Me) October 15, 2018

For homes that want to continue to use a diesel generator for backup power, pairing the AccESS or ExprESS with your generator is seamless and can create fuel savings, thereby extending your available reserves and cut down on noise and air pollution. Both the AccESS and ExprESS have a built-in automatic generator start (AGS) to optimize your generator's performance with grid, solar and/or PHI battery power.

Beyond emergency preparedness, SimpliPhi energy storage solutions can save you money all year long. Homeowners who are on a time-of use-rate or an electric vehicle rate can charge their AccESS when energy is less expensive (for example at night) and discharge their batteries when energy is more expensive. By enabling homeowners to shift their time of use for grid electricity to less expensive times, SimpliPhi storage can significantly reduce utility bills.