#United States #San Diego #SDGE #Chartwell Awards #Outage Management

SDGE's Award-Winning Performance in Outage Operations

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE) has made headlines after winning not one, but two coveted 2025 Chartwell Best Practices Awards. These prestigious accolades underscore SDGE's excellence in two critical areas: Excellence in Outage Operations and Excellence in Outage Communications.

The recognition highlights the company's unwavering commitment to community safety, especially during extreme weather events, as well as its innovative technologies aimed at minimizing wildfire risks and preventing power outages.

Commitment to Safety and Innovation

Kevin Geraghty, the COO and Chief Safety Officer of SDGE, expressed pride in these achievements: "These awards reflect SDGE's unwavering commitment to safety, innovation, and customer-focused service. By combining cutting-edge technology with compassionate, proactive outreach, we're setting a national standard for protecting communities during extreme weather."

Gold Award: Recognizing Operational Excellence

The Gold Award awarded to SDGE shines a light on its Wildfire Next Generation System (WiNGS) platform, which plays a pivotal role in reducing both wildfire risks and operational disruptions. This award recognizes three significant improvements achieved through the WiNGS platform:

• - Real-Time Risk Modeling: Integrating real-time weather data, aerial drone imagery, and AI-driven analytics enhances the precision of de-energization decisions, allowing for more effective service to customers.
• - Temporary Construction Visibility: Automated systems tracking the placement of temporary infrastructure significantly improve risk assessments that help mitigate the impact of Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS).
• - Proactive Community Protection: Advanced geospatial tools prioritize high-risk areas, facilitating quicker power restoration efforts and minimizing disruptions faced by vulnerable communities.

Silver Award: Effective Communication During Crises

On the other hand, the Silver Award, which focuses on communication strategies, acknowledges SDGE's comprehensive outreach during multiple PSPS events triggered by Santa Ana winds and critical fire weather conditions at the end of 2024 and into early 2025. SDGE's responsive strategy successfully informed over 274,000 customers through various means, including:

• - Multi-Channel Alerts: Notifications were sent in 22 different languages, including American Sign Language, via text, email, voice calls, and the SDGE mobile application.
• - Community Relationships: Coordination with public safety agencies, tribal nations, and crucial facilities ensured effective real-time resource deployment.
• - Support for Vulnerable Populations: Activating ten Community Resource Centers provided essential services to at-risk individuals, offering necessities such as Wi-Fi, generators, and emergency housing.
• - Social Media Engagement: The utility kept the public informed with real-time updates, multilingual messages, and fact-checking posts across social media platforms.

Looking Ahead: A Commitment to Resilience

SDGE continues to set benchmarks in utility wildfire mitigation by utilizing state-of-the-art technology and innovations. With its recently launched Wildfire and Climate Resilience Center (WCRC) in 2024, SDGE enhances real-time outage management and emergency response capabilities, reaffirming its dedication to safety and preparedness.

To discover more about SDGE and its broad range of initiatives geared toward a sustainable energy future, visit SDGEtoday.com.

About SDGE

San Diego Gas & Electric is not just another energy delivery provider; it stands as a beacon of innovation in the energy sector. The company aims to supply clean, safe, and reliable energy to the residents of San Diego and southern Orange counties while focusing on sustainability through increased utilization of low and zero-carbon energy sources. SDGE also encourages electric vehicle adoption and invests heavily in technology to ensure the continued reliability of its infrastructure for future generations.

Recognized as a leader both in its industry and community, SDGE has been distinguished with honors such as the Corporate Partner of the Year at the San Diego Business Journal's Nonprofit Corporate Citizenship Awards and has consistently won the ReliabilityOne® Award for outstanding performance across 18 consecutive years. SDGE operates under the umbrella of Sempra (NYSE SRE), a prominent North American energy infrastructure firm.