SDG&E power shutoffs are back: what San Diego County homeowners can do now

Quick answer: What should San Diego homeowners do about SDG&E power shutoffs?

SDG&E began Public Safety Power Shutoffs on October 2, 2026, that could affect nearly 35,000 customers in more than 30 San Diego County communities. Update your SDG&E alert contacts, check whether you qualify for the Generator Assistance Program, and plan for outages before you buy or sell in a fire-prone area.

Key takeaways

• Shutoffs started October 2, 2026, during extreme heat and Santa Ana winds.
• SDG&E offers $300 off a fuel generator or $150 off a portable power station if you qualify.
• If you're buying inland, ask about outage history and fire zones before you remove contingencies.

If you own a home in the inland parts of the county, you may have gotten a shutoff alert from SDG&E last week. Here's what happened, and what it means for your house, your bills, and your next move.

What happened with the October 2026 shutoffs?

On Friday, October 2, SDG&E started shutting off power to parts of North, East, and South County as extreme heat and Santa Ana winds raised wildfire risk. Times of San Diego reported (October 2, 2026) that the shutoffs could affect nearly 35,000 customers in more than 30 communities, with the window running from 5 a.m. Friday through 6 p.m. Monday, October 5.

The list included El Cajon, Poway, Fallbrook, Julian, Lakeside, Ramona, Pauma, and Valley Center. The National Weather Service had an extended extreme heat warning in place through October 8, per the same report.

SDG&E told KPBS (October 2, 2026) that "power will not be restored until conditions improve and no longer pose a threat to the infrastructure." In other words, there's no set end time. You plan for the worst case.

Why does this matter for homeowners?

A shutoff isn't only a weekend without air conditioning. It's spoiled food, a garage door that won't open, a well pump that stops, and no way to charge a phone during a heat wave.

It also adds to a cost picture that's already tough. KPBS reported on October 1, 2026 that San Diego electric bills have almost doubled over the last decade and run more than double the national average. If you own in a place like Ramona, it's worth pricing out backup power as part of the real cost of owning there.

What can you do before the next shutoff?

Here's a short list you can finish this week, using SDG&E's own PSPS guidance (updated July 2026):

1. Update your alerts. SDG&E sends notices by phone, text, and email, usually 24 to 48 hours before a shutoff. Make sure your contact info in My Energy Center is current, or download the Alerts by SDG&E app.
2. Check the Generator Assistance Program. SDG&E offers $300 off a new fuel generator or $150 off a portable power station. You need to live in a High Fire Threat District and have had at least one shutoff. CARE and FERA customers can get extra savings.
3. Look at Medical Baseline. If anyone in your home relies on powered medical equipment, this program offers a lower electric rate and extra outreach during a shutoff.
4. Know your resource center. During shutoffs, SDG&E's Community Resource Centers offer water, ice, Wi-Fi, device charging, and outage updates. You can also dial 211 for free 24/7 help from 211 San Diego.

Thinking of buying in a fire-prone area?

Inland homes in places like Fallbrook often come with more land and room to spread out. That's a real draw. The outage risk is real too, so plan for it.

Before you write an offer in any inland community, learn how wildfire zones affect a purchase.

Then read the seller's Natural Hazard Disclosure report closely, and ask the sellers how often they've lost power and what backup they use.

Get homeowner's insurance quotes early in escrow, not the week before closing.

What about sellers?

If you're selling in an area that saw shutoffs, buyers will ask. A generator, a transfer switch, or a battery system is worth listing in your marketing and your disclosures, along with any receipts. A clear answer up front beats a nervous buyer in the middle of escrow.

Bottom line

Power shutoffs are now part of owning a home in much of inland San Diego County. You can't control the wind, but you can sign up for alerts, check the rebates, and go into any purchase or sale with clear eyes.

Want to know what this means for your home or your search? Check what your home is worth, call or text me at (858) 295-0556, or book a quick call at https://calendly.com/mance-riederhomes/strategycall.

Keep reading

• Should San Diego buyers get earthquake insurance?
• What a San Diego natural hazard zone means for your purchase
• How to evaluate a neighborhood when buying in San Diego

Mance Rieder | Broker Associate, DRE #02050930 | Rieder Homes Group | REAL Broker, LLC