Will your solar work during the Berkeley power shutoff?

Updated Thursday, October 15, 2026

PG&E is cutting power to about 2,053 homes in Berkeley, most of them up in the hills. The shutoff started around 5am Thursday and is supposed to last until about noon on Saturday, October 17. Councilmember Brent Blackaby's office got the word from PG&E on Wednesday night.

Not every hill street is in it, though. Some streets near the ridge are out and the ones right below them aren't, so look up your exact address on the PG&E outage map or call 1-800-743-5002.

The short version

Solar panels with no battery? Then your solar is off too. With a battery, your house is running on it right now, and the panels will refill it during the day. To charge a phone, UC Berkeley is running a resource center at 1 Tanglewood Rd, open 8am to 10pm through Saturday.

Metin and I run Ally Electric & Solar, a family solar and electrical company based in Richmond. We've put in more than 1,000 solar and battery systems around the East Bay since 2010, and Berkeley is a big part of that. These are the questions we get every time PG&E calls one of these.

Which parts of Berkeley lost power?

On the map PG&E sent the City, the shutoff area runs along the hills from the Kensington border near Tilden Park down toward Claremont. The flats and downtown weren't in it.

Why shut off power when there's no Red Flag Warning?

The National Weather Service didn't issue a Red Flag Warning for Berkeley this time. PG&E makes its own call, based on its wind forecast and the condition of its own lines. If a gust can push a branch into a live line, they'd rather the line be dead. The City says it's watching the weather and will start its own fire procedures if things get worse.

Where to go and what still works

The resource center at 1 Tanglewood Rd has charging for phones and medical equipment, Wi-Fi, water, snacks and accessible restrooms.

Cragmont Elementary is staying open. PG&E brought in a generator so the kids can stay in school.

Water isn't a problem. EBMUD expects service to keep running the whole time (ebmud.com/psps).

I have solar panels. Why is my power off?

This one catches a lot of people off guard. A normal grid-tied solar system shuts itself down when the grid goes down, even on a sunny afternoon. It's a safety rule so your panels don't send power back into the lines while PG&E crews are working on them.

So without a battery, your solar can't help you this weekend. Nothing is wrong with it. Every grid-tied system works this way.

I have a battery. How do I make it last?

This is a Tesla Powerwall we mounted on the side of an older East Bay house, right next to the original brick chimney. The gray box to its left is the AC disconnect, a switch that lets firefighters or PG&E shut the battery off from outside in an emergency. We ran the wiring in metal conduit along the wall so it stays protected and looks clean. It takes up about as much wall space as a small cabinet.

If your power is out, the battery is carrying the house. Open your app (Tesla, Enphase, FranklinWH or whatever you have) and see how much charge you've got and how many hours it thinks that is.

Then go easy on the big stuff, like the dryer, an electric oven, the hot tub, and especially EV charging. A Level 2 charger can drain a 13.5 kWh battery in about two hours. Your panels will top the battery back up during the day, and with the clear weather we're having, a decent system should get there by afternoon.

If your power is still on, check that your backup reserve is at 100%. Tesla's Storm Watch and Enphase's Storm Guard usually do it on their own when PG&E sends a shutoff notice, but it's worth a look.

If your battery isn't switching over the way it should, call us at (510) 559-7700, even if we weren't the ones who installed it. A lot of the time we can sort it out over the phone.

No solar, no battery. What now?

Keep the fridge and freezer closed as much as you can. A full freezer stays frozen for about two days, so Saturday noon is cutting it close.

Charge phones and laptops at Tanglewood Rd or in your car.

If you're using a portable generator, keep it outside and well away from windows and doors. Never in the garage, not even with the door open. Carbon monoxide from generators hurts people in every one of these outages.

If someone at home depends on power for medical equipment, look into PG&E's Medical Baseline program. You can also call 211 for help with a hotel or food replacement.

One more useful thing is PG&E Address Alerts. With it you can get shutoff texts for any address, even if the account isn't yours. It's handy if you rent, or if you want to keep an eye on a parent's house.

Thinking about a battery for next time?

Solar Berkeley 2026

Two of our recent solar jobs in the East Bay.

This won't be the last shutoff. PG&E has already called several this fall, and the Berkeley hills are in the high fire threat area, so they keep coming back.

If you're thinking about backup power, start with what you actually want running. A fridge, lights, Wi-Fi and a few outlets is one size of system. The whole house with a heat pump and an EV is a much bigger one.

Next, do you already have solar? A battery on its own gets you through a day or two. Paired with panels, it keeps going as long as the sun comes up.

Then there's your panel. A lot of older Berkeley houses need a main panel upgrade or a SPAN smart panel before a battery can go in. We check this on the first visit, so you know before you sign anything.

Money-wise, California's SGIP program pays part of the cost of a home battery. Homes in high fire threat areas, or ones that have been through PSPS shutoffs before, can qualify for more. It depends on your address, so ask before you count on it.

We're an SGIP-approved developer, Tesla certified, Enphase certified and a PG&E Trade Ally. Our license is CSLB #806465 (C10 and C46). Our own crew does the permit and the install, we file the SGIP paperwork for you, and you talk to us directly the whole way.

Once the power's back and things settle down, we're happy to come look at your house and tell you honestly what size battery makes sense. Call (510) 559-7700, request a free solar and battery quote, or see more of our solar and battery work in Berkeley.

Common questions

How do I know if my house is in the Berkeley PSPS area?

Search your address on the PG&E outage map or call 1-800-743-5002. If PG&E contacted you about this shutoff, you're in it. Conditions can change, so homes can be added.

When will power come back?

PG&E's window ends Saturday, October 17 around noon. After the wind dies down, crews have to inspect the lines before turning power back on, so some streets may take a few more hours.

Can I run my solar during a PSPS if I flip a switch?

No. Without a battery or an inverter setup designed for backup, grid-tied solar stays off during an outage. Please don't try to get around it.

Is a generator or a battery better for PSPS outages?

A generator costs less up front, but it needs fuel and has to stay outside. A battery is silent and recharges from your solar panels.

Does Ally install batteries on solar systems another company put in?

Yes. We add batteries to existing solar systems all the time, including ones we didn't install.

Ally Electric & Solar Inc. | 855 Marina Bay Pkwy Ste. 280, Richmond, CA 94804 | (510) 559-7700 | CSLB #806465