Overview
Pacific Gas & Elec (PG&E)-Wise Forebay is an operations center in Auburn, California, supporting regional utility grid management. It operates under NERC CIP standards for critical infrastructure protection.
Pacific Gas & Elec (PG&E)-Wise Forebay is an operations center located at 1475 Merry Knoll Road in Auburn, Placer County, California. As part of PG&E's network, it plays a role in managing the electric grid for a large portion of Northern California, serving millions of customers. The facility is classified under NAICS 221118 for electric power distribution. The facility operates under the regulatory framework of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards, which mandate cybersecurity and physical security measures for grid operators. In California, additional state-level regulations from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) apply, focusing on reliability and wildfire mitigation. Typical operations centers like this one manage substations, transmission lines, and distribution networks, with redundancy and failover capabilities to ensure grid stability. Environmentally, the facility is situated in the Sierra Nevada foothills, an area prone to wildfire risk. PG&E has implemented enhanced safety protocols, including Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) during high-fire-risk conditions. The operations center's role in monitoring and controlling grid operations is critical for maintaining reliable electricity supply to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the region.
Environmental context
The facility is located in the Sierra Nevada foothills, a region with Mediterranean climate and significant wildfire risk. PG&E's operations centers in this area are subject to enhanced wildfire mitigation regulations, including vegetation management and grid hardening. The center's role in grid monitoring supports rapid response to outages and environmental events, contributing to regional energy resilience.
Frequently asked questions
The facility is located at 1475 Merry Knoll Road, Auburn, Placer County, California, USA.
It is an operations center that supports PG&E's electric grid management, including monitoring and controlling substations and transmission lines in Northern California.
The facility operates under NERC CIP standards for critical infrastructure protection, as well as California Public Utilities Commission regulations for grid reliability and wildfire safety.
As an operations center, it provides real-time monitoring and control of the electric grid, enabling rapid response to outages and coordination of maintenance activities.
PG&E's operations centers are crucial for managing one of the largest electric grids in the United States, serving over 16 million people across Northern and Central California.
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