As wildfire seasons grow longer and more severe, utilities are under increasing pressure to provide safe, reliable, and scalable backup power solutions for their customers. This webinar, hosted by PG&E and TESCO Metering, will explore the challenges electric utilities face in enabling customer-owned generators while maintaining grid safety and compliance. We’ll begin by examining the limitations of traditional solutions—such as manual transfer switches and extension cords—which are costly, inconvenient, and often hazardous. We’ll also discuss the regulatory mandates from agencies like the CPUC that are pushing utilities to adopt smarter, safer technologies for backup power access.
The session will introduce the Backup Power Transfer Meter (BPTM), a utility-installed and managed solution that safely and automatically switches between grid and generator power. Developed in partnership between TESCO and PG&E, the BPTM eliminates the risks of backfeeding, overloads, and manual errors while enhancing reliability for medically vulnerable and wildfire-prone communities. The presenters will explain the BPTM’s technical capabilities, installation process, and compliance advantages, with real-world data from PG&E’s rollout of over 11,000 units across Northern California. A special focus will be placed on how the BPTM integrates with distributed energy resources (DERs), battery systems, and bidirectional EV charging to support the future of grid resilience.
Attendees will gain practical insights into how this proven solution can be deployed at scale and customized for diverse utility environments.The webinar will outline opportunities to align BPTM deployment with regulatory incentives, equity programs, and grid modernization efforts. Whether you’re an engineering lead, utility executive, or regulatory strategist, this session will provide a clear blueprint for safely expanding backup power access while reducing liability, enhancing customer satisfaction, and preparing for a decentralized energy future.
