PG&E) Energy is in short supply in California; so rotating outages are a real possibility. During a power outage, air-conditioning and other cooling equipment will not be working.

PG&E currently has 16 outage blocks. They are numbered 1-15 and 50. Outage block 50 consists of customers that are served by circuits that contain essential services, such as larger hospitals that meet certain criteria, fire departments, police stations, and other vital government functions. Normally, outage block 50 customers are exempt from rotating outages, unless conditions dictate otherwise.To help avoid heat-related illnesses, here's what you can do:


* Be Prepared Know your rotating outage block number, located in the lower left-hand portion of your bill.
* You may not have any notice before an outage occurs; stay tuned to local TV or radio news stations for the latest information. Rotating outages can last up to two hours.
* If you know there will be a rotating outage in your area, consider going to an air-conditioned mall, library or other place that will be cool.
* Drink plenty of water, even if you're not thirsty.
* Limit physical activity.
* Wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing. If you are outside, don't forget to wear a wide-brimmed hat or carry an umbrella to protect your head and neck.
* Wear sunscreen to reduce the risk of sunburn. Sunburn affects your body's ability to cool itself.
* Have a cell phone or hardwire, single-line telephone. Cordless phones will not work without electricity.
Keep a list of emergency phone numbers near the phone.
* Establish a buddy system where you, a family member, a friend or a local volunteer check in on the elderly or frail during a heat wave.
* Have an emergency plan in place, including back-up power supply, if a member of your household depends on life support or needs other medical equipment. This applies to all power outages.
* Sudden onsets of dizziness, rapid heartbeat, nausea, headache, chest pain, mental changes or breathing problems are all warning signs that you should seek immediate attention.