【法律】公共安全断电 (PSPS)：您可以就“故意停电”造成的损失提起诉讼吗？ | BECKER LAW GROUP

虽然山火是天灾，但公共安全断电 (PSPS) 却是电力公司的人为决定。对于加州家庭和商业主而言，这种断电可能导致昂贵的库存损毁、营业收入中断，甚至危及生命安全。由 Todd Becker 律师领导的 Becker Law Group (贝克法律集团) 坚信：您的抗争，就是我们的抗争。如果电力公司是因为长期疏于维护电网，才被迫采取停电这种“下策”，那么他们必须为由此产生的后果承担法律责任。

在加州，我可以起诉电力公司故意停电吗？

针对 PSPS 提起的诉讼在法律上极具挑战性，但在特定情况下是可行的。根据加州最高法院在 Gantner 诉 PG&E (2023) 案中的裁定，如果诉讼只是质疑停电的“必要性”，通常会被驳回。但是，如果电力公司在执行停电过程中存在重大过失 (Gross Negligence)——例如未按规定提前通知、未向依赖医疗设备的弱势群体提供支持，或者因设备老化极其严重导致原本不必进行的停电变成了唯一选择——您依然有权提起诉讼。

停电损失理赔涵盖哪些范围？

受害者可以申请多项赔偿，包括：冰箱内食物或药物变质、商业利润损失、购买备用发电机的费用，以及因医疗设备停运导致的健康受损。进入 2026 年，加州法律进一步强化了对弱势群体的保护，如果电力公司未能履行其 2026 年度 PSPS 辅助计划中的承诺，受害者可以以此为证据寻求法律救济。

“合理性标准”在诉讼中如何应用？

在诉讼中，法院会审查电力公司的决定是否“合理”。如果天气条件并未达到 2025 年 Eaton 山火后设定的“紧急阈值”，或者在危险解除后仍无故长时间延迟供电，电力公司则可能构成侵权。贝克法律集团拥有精通中文的专业团队，能为您翻译复杂的法律条款，并利用气象与电力专家的数据，证明电力公司的断电行为是否属于过度反应或管理不善。

Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS): Can You Sue for Damages Resulting from Deliberate Outages?

While a wildfire is a natural disaster, a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) is a deliberate decision made by a utility company. For California residents and business owners, these outages can result in thousands of dollars in spoiled inventory, lost wages, and compromised health. At Becker Law Group, led by veteran trial attorney Todd Becker, we believe that "Your Fight Is Our Fight." If a utility’s long-term neglect of its infrastructure forced them to use a blackout as a "last resort," they should be held accountable for the consequences.

Can I Sue a Utility for a PSPS Event in California?

Suing for a PSPS event is legally complex but possible under specific conditions. While the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) authorizes these shutoffs to prevent wildfires, the California Supreme Court ruled in Gantner v. PG&E (2023) that utilities are generally immune from lawsuits that challenge the necessity of the shutoff itself. However, you can sue if you can prove gross negligence in how the shutoff was executed—such as a failure to provide adequate notice or failing to maintain equipment to the point that a shutoff became the only (avoidable) option.

What Damages Are Recoverable from a Power Shutoff?

Victims of improperly managed PSPS events can seek compensation for both economic and non-economic losses. This includes spoiled food and medication, lost business revenue, the cost of backup generators, and damages related to health emergencies caused by the loss of life-sustaining medical equipment. In 2026, new regulations also allow for claims if a utility fails to support "Access and Functional Needs" (AFN) populations during a deliberate outage.

How Does the "Reasonableness" Standard Work?

In a PSPS lawsuit, the court examines whether the utility’s decision was "reasonable" under the circumstances. If a utility shuts off power when weather conditions do not meet the CPUC’s established "Eaton thresholds" (established after the 2025 Eaton Fire), or if they keep the power off for an unreasonable duration after the danger has passed, they may be liable. At Becker Law Group, we utilize meteorological experts and grid engineers to prove when a shutoff was an overreach or a result of poor planning.

What is the Difference Between an Insurance Claim and a Lawsuit for PSPS?

Most insurance policies have high deductibles or exclusions for "utility interruptions" that occur away from your property. A direct legal action or mass tort participation is often the only way to recover the full value of your losses. Unlike an insurance claim, a lawsuit allows you to seek damages for the "Annoyance and Discomfort" (CACI 2031) caused by the disruption to your life and business, holding the utility’s shareholders—not your neighbors' premiums—responsible for the cost.