Oakland – October 30, 2026 -- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has become the first energy utility in the world to earn accreditation from the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP), after meeting all 73 of the body's emergency management standards with zero nonconformances.
The independent, internationally recognized third-party accreditation covers preparedness, response and recovery. PG&E serves more than 16 million customers in Northern and Central California.
PG&E joins only three other private-sector organizations with EMAP accreditation
Amtrak and the District of Columbia Water & Sewer Authority are among the other accredited organizations. EMAP-accredited programs span state, local and international emergency management organizations, plus a small number of entities outside traditional government agencies. PG&E's accreditation extends that reach to the energy utility industry for the first time.
Five-year effort included benchmarking and external assessments
PG&E benchmarked against other accredited organizations, took part in external accreditation assessments and strengthened its emergency policies and procedures over five years. The work built on the utility's existing process for reviewing and improving how it prepares for, responds to and recovers from emergencies.
Angie Gibson, PG&E's vice president of emergency preparedness and response, said the accreditation confirms the program meets the highest standards in emergency management.
Voluntary peer review tests the full program, not just written plans
EMAP's voluntary, peer-reviewed assessment examines how organizations identify hazards, assess risks, plan for emergencies, manage incidents, coordinate resources and communicate with the public. It also evaluates training, exercises and recovery capabilities.
Jody Ferguson, chair of the EMAP commission and a former county emergency-management director, said PG&E stood out "far beyond simply meeting the standards."