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SMUD postponing all large non-essential meetings and limiting staff presence at events due to coronavirus concerns

Action follows recent suspension of non-critical employee travel

To minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19 for SMUD employees and the public, effective immediately, SMUD has postponed all non-essential meetings with more than 50 participants and limited employee participation at external events to essential staff only. The restrictions will be in place until at least April 8 due to coronavirus concerns.

SMUD has been monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) issue closely and, in line with other large companies, has taken steps to minimize the risk of exposure for our employees and for the public. The situation is evolving quickly and SMUD continues to monitor developments and advice from public health officials to put in place measures to minimize risks to our employees, the public and our operations. This latest measure follows restriction of non-critical employee travel that SMUD implemented February 28.

Minimizing risk is particularly important for SMUD as an essential service provider to the state’s capital region. As an essential service, SMUD is committed to taking proactive measures to limit the risk of exposure for employees and the public, and to maintain reliable electric service for the Sacramento region.

To minimize the risk to our employees, the public and essential services, SMUD is asking members of the public that have any of the following risks to not enter a SMUD campus:

  • Anyone exhibiting COVID-19-like symptoms such as fever, difficulty breathing or respiratory issues.
  • Anyone who travelled within the past two weeks to one of the countries on the CDC’s watch list, which currently includes China, South Korea, Italy, Iran and Japan.
  • Anyone who lives with someone that has been exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 patient.

SMUD will continue to support a wide range of community causes and events but will minimize in-person event attendance until the restriction is lifted.

SMUD will continue to hold public Board and Board Committee meetings but will take additional measures to limit the risk of exposure at those meetings by providing additional safety messaging, signage and hand sanitizing stations. We encourage people with underlying health conditions to not attend public meetings to help prevent the risk of exposure.

SMUD has identified agenda items at future Board meetings that are expected to draw large attendance and is removing some agenda items from their originally scheduled dates. These items will be rescheduled for a later date, once the COVID-19 issue has subsided. Please visit the SMUD Board of Directors web page at SMUD.org for up-to-date agendas.