10K Without Power In Napa County As PG&E Shutoff Begins

NAPA COUNTY, CA — UPDATED, 12:15 p.m., Nov. 20: More than 10,000 PG&E customers in Napa County are without power after Pacific Gas and Electric Co. decided to move forward with its latest fire-weather related Public Safety Power Shutoff, PG&E officials confirmed.

For most affected customers in the North Bay counties of Sonoma, Solano and Napa, de-energization began around 7 a.m. Wednesday, with another round of de-energization expected Wednesday afternoon for customers in the Guerneville area.

"PG&E has begun turning power off for safety in parts of Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Shasta, Solano, Sonoma, Tehama and Yolo counties," said PG&E North Bay Spokeswoman Deanna Contreras. "We continue to monitor evolving weather conditions to determine need and timing for shutoffs for: Amador, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sierra, Yuba, as well as the Guerneville area of Sonoma County."

Conteras added that while there was some rain in areas included in this Public Safety Power Shutoff, "it did not sufficiently saturate the abundant dry-fuel bed, which has accumulated over many months."

"These areas also have red flag warnings and met the additional criteria to have their power turned off for safety," Contreras said. "Additionally, your power may be shut off – even if it's not windy and perhaps even raining in your area – because the line serving your community relies upon a line that runs through an area experiencing extreme fire danger conditions. This is the second driest start to the water year, which begins Oct. 1, in the last 100 years."

A National Weather Service red-flag warning for the North Bay mountains, East Bay hills and Diablo Range went into effect at 4 a.m. Wednesday and was expected to remain in place until 7 a.m. Thursday.

The number of impacted customers in Napa County fell slightly overnight from 11,181 to 10,569.

Cities and unincorporated communities included in the shutoff in Napa County are Angwin, Calistoga, Deer Park, Lake Berryessa, Napa, Oakville, Pope Valley, Rutherford, Saint Helena and Yountville, according to PG&E.

American Canyon was not expected to lose power, according to the Napa County Office of Emergency Services.

Some customers in the Guerneville area in Sonoma County will lose power around 5 p.m. Wednesday before winds pick up around 6 p.m., according to PG&E.

The company hopes to give the "all clear" for service restoration at about 8 a.m. Thursday for both areas, according to Mark Quinlan, PG&E's senior director for emergency preparedness and response. That will give crews all day to inspect power lines before turning power back on. The goal is to have power back on by the end of the day Thursday.

This latest PSPS was expected to affect roughly 150,000 customers or about 345,000 people in California. PG&E says it contacted affected customers Tuesday with a 24-hour notice.

Only three Bay Area counties — Napa, Solano and Sonoma — are impacted by the shutoff after a change in humidity levels reduced the fire risks for areas such as the East Bay and Santa Cruz mountains, according to PG&E.

The utility company is again opening Community Resource Centers with restrooms, bottled water, electronic device charging and air conditioning with seats for up to 100 people at each center. Addresses of the CRCs can be found at Pge.com/pspsupdates.

The resource centers also will provide snacks, ice, blankets and a heater, PG&E said.

In Napa County, Community Resource Centers are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. as of Wednesday in Calistoga at Mount Saint Helena Golf Course parking lot, and in St. Helena at the St. Helena Catholic Church School.

Napa County is operating charging stations at the Lake Berryessa Senior Center, the Napa County Main Library, Yountville Library and Yountville Community Center.

The county has a map page dedicated to information about the shutoff, community resource centers and charging centers.

PG&E is updating its PSPS web page with information pertinent to the shutoff. Customers can also call 800-743-5000.

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Bay City News Service contributed to this report.