PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff Affects Napa, Sonoma Counties

NORTH BAY, CA — UPDATED, 8:30 p.m. Sept. 24: PG&E announced Tuesday evening that based on elevated weather conditions that bring fire risks, public safety power shutoffs will be initiated early Wednesday morning for 48,200 customers in seven Northern California counties, including Napa and Sonoma counties in the North Bay.

For 708 customers in Calistoga, Lake Berryessa and Napa in Napa County, and 711 customers in Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, power will be shutoff at approximately 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, PG&E Spokeswoman Deanna Contreras said in a news release.

"Windy weather conditions are expected to last until 12 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25," Contreras said.

The other affected counties are Butte, Nevada, Placer, Plumas and Yuba, where electricity will be shut off at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday for the following number of customers in the below-listed cities:

Butte County, 22,836 customers in Bangor, Berry Creek, Brush Creek, Butte Meadows, Chico, Feather Falls, Forbestown, Forest Ranch, Magalia, Oroville, Palermo, Paradise, Stirling City and Yankee Hill; in Nevada County, 16,506 in Cedar Ridge, Chicago Park, Grass Valley, Nevada City, Penn Valley, Rough and Ready; Placer County, 2,633 customers in Auburn and Foresthill; in Plumas County, 4 customers in Storrie; and in Yuba County, 4,833 customers in Browns Valley, Brownsville, Camptonville, Challenge, Dobbins, Loma Rica, Marysville, Oregon House, Rackerby and Smartville.

Customers can check to see whether their address is affected by a public safety power shutoff at PG&E's website. PG&E also says it will be getting in touch with affected customers.

According to Contreras, "Out of an abundance of caution, PG&E began providing notice to customers before this safety event through automated phone calls, texts, social media and emails on Saturday, Sept. 21."

PG&E initiated the first round of Public Safety Power Shutoffs related to this current weather event at 5 p.m. Monday. The shutoff impacted approximately 24,000 customers, most of whom had their power restored by 6 p.m. Tuesday, according to PG&E.

"During the inspection process, four incidents of weather-related equipment damage were identified," Contreras said.

PG&E said it has hundreds of personnel and aerial resources standing by and ready to respond for inspections, repairs and restoration once the weather subsides in the areas affected by this second round of shutoffs set to begin early Wednesday.

"After the dry and windy weather has passed and it is safe to do so, PG&E crews will work to visually inspect each mile of our power lines to ensure they are free from damage and safe to energize," Contreras said.

Inspections will take place during daylight hours and, in most cases, PG&E expects to be able to restore power within 24 to 48 hours after the dry and windy weather has passed.

However, PG&E says depending on weather conditions or if any repairs are needed, outages (weather event plus restoration time) could last longer than 48 hours.

For planning purposes, PG&E suggests customers prepare for multiple-day outages.

Community Resource Centers

To support customers in the affected counties, PG&E said it has opened Community Resource Centers in multiple locations. The Resource Centers will open at 8 a.m. Wednesday and remain open during daylight hours only. Restrooms, bottled water, electronic-device charging and air-conditioned seating for up to 100 will be available at these facilities. The centers are located at:

• Calistoga/Napa Fairgrounds, 1435 N. Oak Street, Calistoga, CA 94515
• Auburn Gold Country Fairgrounds, 209 Fairgate Road, Auburn, CA 95603
• Sierra College Grass Valley Campus, 250 Sierra College Drive, Grass Valley, CA 95945
• Magalia, 14144 Lakeridge Court, Magalia, CA 95954
• Harrison Stadium parking lot, Third and Mitchell Avenues, Oroville, CA 95965,
• Oregon House, 9185 Marysville Road, Oregon House, CA 95935
• Loomis, 3600 Taylor Rd, Loomis, CA 95650

PG&E has asked customers to:

• Stay informed on the latest Public Safety Power Shutoff updates at www.pge.com/pspsupdates. Customers also can enter their address and find out if their home or business is served by an electric line that may be affected by this event.

• Update their contact information at www.pge.com/mywildfirealerts or by calling 1-866-743-6589 during normal business hours. PG&E will use this information to alert customers when and where possible before turning off electric service for safety.

• Prepare for and practice an emergency plan to keep themselves and their families emergency-ready and safe during an outage. Keep in mind family members who are elderly, younger children and pets. Information and tips including a safety plan checklist are available at www.pge.com/psps.

ORIGINAL POST Tuesday, Sept. 24:

PG&E continued to monitor hot, dry and windy weather conditions in the North Bay and Sierra Foothills before making a decision about the need for a public safety power shutoff Tuesday night and early Wednesday, a PG&E spokesperson said just before 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.

"The weather pattern has shifted to later in the evening, and PG&E will make a final decision about a PSPS this afternoon," said PG&E Spokeswoman Deanna Contreras.

Meanwhile, PG&E is making progress on restoring service to the 22,000 customers in the Sierra Foothills impacted by a public safety power shutoff Monday evening.

"As of 11 a.m. today, service has been restored to about 6,700 customers in the foothills," Contreras said.

A possible shutoff for the North Bay counties of Sonoma, Lake and Napa was canceled mid-day Monday. However, a red-flag warning went into effect Tuesday and was expected to continue until Wednesday because of critical fire weather conditions.

ALSO SEE:

• Power Restored To 6,700 PG&E Customers In Rohnert Park
• PG&E Power Shutdown No Longer Projected Monday For North Bay
• Red Flag Warning: Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Bolsters Resources