Potential PG&E Shutoff: Over 11K May Lose Power In Napa County

NAPA COUNTY, CA — With a fire-weather watch — now upgraded to a red-flag warning — set to go into effect early Wednesday morning for the North Bay mountains, Pacific Gas & Electric Company says it gave 48-hour advance notifications Monday morning to 11,180 Napa County customers who may be impacted by another round of public safety power shutoffs.

If PG&E goes forward with the PSPS, the shutoffs would affect 264,000 customers beginning Wednesday morning not only in Napa County but parts of 21 other Northern California counties.

In Napa County, impacted communities would include Angwin, Calistoga, Deer Park, Lake Berryessa, Napa, Oakville, Pope Valley, Rutherford and Yountville.

Customers who have provided their contact information to PG&E were notified Monday morning by phone, text and email; and will be notified again 24 hours and four hours prior, according to Deanna Contreras, PG&E spokeswoman for the North Bay.

"It's important to remember that customers not impacted by the PSPS may experience power outages due to PG&E equipment damaged during this wind event; those customers will not be notified in advance," Contreras said.

It is also very possible, according to PG&E officials, that customers may be affected by a power shutoff even though they are not experiencing extreme weather conditions in their specific location.

"This is because the electric system relies on power lines working together to provide electricity across cities, counties and regions," Contreras said.

According to the latest forecast:

The National Weather Service in San Francisco has issued a Red Flag Warning, which is in effect from 4 a.m. Wednesday to 7 a.m. Thursday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.
AFFECTED AREA...North Bay Mountains above 1,000 feet, East Bay Hills above 1,000 feet, and the Diablo Range. Fire weather zones 507 and 511.
WIND...North to northeast winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts 35 to 45 mph. Local gusts at isolated peaks and ridgetops may approach and possibly exceed 60 mph. HUMIDITY...Wednesday afternoon relative humidity values dropping to 10 to 20 percent with localized single digits. Poor recoveries are forecast on Wednesday night with relative humidity values in the 30 to 45 percent range with localized values below 25 percent.
IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

PG&E says once the high winds subside, crews will inspect the de-energized lines to ensure they were not damaged during the wind event, and then restore power.

"Worsening dry conditions and expected high wind gusts pose an increased risk for damage and sparks on the electric system that have the potential to ignite fires in areas with dry vegetation," according to PG&E. "High fire-risk conditions are expected to begin early Wednesday morning and continue throughout Thursday."

This week's PG&E PSPS would impact 264,000 customers in portions of 22 counties in parts of the below-listed cities and unincorporated communities.

Here's the breakdown:

• Alameda County: 12,200 customers, including 330 medical baseline, in Berkeley, Oakland and San Leandro
• Amador County: 2,690, including 90 medical baseline, in Amador City, Drytown, Fiddletown, Plymouth, River Pines and Sutter Creek
• Butte County: 14,110 customers, including 940 medical baseline, in Bangor, Berry Creek, Butte Meadows, Chico, Clipper Mills, Cohasset, Forbestown, Forest Ranch, Magalia, Oroville, Paradise and Stirling City
• Colusa County: 20 customers, 1 medical baseline, in Arbuckle and Williams
• Contra Costa County: 23,230 customers, including 740 medical baseline, in Canyon, El Sobrante, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Pinole, Pleasant Hill and Richmond
• El Dorado County: 38,570 customers, including 1,880 medical baseline, in Camino, Coloma, Cool, Diamond Springs, El Dorado, El Dorado Hills, Garden Valley, Georgetown, Greenwood, Grizzly Flats, Kelsey, Kyburz, Lotus, Mount Ankum, Pacific House, Pilot Hill, Placerville, Pollock Pines, Rescue, Shingle Springs, Somerset and Twin Bridges
• Glenn County: 230 customers, 9 medical baseline, in Elk Creek
• Lake County: 13,370 customers, 2,010 medical baseline, in Clearlake, Cobb, Finley, Hidden Valley Lake, Hopland, Kelseyville, Lakeport, Loch Lomond, Lower Lake and Middletown
• Marin County: 23,440 customers, 590 medical baseline, in Bolinas, Fairfax, Forest Knolls, Inverness, Lagunitas, Marshall, Mill Valley, Muir Beach, Nicasio, Novato, Olema, Point Reyes Station, San Anselmo, San Geronimo, San Rafael, Stinson Beach and Woodacre
• Mendocino County: 3,080 customers, 90 medical baseline, in Gualala, Hopland, Point Arena,
• Napa County: 11,180 customers, 250 medical baseline, in Angwin, Calistoga, Deer Park, Lake Berryessa, Napa, Oakville, Pope Valley, Rutherford and Yountville
• Nevada County: 30,030 customers, 1,180 medical baseline, in Emigrant Gap, Grass Valley, Nevada City, Norden, North San Juan, Penn Valley, Rough and Ready, Soda Springs and Washington
• Placer County: 12,440 customers, 500 medical baseline, in Alta, Applegate, Auburn, Baxter, Colfax, Dutch Flat, Emigrant Gap, Foresthill, Gold Run, Granite Bay, Lincoln, Meadow Vista, Weimar
• Plumas County: 780 customers, five medical baseline, in Belden, La Porte, Quincy and Story
• Shasta County: 21,720 customers, 1,340 medical baseline, in Anderson, Bella Vista, Big Bend, Cottonwood, French Gulch, Igo, Lakehead, Manton, Millville, Montgomery Creek, Oak Run, Palo Cedro, Platina, Round Mountain, Shasta, Shingletown and Whitmore
• Sierra County: 1,160 customers, 10 medical baseline, in Alleghany, Downieville, Goodyears Bar, North San Juan and Sierra City
• Solano County: 1,970 customers, 350 medical baseline, in Fairfield, Suisun City and Vacaville
• Sonoma County: 39,940 customers, 1,200 medical baseline, in Annapolis, Bodega, Bodega Bay, Calistoga, Cazadero, Cloverdale, Duncans Mills, Forestville, Geyserville, Glen Ellen, Guerneville, Healdsburg, Jenner, Kenwood, Monte Rio, Penngrove, Rio Nido, Santa Rosa, Sonoma, Sea Ranch, Stewarts Point, Villa Grande and Windsor
• Tehama County: 9,530 customers, 640 medical baseline, in Cottonwood, Flournoy, Manton, Mill Creek, Mineral, Paskenta, Paynes Creek and Red Bluff
• Trinity County: 50 customers, two medical baseline, in unincorporated areas of Trinity
• Yolo County: 400 customers, six medical baseline, in Brooks, Guinda and Rumsey
• Yuba County: 3,940 customers, 20 medical baseline, in Bangor, Browns Valley, Brownsville, Camptonville, Challenge, Dobbins, Forbestown, Marysville, Oregon House, Rackerby and Strawberry Valley

PG&E says it is planning to open several community resource centers in impacted communities. The centers will have restrooms, snacks, bottled water, ice, blankets (upon request), electronic-device charging, seating for up to 100 in air-conditioned and/or heated facilities. Locations for the centers are being confirmed and will be posted once available at pge.com/pspsupdates.

PG&E is also asking customers to plan ahead for medical needs such as medications that require refrigeration or devices that need power; identify backup charging methods for phones and keep hard copies of emergency numbers; build or restock emergency kit with flashlights, fresh batteries, first aid supplies and cash; keep in mind family members who are elderly, younger children and pets; and read up on wildfire risk and what to do before, during and after an emergency to keep your family safe.