Over 14K Petaluma Customers Impacted By PG&E Power Outages

PETALUMA, CA — Widespread power outages that impacted at least 14,000 customers Monday in Petaluma appeared to be resolved as of 3:10 p.m., the Pacific Gas & Electric Company website showed.

Earlier, a spokesperson for PG&E confirmed some four outages, all connected to PG&E's Petaluma substation and all believed to be rain-related, started around 7:30 a.m., with the largest of the outages reported around 9:15 a.m., PG&E Spokeswoman Deanna Contreras told Patch.

Some 14,000 customers were impacted during the 9 a.m. hour, Contreras said.

Because it was the first real rain of the season, PG&E repair crews believe an accumulation of dust, salt and dirt on the power lines turned to mud and acted as a conductor, which caused flashing and led to the outages, Contreras said.

As of 1 p.m., crews had restored power to more than half of those impacted and were still working to completely restore electricity to the remaining 5,500 customers, Contreras said.

"We are down to those last few thousand; we appreciate everyone's patience," Conteras said. "We are working as quickly and as safely as we can to get service restored."

Customers would receive a text notification once the estimated time of restoration was known, she said.

The Petaluma Police Department confirmed outages were impacting the city.

"Be advised that there are numerous PG&E power outages on both the East & West Sides of Petaluma," police said in an advisory. "Please treat ALL intersections as a four-way stop and obey all traffic laws for your safety."

"To report vehicle collisions or accidents please call 9-1-1," police said. "Thank you for your patience."