Amid Red Flag Warning, PG&E Spares Tri-Valley In Power Shutdown

TRI-VALLEY, CA — A potential power shutdown by Pacific Gas and Electric Company is expected to impact approximately 264,000 customers in 22 counties this week, but Tri-Valley cities have been spared.

Monday morning PG&E began 48-hour advance notifications to customers about the potential Public Safety Power Shutoff.

By Monday afternoon, the utility said that in Alameda County 12,000 customers in Berkeley, Oakland and San Leandro could be shut down. In Contra Costa County, 23,230 customers in Canyon, El Sobrante, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Pinole, Pleasant Hill and Richmond could lose 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," the utility said. "High fire-risk conditions are expected to begin early Wednesday morning and continue throughout Thursday."

The National Weather Service said Monday afternoon that its Fire Weather Watch will be upgraded to a Red Flag Warning for the North and East Bay Hills/Mountains from 4 a.m. Wednesday through 7 a.m. Thursday.

"This event will not be anywhere as strong as the Red Flag Warning event in late October ...," the NWS said. "North to northeast winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts of 35 to 45 mph will be likely over the higher terrain of the North and East Bay, especially late Wednesday. The usual wind-prone sites (Mt. St Helena and Mt. Diablo) may possibly experience gusts in excess of 60 mph. While dry conditions will linger into late week, wind speeds will diminish during the day Thursday."

PG&E said it hopes to begin inspecting lines mid-morning Thursday and restore power to impacted customers.

"PG&E will safely restore power in stages as quickly as possible, with the goal of restoring most customers by end of day Thursday, based on the current weather conditions," the utility said.