PG&E Gives 'All Clear' For Sonoma Valley 2 Days Into Blackout

SONOMA VALLEY, CA — UPDATE 5:30 p.m. Oct. 10, 2019: PG&E power restoration was underway in North Bay as of 4 p.m. Thursday, according to PG&E Spokeswoman Deanna Contreras. The restoration comes after PG&E inspected its equipment in Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Lake and Yolo counties, among others, and gave an "all clear" at about 3 p.m. for the counties.

"... Improving weather conditions in some parts of the areas affected by the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) have allowed for an 'all clear' to be issued for safety inspections, repair and restoration efforts to begin in many areas," PG&E officials said.

ORIGINAL POST: Tens of thousands in Sonoma County, including 15,996 in Sonoma and 27,354 in Santa Rosa, awoke to a second day of having no power. As of 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, more than 104,000 PG&E customers were still without electric service in the North Bay counties of Solano, Yolo, Napa and Sonoma.

They are among some 800,000 in Northern and Central California to have their power cut by the utility giant amid fire-weather conditions such as high winds and low humidity.

In Sonoma County, the PG&E public safety power shutoff that started between midnight and 2 a.m. Wednesday is still affecting more than 65,000 customers: 2,030 in Rohnert Park; 27, 354 in Santa Rosa; 15,996 in Sonoma; 2,718 in Cloverdale; 2,291 in Geyserville; 4,297 in Petaluma; 135 in Penngrove; 6,028 in Glen Ellen; 2,964 in Healdsburg; 1,539 in Larkfield-Wikiup; and 663 in Boyes Hot Springs.

For residents who need to charge their cellphones or other personal electronic devices, the following charging stations remained open Thursday:

• Sonoma Veterans Building, 126 1st Street West, Sonoma. Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Hanna Boys Center, 17000 Arnold Drive, Sonoma. Open 8 a.m. to dark.
• Community Center, 5401 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park Open 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building, 1351 Maple Ave, Santa Rosa. Open 8 a.m. to dark.

The Hanna Boys Center and Santa Rosa Vets Hall also have restrooms and bottled water, according to the Sonoma Police Department.

For anyone who needs to call 911 but doesn't have a working phone, the Sonoma Police Department says its station and the Valley Station have emergency phones on the outside of their buildings that connect callers with dispatch.The Sonoma Fire Department and most fire stations in Sonoma County also have emergency phones on the outside of their buildings that connect callers with dispatch, police said.

Here is the latest from PG&E as of 11 a.m. Thursday.

On Thursday morning, October 10, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) reported that improving weather conditions in some parts of the areas affected by the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) have allowed for safety inspections, repairs and restoration in some areas to begin. Approximately 126,000 customers were restored by 6 a.m. Thursday.

There are still currently approximately 600,000 customers without power as a result of the PSPS event, which began on early Wednesday.

Updates

• There were no reported fires related to PG&E equipment in the PSPS impact zone.

• As of 6 a.m. Thursday, peak wind gusts — a major factor in the decision to implement a PSPS — have been recorded at 77 mph at Mt. St. Helena West in Sonoma County and 75 mph at Mount Diablo in Contra Costa County since midnight. Both of these areas were de-energized in the PSPS action.

• The company has received many preliminary reports of vegetation-related damage to its equipment in these areas.

• A third phase for portions of Kern County is scheduled for late morning Thursday. Due to changing weather forecasts, PG&E now expects this event to impact approximately 4,000 customers. Earlier forecasts predicted impacts to 40,000 customers in this area.

• Safety inspections, repairs and power restoration will begin in specific areas once a weather “all clear” is given.

• Customers not impacted by the PSPS may experience power outages due to PG&E equipment damaged during this major event.

• Resources standing by to support the restoration include more than 6,300 on-the-ground field personnel and 45 helicopters. Crews will conduct visual inspections and will make repairs as necessary if any damage is found.

• The number of circuit-miles requiring inspection includes nearly 25,000 miles of distribution lines and 2,500 miles of transmission lines, a combined distance measuring longer than a trip around the circumference of the Earth.

“We faced a choice between hardship or safety, and we chose safety. We deeply apologize for the inconvenience and the hardship, but we stand by the decision because the safety of our customers and communities must come first,” said Michael Lewis, Senior Vice President, Electric Operations.

Weather Updates

Dangerous weather conditions are expected to continue in parts of the Sierra Foothills and Bay Area until midday Thursday. Similar conditions in Kern County are beginning late morning Thursday and lasting through midday Friday.

For restoration to begin, the company must inspect its affected equipment to ensure no damage has occurred to its equipment. As of 10 a.m., the company has not issued an “all clear” for the Bay Area. Inspection patrols take place during daytime hours.

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