SACRAMENTO, Calif. — UPDATE: 12 p.m.
PG&E announced the number of customers expected to be affected by potential power outages has increased by roughly 14,000 customers across 22 counties to just under 265,000.
The company said that it expects that the first round of shutoffs should start early Wednesday morning and could continue turning off the power through Thursday. No exact times as to when the power would be shut off have been given by PG&E.
The 264,080 customers expected to be affected are in the following counties and cities:
- Alameda = 12,200 customers
- Amador = 2,690
- Butte = 14,110
- Colusa = 20
- Contra Costa = 23,230
- El Dorado = 38,570
- Glenn = 230
- Lake = 13,370
- Marin = 23,440
- Mendocino = 3,080
- Napa = 11,180
- Nevada = 30,030
- Placer = 12,440
- Plumas = 780
- Shasta = 21,720
- Sierra = 1,160
- Solano = 1,970
- Sonoma = 39,940
- Tehama = 9,530
- Trinity = 50
- Yolo = 400
- Yuba = 3,940
During the fire weather watch time frame, gusty winds have the potential to spread fires quickly. Fuel is extremely dry right now, bringing additional concern fires will spread rapidly. A spark could very easily burn out of control before firefighters have the chance to intervene.
UPDATE: 10 p.m.
PG&E released a list of counties that may be impacted by another round of potential power shutoffs on Wednesday. Officials say power may be shut off for approximately 250,000 customers.
The counties affected include Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Solano, Sonoma, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Yolo and Yuba Counties.
Customers who live in these counties will receive notification from PG&E on Monday morning if their power will be shut off.
Original story:
Another round of PG&E power shutoffs is possible on Wednesday for parts of the Sierra Foothills, the North Valley and the North Bay Area, the company announced.
About 180,000 customers, or more than 500,000 people, could be impacted by the potential power shutoffs, according to PG&E. The utility company said they are monitoring a “potentially strong offshore wind event” on Nov. 20.
“During late fall, PG&E’s service territory typically experiences dry vegetation (plants, shrubs, twigs and debris) that are ripe for igniting or spreading a wildfire. But dry vegetation conditions have worsened further due to above average temperatures for this time of year, the lack of rain and the recent series of extreme wind events,” the company wrote in a press release.
The situation remains fluid, the company said, and impacts could change based on the weather. A list of counties that could be affected has not yet been released.
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