Power restored to 95% of PG&E customers, company says
The lights are on again for the vast majority of Pacific Gas and Electric’s (PG&E) customers who lost power during the powerful winter storms the struck Northern California this week.
PG&E said its crews have successfully restored power to 95% of the customers who were impacted.
“As of Friday afternoon, approximately 42,000 customers are without power due to storm damage. Of those, approximately 10,000 customers are located where PG&E crews can’t gain access due to high snow, falling trees and blocked roads,” the company said.
Repair crews are focusing on the areas that were hardest hit by the storm: Yolo County, Stockton area, the North Coast, Mendocino, and Humboldt County. There is no ETA on when power will be fully restored.
California storm winds down after deluge of rain and snow
A drenching storm that brought California much-needed rain in what had been a dry winter is winding down after washing out Highway 1 near Big Sur and burying the Sierra Nevada in heavy snow that left a skier dead.
The atmospheric river weather system rolled quickly through Southern California early Friday and moved east, and remnants are unleashing occasional downpours.
There are no reports of large-scale problems in Southern California.
In the Sierra, a skier died Thursday after being found upside down in snow at Mammoth Mountain ski resort, which got more than 7 feet of new snow.
City of Sacramento opens another warming center in Southside Park pool house
Sacramento city officials are opening another warming center to help support homeless residents.
The shelter will open in the Southside Park pool house and operate nightly from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. for the foreseeable future. The city is also offering "safe parking" nightly at the City Hall Garage on I Street to help people living in their vehicles.
This is not the first time the Southside Park pool house has been used as a warming shelter. The last time was during the winter of 2016-2017. To access the warming center, attendees should use the front entrance on 6th Street between U and V streets.
Here is how to get money back from PG&E for spoiled food due to an outage
Many people in Northern California are still without power, some for over 3 days with seemingly no end in sight. For those who have had their electricity out for more than 48 hours, you may qualify for an automatic payment of $25 to $100 for spoiled food.
West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero shared some tips on how to file a claim to receive this compensation. The West Sacramento community has been particularly hard hit by power outages in the wake of the storm. Mayor Guerrero outlines key factors for getting a claim approved, including providing PG&E with photos and other documentation (like receipts).
Chain controls lifted on I-80 and U.S. 50
Chain controls have been lifted on I-80 and U.S. 50, though it is still snowing and drivers should take caution, said Caltrans District 3. Caltrans is also warning drivers that traffic is still heavy heading up to the Sierras.
This announcement comes just after CHP-Truckee tweeted that chain controls have been lifted for 1-80 over Donner Summit in both directions.
More than 1,200 customers still without power in San Joaquin County, PG&E says
Crews are working to turn the lights back on as more than 1,200 PG&E customers are on their fourth day of no power following a winter storm.
According to PG&E, 1,299 customers in San Joaquin County are still without power. This includes:
- 874 customers in Stockton
- 85 customers in Manteca
- 37 customers in Lodi
- 39 customers in Acampo
While those customers have gone days without power, PG&E says that 90% of homes and businesses that lost power due to strong winds, heavy rains and snow have had their power restored across their service area.
Road conditions cause miles-long backup on Highway 50
As chain controls are in place, the California Highway Patrol Placerville is reporting a miles-long backup on Highway 50.
"Please be prepared for LONG delays," said CHP Placerville in a tweet Friday morning.
Trucks over 65 feet are not allowed in the area East of Sly Park Road, even without snow and chain conditions. "If you don't have chains, you will be turned around," tweeted CHP Placerville.
Meanwhile, SR 20 between Nevada City and Interstate 80 remains closed. CalTrans District 3 explained on Twitter the closure is due to hazardous trees. There is currently not estimated time for reopening the roadway.
West Sacramento power outages keep Community Resource Center open
With thousands still without power, the city of West Sacramento continues to offer a place for residents to charge their devices.
The Community Resource Center opened Thursday, days after a major winter storm left residents in the dark. "Despite good progress overnight, there are still areas without power," said the city in a tweet.
From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, at least through Sunday, people can charge critical medical equipment or electronics and get water at the Galleria at City Hall. There is still no timeline for when power will be restored to West Sacramento neighborhoods.
Thousands still without power, PG&E delivers supplies to communities in the dark
Thousands are still without power across Northern California days after a major winter storm bore down on the state.
According to a release from PG&E, 10,029 customers are without power in the Sacramento Division, which includes 2,154 customers in Davis and 1,128 customers in West Sacramento.
In PG&E's Stockton Division, 10,771 customers in Amador, Calaveras, San Joaquin and Alpine Counties are still without power. The Sierra Division, which covers El Dorado, Nevada, Placer and Sierra Counties, has 3,191 customers without power.
PG&E delivered supplies to West Sacramento Friday morning to help those communities without power. Supplies include 1,000 blankets, a pallet of bottled water and 500 portable charging devices.
PG&E crews say they are continuing to focus on the areas where the largest number of customers are still in the dark. Those areas include Yolo County and the Stockton area.
"Across our service area, More than 90 percent of residences and businesses that lost power due to strong winds, heavy rains and snow have had their power restored," said Megan McFarland with PG&E. "PG&E has found more than 1,000 instances of damage so far where infrastructure needs to be replaced or repaired."
A preliminary breakdown of damage shows 328 spans of conductor need to be replaced or repaired, 50 broken crossarms, 86 broken poles and 27 broken transformers. In all, 535 individual system components need to be repaired or replaced.
