About 250,000 Bay Area PG&E electric customers are at risk of losing their power starting Wednesday as the utility company plans to preemptively shutdown power due to dangerous weather conditions, PG&E officials said.
The weather is expected to be dry and windy, which makes the risk of a catastrophic wildfire high, PG&E officials said. The utility company wants to shut off power so its electric equipment doesn’t start a wildfire as has happened in the past two years.
In a statement, Michael Lewis, senior vice president for PG&E’s electric operations, said, “This is shaping up to be one of the most severe dry wind events we’ve seen in our territory in recent years.”
The shutoffs, called “Public Safety Power Shutoffs”, may affect 256,996 PG&E customers in the Bay Area. If a shutoff is implemented, PG&E plans to begin turning off power early Wednesday morning, but the utility has not given an exact time.
Lewis said company officials want customers to be prepared for an outage that may last several days. Monday night, he called the situation involving the weather this week “evolving.” Power may be off for several days
because after the weather improves, lines and equipment need to be inspected before power is turned back on.
Wind plays an important role in the decision and PG&E says winds are expected to be at their peak early Wednesday morning through midday Thursday. PG&E has its own meteorological team that monitors the weather.
PG&E officials said 32,613 customers in Alameda County could lose power including residences and businesses in Oakland, Castro Valley, Fremont, Union City, Berkeley, Hayward, San Leandro, Sunol, Pleasanton and Livermore.
In Contra Costa County, 40,219 customers may be affected. That includes customers in San Ramon, Orinda, Lafayette, Moraga, Pinole, Richmond, Kensington, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Canyon, San Pablo, Pittsburg, Rodeo, Concord, Albany, Antioch and Martinez.
In Sonoma County, 66,289 customers are at risk of losing power including people and businesses in Santa Rosa, Sonoma, Petaluma, Healdsburg, Cloverdale, Glen Ellen, Penngrove, Geyserville, Kenwood, Rohnert Park, Windsor, Annapolis, Stewarts Point, Cotati, Cazadero, Guerneville, Larkfield, El Verano, Boyes Hot Springs, Fulton and Bodega Bay.
In Napa County, 32,124 customers may lose electricity, including those in Napa, St. Helena, Calistoga, Angwin, Pope Valley, Rutherford, Oakville, Deer Park, Lake Berryessa, Yountville and American Canyon.
The San Mateo County communities and cities that could be affected include Half Moon Bay, El Granada, Woodside, Moss Beach, Montara, Portola Valley, Pescadero, La Honda, Redwood City, San Gregorio, Loma Mar, San Mateo, Menlo Park, Emerald Hills, Pacifica and Princeton. In all, 14,766 San Mateo County customers may lose electricity.
In Santa Clara County, 38,123 residential and business customers could be without power, including those in San Jose, Morgan Hill, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Redwood Estates, Milpitas, Sunnyvale, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Coyote, Gilroy, Mount Hamilton, Palo Alto and Holy City.
Residents and businesses in the Solano County communities of Fairfield, Vacaville, Suisun City, Vallejo and Dixon may be affected. In all, 32,862 customers might lose power in those cities.
Approximately 350,000 more customers in other regions of Northern and Central California may be affected by the Public Safety Power Shutoff for a total of about 600,000 in this possible shutdown operation, according to
PG&E.
The utility’s customers may be affected even though they are living in an area that isn’t affected by dangerous fire conditions because parts of the system that serve one area may originate in an area that is affected by extreme weather, PG&E officials said.
31 comments
Is this our new normal?
I hope not. I lived for several years in Nigeria. Despite they being a major oil producer electric power was not dependable. So the rich people bought generators and hooked them up as they could. The result was constant stories about people being burned from fueling these units, or people being killed by the improper hook ups. I got used to the power cutting out and hearing the guy on duty go out open the door on the generator, start it up, and slam the door closed. Never even woke up after hearing that so much.
Is this the America I want to live in? NO. this plan has been made by lawyers and judges. What to they know about engineering or fires? NOTHING. Somebody please help us. These warnings are just legal maneuvering. What was that about “kill the lawyers”? I’m in!
I’m ready for the electrical shut down.
(of course, you know rates will have to go up to cover the lost revenue)
I have an old diesel tractor engine as my generator with enough fuel for about a month.
If PG&E had done its job in the first place we wouldn’t have to suffer like this.
PG&E executive should be jailed.
State elected representatives need to be voted out of office.
Anyone new is better than what we have now.
Turn the Reps over, one and done.
PG&E common stock price in 2017 = $70.00 per share.
PG&E common stock price today =$11.08
PG&E insurance company settlement = $11B, insures wanted $60B
Insurance companies are now non-renewing policies or jacking up their rates.
(I know of one homeowner who’s renewal offer was $5,700. Was $750.
PG&E’s solution? Cut power to prevent fires (lawsuits).
Reason number 800 and 801 as to why you should have already left the state.
Who “owns” the company ?
Who owns the 529.21M shares of company stock ?
Institutional ownership of stock sits at 89.94%
An who do you think politicians dependent on campaign contributions are going to make sure are taken care of,
rate paying customers or wall street holders of company’s stock ?
Scroll down to “Major Holders” and take a look at who CA’s liberal politicians are going to make sure of are going to be taken care of.
https://www.barrons.com/quote/stock/us/xnys/pcg?mod=DNH_S
Stock price: PCG (NYSE) $10.90 -0.60 (-5.22%)
Oct 8, 3:51 PM EDT – Disclaimer
I Guess they are showing us!! Careful who you try and hold accountable. =/ Seems like something that there should be a laws against? Right? Proof that PG&E has failed and should be replaced by someone capable and dependable, It is 2019. Ridiculous.
If there is a fire the public point fingers and jump on the band wagon to sue. But now, if PG&E turns off the power in response to dangerous conditions, they are causing us hardship and inconvenience and should pay for spoiled food??? Most people are more spoiled than the food will be. It makes me sick how self entitled we as a society have become.
We work hard to earn the money to pay for a service, how is that self entitlement?
About 10-15 years ago, PG&E looked into active monitoring system that would have prevented the fires but decided it was too expensive. I think it is hilarious you feel we are entitled, PG&E’s decision lead us here, and we are forced to use their service. People will lose food, workers will lose wages, businesses will lose money but sure we are just entitled
They cannot charge you when power is out and have to replace your rotting food. Lawsuits will be coming to them again so they better get their lazy act together quickly!
The public does not have the temperament for this so anything over half a day might make things go south very quickly.
Wow! PG&E is a corrupt and horrible company all the way around. So let me get this straight? They either burn down the state or they shut off power. So they are admitting they caused the fires with their bad equipment. That company has plenty of money. They pay cable splicers 200k a year. 200k a year?! Perhaps that’s why they spiral into bankruptcy every 15 years or so. Someone get a handle on this company that dangles power in front of their customers faces at will. What kind of way to operate a business is this?? That company has an awful climate of greed, violence among it’s employees and unethical behavior across the board.
Care to provide any actual data for those numbers? That’s not what I’m seeing. Thanks for some actual data.
My only hope is that someone lets the homeless know, no open fires please!🙏🏻
Ugh my PGE bill for the last two months was over $500 and now this…..so over it.
Friend of mine in Curry County Oregon (just over the border) pays $120.00 per month for electric and is on a septic, so no sewage fees.
His electricity comes from Bonneville Dam through a co-op.
No sales tax in Oregon and property taxes are reasonable.
He’s already escaped the madness in California. Hates it here.
FTR, Berkeley, Albany, and Kensington are not in Contra Costa County.
Kensington is in Contra Costa county. Not sure what point you were trying to make but at least get your facts right.
UPDATE: PG&E just announced power will be shut off just after midnight:
https://twitter.com/PGE4Me/status/1181669029276246021
“To reduce wildfire risk during the forecasted severe wind event, PG&E will implement a Public Safety Power Shutoff (#PSPS) in parts of northern, central and coastal counties. PG&E expects to begin turning off power later tonight, just after midnight.
http://bit.ly/2M12Ynn “
Gas up the car and do your shopping and banking business because gas pumps, ATM’s, computers, and cash registers will be down. If you can find a business that has the ability to operate manually, they probably won’t be able to take plastic, it will be cash only.
Good luck finding a company that can operate manually. Most have no ability to do anything without their computer systems.
If this does happen it sure won’t be good for those owners of Electric Cars come Thursday. 😉
Actually this is hardly a burden unless medical issues. Power goes out start grilling off the food from fridge then freezer. No electronics (no signal) means people can actually engage in conversations again. Maybe check on elderly neighbors and invite them. Myself I’m staying home. Anticipate a mess for traffic with lights out and BART limited. Nice break from this fast pace world and disconnect. May have to play cards or a board game with a neighbor vs. fort-nite or candy crush. Take turns grilling since that will be our source. Have no doubt I’ll be able to keep the beer cold too. Make the best out of nothing and enjoy!
But for those under 20 (could probably say 30) this could be the end of the world. What will they do if they have to engage in conversation for day or even two. 🙂
I agree…Entire scenario feels very ominous.
They spin their problems around and we pay for it. All the advertisements for ‘preparing’ is their disclaimer and we are suppose to just accept this and deal. And how many millions did they set aside for employee bonuses during their lawsuit for billions? Oh wait..is the San Bruno catastrophe paid up yet? This company needs to step down and quit ripping us off any and every way they can.
File this under the “Laws of Unintended Consequences!” This reaction became inevitable when California allowed PG&E to be sued because of fires caused by bad weather.
Sheesh! Guess I’d better do tomorrow’s cooking today before midnight. I will likely be miffed if I have to throw away food. It was silly of me to go grocery shopping yesterday, wasn’t it! Going to go get onions and ice, I hope.
Where is the California PUC? Their job is insure that residents have safe reliable power. No where to be found – that’s where they are. When are California residents finally going to get sick and and tired of inept, worthless, corrupt, feckless government agencies and politicians?
What a mess! I’ve been trying to read everything I can about the situation, and it doesn’t appear it’ll affect me, but it’s certainly near where I live and work. Also I or family may be passing through affected areas. I can’t imagine the possible chaos tomorrow. Hasn’t it been windy and warm all along… why is tomorrow suddenly different? And why at midnight?!?! Part of this, seems a little excessive on PG&E’s part. If they cause a lot of people to miss or not be able to work, food spoilage, theft, or even loss of life because of extended power outage– think medical, then… they SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE..
Did anyone notice on the news how Sacramento will not be loosing power. All around northern California was red except for Sacramento area. Who lives there? Hmmm Gavon Newsom! Guess he made sure his home area would not have to suffer. Also anyone been outside. The weather is never this calm, not even a breeze!!! What a bs way to deal with possible weather issues. Shut off everyone… When the wind doesn’t come for a few days well we will all be waiting in the dark!
This may sound like a rather dumb inquiry but will all of a Concord be subject to this nightmare? Or is it certain areas? I did attempt to type in my address but couldn’t find anything. Thank you in advance!
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