Severe Winds May Bring More PG&E Power Shutoffs In 16 Counties This Week
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Another round of disruptive PSPS (Public Safety Power Shutoffs) could be coming to California residents again this week.
PG&E is monitoring a severe wind event that may lead to more power shutoffs in 16 counties across northern California.
If the utility implements shutoffs, they would affect the following counties:
- Amador
- Butte
- Colusa
- El Dorado
- Lake
- Marin
- Mendocino
- Napa
- Nevada
- Placer
- Plumas
- Solano
- Sonoma
- Tehama
- Yolo
- Yuba.
The wind event, which is expected Wednesday and Thursday, is expected to be significantly smaller than the Oct. 9-12 Public Safety Power Shutoff event that affected about 2 million people, the utility said.
PG&E said the main period of weather risk is expected to last between 18 and 24 hours from Wednesday evening through mid-day Thursday.
The dry, windy weather pattern is expected to impact parts of the Northern Sierra, North Bay and Sacramento Valley.
During the PSPS earlier in October, the utility cut power to more than 700,000 customer accounts.
Panicked residents stood in long lines at supermarkets, hardware stores, and gas stations, rushing to buy ice, coolers, flashlights and batteries to make sure their cars had gas.
Wildfires in California caused by downed power lines and other utility equipment sparked fires in 2017 and 2018, including the Camp Fire last year that nearly wiped out the town of Paradise and killed 85 people.
PG&E said no PSPS has been called at this time and more updates are to come through the week.
Editor's note: A previous version of this story stated San Joaquin County would be affected by the PSPS. The San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services announced Monday that the county will no longer be affected during the weather event.
