SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. November 18, 2019 – This morning, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) began 48-hour advance notifications to customers about a potential Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) in portions of 22 counties. Worsening dry conditions and expected high wind gusts pose an increased risk for damage and sparks on the electric system that have the potential to ignite fires in areas with dry vegetation.
High fire-risk conditions are expected to begin early Wednesday morning and continue throughout Thursday. Once the high winds subside, currently expected to be Thursday mid-morning, PG&E will inspect the de-energized lines to ensure they were not damaged during the wind event, and then restore power. PG&E will safely restore power in stages as quickly as possible, with the goal of restoring most customers by end of day Thursday, based on the current weather conditions.
The shutoff is expected to impact approximately 264,000 customers in 22 counties:
| County | Customers | Medical Baseline | Cities or unincorporated areas with some customers potentially impacted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda | 12,200 | 330 | Berkeley, Oakland, San Leandro |
| Amador | 2,690 | 90 | Amador City, Drytown, Fiddletown, Plymouth, River Pines, Sutter Creek |
| Butte | 14,110 | 940 | Bangor, Berry Creek, Butte Meadows, Chico, Clipper Mills, Cohasset, Forbestown, Forest Ranch, Magalia, Oroville, Paradise, Stirling City |
| Colusa | 20 | 1 | Arbuckle, Williams |
| Contra Costa | 23,230 | 740 | Canyon, El Sobrante, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Pinole, Pleasant Hill, Richmond |
| El Dorado | 38,570 | 1,880 | Camino, Coloma, Cool, Diamond Springs, El Dorado, El Dorado Hills, Garden Valley, Georgetown, Greenwood, Grizzly Flats, Kelsey, Kyburz, Lotus, Mount Ankum, Pacific House, Pilot Hill, Placerville, Pollock Pines, Rescue, Shingle Springs, Somerset, Twin Bridges |
| Glenn | 230 | 9 | Elk Creek |
| Lake | 13,370 | 2,010 | Clearlake, Cobb, Finley, Hidden Valley Lake, Hopland, Kelseyville, Lakeport, Loch Lomond, Lower Lake, Middletown |
| Marin | 23,440 | 590 | Bolinas, Fairfax, Forest Knolls, Inverness, Lagunitas, Marshall, Mill Valley, Muir Beach, Nicasio, Novato, Olema, Point Reyes Station, San Anselmo, San Geronimo, San Rafael, Stinson Beach, Woodacre |
| Mendocino | 3,080 | 90 | Gualala, Hopland, Point Arena |
| Napa | 11,180 | 250 | Angwin, Calistoga, Deer Park, Lake Berryessa, Napa, Oakville, Pope Valley, Rutherford, Yountville |
| Nevada | 30,030 | 1,180 | Emigrant Gap, Grass Valley, Nevada City, Norden, North San Juan, Penn Valley, Rough and Ready, Soda Springs, Washington |
| Placer | 12,440 | 500 | Alta, Applegate, Auburn, Baxter, Colfax, Dutch Flat, Emigrant Gap, Foresthill, Gold Run, Granite Bay, Lincoln, Meadow Vista, Weimar |
| Plumas | 780 | 5 | Belden, La Porte, Quincy, Story |
| Shasta | 21,720 | 1,340 | Anderson, Bella Vista, Big Bend, Cottonwood, French Gulch, Igo, Lakehead, Manton, Millville, Montgomery Creek, Oak Run, Palo Cedro, Platina, Round Mountain, Shasta, Shingletown, Whitmore |
| Sierra | 1,160 | 10 | Alleghany, Downieville, Goodyears Bar, North San Juan, Sierra City |
| Solano | 1,970 | 350 | Fairfield, Suisun City, Vacaville |
| Sonoma | 39,940 | 1,200 | Annapolis, Bodega, Bodega Bay, Calistoga, Cazadero, Cloverdale, Duncans Mills, Forestville, Geyserville, Glen Ellen, Guerneville, Healdsburg, Jenner, Kenwood, Monte Rio, Penngrove, Rio Nido, Santa Rosa, Sonoma, Sea Ranch, Stewarts Point, Villa Grande, Windsor |
| Tehama | 9,530 | 640 | Cottonwood, Flournoy, Manton, Mill Creek, Mineral, Paskenta, Paynes Creek, Red Bluff |
| Trinity | 50 | 2 | Unincorporated areas of Trinity |
| Yolo | 400 | 7 | Brooks, Guinda, Rumsey |
| Yuba | 3,940 | 20 | Bangor, Browns Valley, Brownsville, Camptonville, Challenge, Dobbins, Forbestown, Marysville, Oregon House, Rackerby, Strawberry Valley |
Customers can use an online address lookup tool to find out if their location is being monitored for the potential safety shutoff at www.pge.com/pspsupdates.
Timeline for safety shutoffs
If PG&E calls the PSPS, the shutoffs are expected to begin Wednesday morning.
Customer notifications and impact
The company notified potentially impacted customers this morning (48 hours prior) and will notify them again 24 hours and four hours prior. Customers who have provided their contact information to PG&E were notified by phone, text and email.
It’s important to remember that customers not impacted by the PSPS may experience power outages due to PG&E equipment damaged during this wind event; those customers will not be notified in advance.
It is also very possible that customers may be affected by a power shutoff even though they are not experiencing extreme weather conditions in their specific location. This is because the electric system relies on power lines working together to provide electricity across cities, counties and regions.
Community Resource Centers
To support customers in the affected areas, PG&E will open several Community Resource Centers (CRCs). Restrooms, bottled water, electronic-device charging and air-conditioned seating for up to 100 will be available at these facilities. Locations are below, and more are being confirmed. The locations of CRCs will be available at pge.com/pspsupdates.
The following services will be provided at our Community Resource Centers:
- Snacks (non-perishable)
- Ice
- Blankets (upon request)
- Heater
- Restroom facilities
- Charging stations
How Customers Can Prepare
PG&E is asking customers to:
- Plan for medical needs like medications that require refrigeration or devices that need power.
- Identify backup charging methods for phones and keep hard copies of emergency numbers.
- Build or restock your emergency kit with flashlights, fresh batteries, first aid supplies and cash.
- Keep in mind family members who are elderly, younger children and pets.
- Learn more about wildfire risk and what to do before, during and after an emergency to keep your family safe at PG&E’s Safety Action Center.