November 7, 2018 – Due to expected extreme fire danger conditions, including the Red Flag warning from the National Weather Service and several other weather factors, PG&E today began notifying customers in portions of nine counties that the company may proactively turn off power for safety starting Thursday (Nov. 8).
“We know how much our customers rely on electric service and the impacts these events can have on our customers, their families and communities,” said Pat Hogan, senior vice president of Electric Operations. “We will only consider temporarily turning off power in the interest of safety and as a last resort during extreme weather conditions to reduce the risk of wildfire.”
Factors that PG&E considers when deciding to initiate a Public Safety Power Shutoff include strong winds, very low humidity levels, critically dry vegetation and on-the-ground observations.
PG&E is working closely with first responders and state and local agencies to keep them apprised of our response to the evolving weather conditions.
Starting today, PG&E is sending automated voice messages, texts and emails to customers alerting them to a potential power shutoff.
Due to forecasted high winds and dry vegetation, PG&E may temporarily turn off power in portions of the following communities:
- Butte County
- Lake County
- Napa County
- Nevada County
- Placer County
- Plumas County
- Sierra County
- Sonoma County
- Yuba County
PG&E meteorologists will continue to monitor weather conditions as they evolve. PG&E will have additional details on affected areas as weather reports become available. Gusty northeast winds are expected late Wednesday through Thursday primarily in the Sacramento Valley, western slopes of northern Sierra and the North Bay hills.
PG&E’s automated message to potentially impacted customers included the following message:
“Extreme weather conditions with high fire danger are forecasted in the North Bay, North Valley and Sierra Foothills, starting overnight Wednesday and lasting through Thursday. These conditions may cause power outages. To protect public safety, PG&E may also temporarily turn off power in your neighborhood or community. If there is an outage, we will work to restore service as soon as it is safe to do so. Please have your emergency plan ready. If you see a downed power line, assume it is energized and extremely dangerous. Do not touch or try to move it—and keep children and animals away. Report downed power lines immediately by calling 911. For more information on how to prepare, please visit pge.com/wildfiresafety or call 1-800-PGE-5002.”
Customers should also make sure their contact information is up-to-date by visiting www.pge.com/mywildfirealerts, or by calling 1-866-743-6589 during normal business hours.
Customers can learn whether their home or business is in or near a high fire-threat area by reviewing the California Public Utilities Commission’s High Fire-Threat District map. They can also visit pge.com/wildfiresafety to determine whether their home or business is served by an electric line that may be turned off for safety.