KERN COUNTY, Calif. — PG&E announced in a statement that the utility company has been given the "all clear" on the weather. This means the company can begin patrols to visually inspect power lines for Kern County customers.
The power company said it has restored 50 percent of Kern County customers who were impacted by the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS).
PG&E crews will visually inspect power lines to determine if there is any weather-related damage to the lines, poles or towers.
The company says that visual inspections are necessary since "since circuit breakers, reclosing devices and fuses that are typically used to help detect any potential damage from a weather event like a winter storm are also de-energized during a Public Safety Power Shutoff for safety reasons."
Inspections will take time as some locations are remote and require travel on narrow access roads, or do not have vehicle access. In some cases, helicopters will be used for inspections, but they are limited to daylight hours only.
If any damage is discovered crews will work to as quickly as possible to make repairs.
Once work is completed powers to customers will be restored. No time frame was given as to how long this would take.
