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Updated weather forecast for dry, offshore wind event means PG&E might need to proactively turn off power for safety

Posted at 6:28 PM, Sep 25, 2020
and last updated 2020-09-25 21:28:52-04

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Pacific Gas and Electric Company continue to monitor a potentially strong and dry offshore wind event forecasted to start early Sunday morning and expected to last through Monday.

Given the expected weather conditions, PG&E began its one-day advance notifications to customers in areas where PG&E may need to proactively turn power off for safety to reduce the risk of wildfire from energized power lines.

The anticipated scope and timing of this event has changed from earlier announcements, based on updated weather forecasts that showed stronger wind gusts in a larger portion of PG&E’s service area.

PG&E’s in-house meteorologists, as well as its Wildfire Safety Operation Center and Emergency Operations Center, continue to monitor conditions closely and additional notifications will be made today to customers who may be impacted by this event.

The potential PSPS starting early Sunday morning could impact approximately 97,000 customers in portions of fifteen counties in the Northern Sierra and North Valley. Specifically, customers in portions of Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Kern, Lake, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Tehama and Yuba counties are being notified. The total customer impacts are currently projected to be as follows:

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Customers can look here to find out if their location is being monitored for the potential safety shutoff.