Advertisement PG&E power shutoffs begin, affecting 513K in first wave PG&E; POWER SHUTOFFS Share Shares Copy Link Copy
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has started its first phase of power shutoffs across Northern and Central California, leaving roughly 513,000 customers without power ahead of a forecast high wind event and elevated wildfire dangers.PG&E said its Public Safety Power Shutoff will eventually impact nearly 800,000 customers across 34 counties, the utility said.At 12 a.m. Wednesday, the utility started cutting power to 513,000 customers in the following 22 counties:AmadorButteCalaverasColusaEl DoradoGlennHumboldtLakeMarinMendocinoNapaNevadaPlacerPlumasShastaSierraSolanoSonomaTehamaTrinityYoloYubaAround 234,000 will lose power during a second phase of shutoffs set to happen around 12 p.m. on Wednesday.The seven counties scheduled for the second phase of the power shutoffs are:AlamedaAlpineContra CostaMariposaSan JoaquinSan MateoSanta ClaraPG&E said it's considering a third phase of shutoffs for the southernmost portions of its service area that could impact about 42,000 customers.The utility said it decided to turn off power because of dry, hot and windy weather in the forecast, increasing the risk for the rapid spread of potential wildfires.PG&E said it expects the weather event will last through midday Thursday. PG&E provided an outage map of areas that will be impacted by the PSPS. The areas that will be impacted are highlighted in blue. Zoom in to see if your home or business could be impacted by the power shutoff below. (Can't see the map? Tap here)The shutoffs are part of PG&E’s Public Safety Power Shutoff Program, which is designed to reduce the threat of wildfire that could be sparked by lines brought down in gusting winds.“The safety of our customers and the communities we serve is our most important responsibility, which is why PG&E has decided to turn power off to customers during this widespread, severe wind event. We understand the effects this event will have on our customers and appreciate the public’s patience as we do what is necessary to keep our communities safe and reduce the risk of wildfire,” said Michael Lewis, PG&E’s senior vice president of Electric Operations.Customers can access the very latest on the power outages and a list. A of the community resource centers by visiting the Public Safety Power Shutoff updates page."Given the prolonged period during which the wind event will unfold, and the large number of power line miles that will need to be inspected before restoration, customers are being asked to prepare for an extended outage," PG&E said in a release Tuesday.SCHOOL CLOSINGSHere are where schools will be closed:Amador County Unified School District has announced it will cancel school for all of its students Wednesday. The district says it will send out an update by 8 p.m. Wednesday if schools will also be closed on Thursday.Camino Union School District schools will be closed Wednesday.EDCOE Charter Alternative Programs schools will be closed Wednesday.El Dorado Union High School District schools will be closed Wednesday. The district says it will notify families by 8 p.m. Wednesday if schools will also be closed Thursday.Esparto Unified School District in Yolo County is canceling all classes for Wednesday and Thursday.Gold Oak Union School District in El Dorado County has canceled Wednesday classes.Gold Trail Union School District schools in El Dorado County will not have classes Wednesday.Six schools in the Marysville Joint Unified School District will be closed Wednesday. Those school are: Yuba Feather Elementary, Dobbins Elementary, Foothill Intermediate, Loma Rica Elementary, Browns Valley Elementary and Cordua Elementary.Mother Lode Union School District announced that all its campuses will be closed Wednesday and Thursday.Pioneer Union School District schools will be closed Wednesday.Placerville Union School District schools will be closed Wednesday.Rescue Union School District in El Dorado County has canceled school for all students Wednesday. Extended Day programs are also canceled.Solano Community College is closing all four of its campuses on Wednesday. No online classes will be held either.POSSIBLE CLOSURESSeveral schools in the Rocklin Unified School District may be impacted by the PG&E power shutoffs, officials said. The district will not be alerted until between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. The schools that could be closed Wednesday include:Granite Oaks Middle SchoolSierra Elementary SchoolSpring View Middle SchoolRocklin Elementary SchoolRocklin High SchoolValley View Elementary SchoolVictory High School/RICA at VHSBoth 18-22 Transition Programs at 3rd Street and RHSSee updates on Rocklin Unified School District school closures here.There is a possibility that other school districts may cancel classes Wednesday.This is a developing story. Stay with KCRA 3 for the latest.
At midnight local time (0700 ), United States public utility  (PG&E) began turning off electricity for customers in the San Francisco area of California. PG&E stated it scheduled the blackouts in response to forecasts for high winds amid dry conditions. The aim is to reduce the risk of wildfires. Nearly 800 thousand customers were scheduled to be affected by the shutoffs which were expected to last through at least midday tomorrow.
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Within the first four hours 185 thousand customers were without power. According to PG&E's schedule, by noon today over half a million could be affected, at which point phase two was planned to begin. Phase two was planned to affect over two hundred thousand customers. A phase three was tentatively planned, but final decisions were not yet made.

PG&E announced the schedule in a press release late yesterday and followed it up with a press conference last night. Sumeet Singh, a vice president at PG&E, said "We very much understand the inconvenience and difficulties such a power outage would cause". Company meteorologist Evan Duffey said, "This is forecast to be the strongest offshore wind event since October 2017".

Senior vice president Michael Lewis added, "The safety of our customers and the communities we serve is our most important responsibility, which is why PG&E has decided to turn power off to customers during this widespread, severe wind event. We understand the effects this event will have on our customers and appreciate the public's patience as we do what is necessary to keep our communities safe and reduce the risk of wildfire".

According to local news, school districts across the area announced school closings. PG&E announced via Twitter around 11:30 am (1830 UTC), phase one had been completed. The company apologized for its website being inaccessible due to high volume of traffic.
 


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