news-events

PG&E Has Restored 73 Percent of 973,000 Customers Impacted by Oct. 26 Public Safety Power Shutoff

10/30/2019

Approximately 540,000 Customers Are Part of Oct. 29 Safety Shutoff to Reduce Wildfire Risk During Third Consecutive High Wind Event

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) confirmed tonight that it has restored power to nearly three-quarters of the 973,000 customers impacted by the Oct. 26 Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). Also today, in response to a third consecutive dry, offshore wind event, PG&E began turning power off for safety; a total of approximately 540,000 customers in portions of 27 counties are expected to be impacted.

The sole intent of a PSPS is to prevent a catastrophic wildfire sparked by electrical equipment during extreme weather events.

Specific updates:

  • PG&E continues to monitor weather forecasts to determine whether shutoffs are necessary overnight in the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and San Mateo.
  • All customers in Humboldt and Siskiyou counties initially expected to be part of the Oct. 29 PSPS will not be de-energized, given changes to the weather forecasts.
  • At 5 p.m. today, PG&E issued the weather “all-clear” for Butte, Plumas, Shasta, Tehama and Trinity counties impacted by the Oct. 29 PSPS, meaning winds had subsided to safe levels to allow inspections and restorations to begin. Those inspections will continue at first light.
  • PG&E’s meteorology team estimates that the current dry, offshore wind event should subside in nearly all areas by Wednesday morning. The exception is Kern County, where winds are expected to subside by Thursday morning.
  • About 6,300 personnel and 46 helicopters are standing by to support inspections, repairs from wind damage, and restoration once PG&E issues the weather “all-clear.” PG&E has also secured the assistance of approximately 1,100 electric workers to assist with inspections and repairs.
  • More than 55 instances of damage have been confirmed related to high winds during the Oct. 26 event. These types of damages can lead to potential wildfire ignitions if power lines are not de-energized.
  • PG&E does not currently expect another wind event in the next seven days.

PG&E opened 76 Community Resource Centers across the affected area, providing restrooms, bottled water, ice, blankets, food, electronic-device charging and air-conditioned seating for up to 100. Centers will remain open during daylight hours, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., until power has been restored in those areas. Locations and status of these centers are listed at www.pge.com/pspsupdates.

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com and www.pge.com/news.

Media Relations, 415-973-5930

Source: Pacific Gas and Electric Company

RSS

Shareholder Information

EQ Shareowner Services
Transfer Agent
1-888-489-4689

PG&E Shareholder Services
CorporateSecretary@pge.com

Investor Relations Contact Info

invrel@pge-corp.com

Receive Email Alerts

*
*