SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Due to expected extreme fire danger conditions, including the Red Flag
warning from the National Weather Service, Pacific Gas and Electric
Company (PG&E) is continuing to notify approximately 70,000 customers in
portions of nine counties that the company may proactively turn off
power for safety starting on Thursday, November 8.
“We understand how important electric service is to customers, so we are
considering temporarily turning off power in the interest of safety only
as a last resort during extreme weather conditions to reduce the risk of
wildfire,” said Pat Hogan, senior vice president of Electric Operations.
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.
Continuing today, PG&E is sending automated voice messages, texts and
emails to customers alerting them to a potential power shutoff. The
company has also taken extra steps to notify customers enrolled in the
Medical Baseline program via available channels, including deploying
PG&E employees to knock on these customers’ doors. Due to forecasted
high winds and dry vegetation, PG&E may temporarily turn off power in
portions of the following communities:
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Butte County (including Berry Creek, Chico, Forest Ranch, Magalia,
Oroville, Paradise)
-
Lake County (including Clearlake Oaks, Cobb, Hidden Valley Lake,
Kelseyville, Middletown)
-
Napa County (including Angwin, Pope Valley, St. Helena)
-
Nevada County (including Grass Valley, Nevada City, North San Juan)
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Placer County (including Colfax, Foresthill, Alta)
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Plumas County (including La Porte)
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Sierra County (including Downieville, Sierra City)
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Sonoma County (only portions of unincorporated northeast Sonoma County)
-
Yuba County (including Brownsville, Dobbins, Camptonville)
Customers in these potentially affected areas are served by
approximately 3,100 miles of power lines. That’s the equivalent of the
driving distance from San Francisco to Boston. If power is turned off
for safety, every mile will be inspected prior to safely turning the
power back on.
PG&E meteorologists continuously monitor weather conditions, and the
company will issue 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 is working closely with first responders and state and local
agencies to keep them apprised of our response to the evolving weather
conditions.
Customers should make sure their contact information is up-to-date by
visiting pge.com/mywildfirealerts, or by calling 1-866-743-6589 during
normal business hours. Report downed power lines immediately by calling
911.
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.
For more information on how to prepare, customers should visit
pge.com/wildfiresafety or call 1-800-PGE-5002. 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.
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 nearly 16 million people in Northern and
Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/
and www.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/index.page.
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PG&E Corporation
Media Relations, 415-973-5930
Source: PG&E Corporation