[UPDATE 10:09 p.m.] PG&E Considering Power Shutoffs This Tuesday and Wednesday as Weather Conditions Bring Increased Fire Danger

Lightbulb power
Pacific Gas and Electric have announced weather patterns in the Northern California region are being monitored for the possibility of a Public Safety Power Shutoff on Tuesday night for some areas, and Wednesday night for others.

According to forecasting published by PG&E Mendocino, Sonoma, and Lake Counties could face a PSPS starting Tuesday. Those counties as well as and Humboldt, Trinity, Shasta, and other Northern California Counties could see their power cut on Wednesday night.

PG&E characterized the risk of a PSPS as “elevated” which they define as “An upcoming event (a period of gusty winds, dry conditions, heightened risk) is being monitored for an increased potential of a PSPS event.”

PG&E states their forecasting suggests an “upper-level weather system will progress through the Pacific Northwest Tuesday into Wednesday and produce dry, northerly winds across Northern CA.”

These winds are expected to increase Tuesday night with the potential for “maximum wind gusts from 30 – 45 mph with isolated gusts to 50 mph.”

As to Wednesday night, PG&E predicts, “Weaker northerly winds are also possible late Wednesday into Thursday.”

Factors that are enhancing the potential danger in the forecast include relative humidity of 15%-30% and the areas affected being “historically dry” and “very susceptible to new fire ignitions.”

We will continue to monitor PG&E’s PSPS forecasting to bring residents the most up-to-date information about the potential of power outages.

UPDATE 10:09 p.m.: Information posted on PG&E’s Facebook page

Forecasted Offshore Dry Winds Mean PG&E Might Need to Proactively Turn Off Power for Safety in Small Portions of 16 Counties on Tuesday Night

PG&E’s Emergency Operations Center is Open and Company Meteorologists and Operations Professionals are Monitoring the Situation

The Majority of Affected Customers Would Be in Butte and Shasta Counties; PG&E Is Sending 48-Hour Notices to Customers Who Might Be Affected

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) opened its emergency operations center today, and the company’s meteorologists and operations professionals are monitoring a potential dry offshore wind event forecasted to start Tuesday evening (Aug. 17). Given this wind event and current conditions including extreme to exceptional drought and extremely dry vegetation, PG&E has begun sending 48-hour advance notifications to customers in targeted areas where PG&E may need to proactively turn power off for safety to reduce the risk of wildfire from energized power lines.

Potential Public Safety Power Shutoff Tuesday Night

The potential PSPS event starting Tuesday night could affect approximately 39,000 customers in small portions of 16 counties in the Sierra Nevada foothills, the North Coast, the North Valley and the North Bay mountains. While the majority of customers—about 27,000—are in Butte and Shasta counties, we are also notifying customers who may experience safety shutoffs in portions of 14 other counties: Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Napa, Plumas, Sierra, Solano, Sonoma, Tehama, Trinity, Yolo and Yuba.

The potential PSPS event is approximately 48 hours away and conditions may change. PG&E’s in-house meteorologists, as well as its Wildfire Safety Operations Center and Emergency Operations Center, continue to closely monitor conditions. We will share additional customer notifications as conditions evolve.

Customer notifications—via text, email and automated phone call—began Sunday evening, approximately two days prior to the potential shutoff. PG&E employees will pay individual, in-person visits when possible to customers enrolled in the company’s Medical Baseline program who do not verify that they have received these important safety communications, with a primary focus on customers who rely on electricity for critical life-sustaining equipment.

Potentially Affected Counties

Customers can look up their address online to find out if their location is being monitored for the potential safety shutoff at www.pge.com/pspsupdates.

The potential shutoff is currently expected to affect approximately 39,000 customers across the following counties:

• Butte County: 13,841 customers, 1,366 Medical Baseline customers
• Glenn County: 17 customers, 2 Medical Baseline customers
• Humboldt County: 643 customers, 13 Medical Baseline customers
• Lake County: 2,727 customers, 184 Medical Baseline customers
• Lassen County: 65 customers, 7 Medical Baseline customers
• Mendocino County: 239 customers, 15 Medical Baseline customers
• Napa County: 1,804 customers, 87 Medical Baseline customers
• Plumas County: 778 customers, 27 Medical Baseline customers
• Shasta County: 14,027 customers, 1,239 Medical Baseline customers
• Sierra County: 1,035 customers, 30 Medical Baseline customers
• Solano County: 71 customers, 3 Medical Baseline customers
• Sonoma County: 106 customers, 1 Medical Baseline customer
• Tehama County: 2,856 customers, 219 Medical Baseline customers
• Trinity County: 426 customers, 21 Medical Baseline customers
• Yolo County: 100 customers, 4 Medical Baseline customers
• Yuba County: 531 customers, 49 Medical Baseline customers

Public Safety Power Shutoffs: What PG&E Customers Should Know

Why PG&E Calls a PSPS Event

We initiate Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) when the weather forecast is for such severe weather that people’s safety, lives, homes and businesses may be in danger of wildfires.

As each weather situation is unique, we carefully review a combination of factors when deciding if power must be turned off. These factors include:

• Low humidity levels, generally 30% and below.
• A forecast of high winds, particularly sustained winds above 20 miles per hour and wind gusts above 30-40 miles per hour.
• Condition of dry material on the ground and low moisture content of vegetation.
• A Red Flag Warning declared by the National Weather Service.
• Real-time ground observations from our Wildfire Safety Operations Center and from our crews working across the service territory.

This year, our decision-making process is evolving to also account for the presence of trees tall enough to strike power lines when determining if a PSPS event is necessary.

Every wildfire season is different, and the ongoing drought and the conditions will determine the number of times we will need to shut off power, without compromising safety.

This set of criteria is a first step which may lead to further analysis from our meteorology team to determine if a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) event is necessary.

Here’s Where to Learn More
• PG&E’s emergency website (www.pge.com/pspsupdates) is now available in 16 languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Russian, Vietnamese, Korean, Farsi, Arabic, Hmong, Khmer, Punjabi, Japanese, Thai, Portuguese, and Hindi. Customers will have the opportunity to choose their language of preference for viewing the information when visiting the website.
• Customers are encouraged to update their contact information and indicate their preferred language for notifications by visiting www.pge.com/mywildfirealerts or by calling 1-800-743-5000, where in-language support is available.
• Tenants and non-account holders can sign up to receive PSPS ZIP Code Alerts for any area where you do not have a PG&E account by visiting www.pge.com/pspszipcodealerts.
• At PG&E’s Safety Action Center (www.safetyactioncenter.pge.com) customers can prepare for emergencies. By using the “Make Your Own Emergency Plan” tool and answering a few short questions, visitors to the website can compile and organize the important information needed for a personalized family emergency plan. This includes phone numbers, escape routes and a family meeting location if an evacuation is necessary.

PG&E’s Commitment to Wildfire Safety
PG&E’s multi-faceted Community Wildfire Safety Program includes both immediate and long-term action plans to further reduce wildfire risk and keep its customers and communities safe.

Since 2018, PG&E’s wildfire safety work has resulted in:

• Multiple inspections of distribution, transmission and substation equipment in high fire-threat areas
• Hardening more than 600 miles with stronger lines and poles to better withstand severe weather
• Conducting enhanced vegetation safety work on nearly 5,000 line miles in high fire-threat areas (this is in addition to the more than 5 million trees that PG&E has trimmed or removed as part of its routine vegetation management and tree mortality efforts)
• Installing more than 1,000 sectionalizing devices and switches that limit the size of Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) that are necessary to mitigate the risk of wildfires
• Installing more than 1,150 advanced weather stations to help PG&E gather more data and information to better predict and respond to extreme weather threats
• Installing more than 400 high-definition cameras to monitor and respond to wildfires
• Reserving more than 65 helicopters to quickly restore power after severe weather during PSPS events
• Monitoring wildfire threats in real-time through a dedicated team at PG&E’s Wildfire Safety Operations Center, which is staffed 24 hours a day during wildfire season

Ongoing PG&E Wildfire Mitigation and Resiliency Efforts
In addition to significantly expanding its undergrounding, PG&E’s ongoing safety work to enhance grid resilience and address the growing threat of severe weather and wildfires continues on a risk-based and data-driven basis, as outlined in PG&E’s 2021 Wildfire Mitigation Plan.

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31 Comments
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rosa volner
Guest
2 years ago

wondering if fortuna going to be on that list i live redwood way in fortuna

Just saying
Guest
Just saying
2 years ago
Reply to  rosa volner

I would like to know the same

No name
Guest
No name
2 years ago

PG&E wants to shut off the power for safety reasons. When I drive from Rio Dell to Fortuna I see a large ( 10-12’ ) broken branch laying across the wires, I see branches pushing the wires down, stretching them and at one spot I see the branches pushing the wires down so far it’s pulled the pole out of plumb. Aren’t these hazards? Is PG&E going to remedy these problems? I understand that it may be a completely different situation than the power shut off however it’s still disconcerting.

Jared stainbrook
Guest
Jared stainbrook
2 years ago
Reply to  No name

I’ve seen those branches too. But they are not power lines. They are at&t and suddenlink lines

Entering a World of Pain
Guest
Entering a World of Pain
2 years ago
Reply to  No name

Per the previous comment, if those were power lines there would be sparks & fire. Must be telephone lines

Nimby
Guest
Nimby
2 years ago
Reply to  No name

Those are phone and cable tv lines. No risk of fire, might just slow down the misinformation.

anny
Guest
anny
2 years ago

Doesn’t the Humboldt Bay area get to “island” now during shutoffs for drier areas?

cu2morrow
Guest
cu2morrow
2 years ago
Reply to  anny

yes, and this is one hell of a way to live … ain’t it .

NoBody
Guest
NoBody
2 years ago

…” Northern California Counties could see their power cut on Wednesday night.”

What are power cut ons? You mean off?

Peewee
Guest
Peewee
2 years ago
Reply to  NoBody

I believe they are saying the power will be cut on Wednesday as In they will turn it off on a Wednesday if that makes sense lol it’s hard to text it and understand without hearing how it’s said.

Dave
Guest
Dave
2 years ago
Reply to  NoBody

Remove the word “their” for clarification. “cut ons” is not a thing 🙂

Bug on a Windshield
Guest
Bug on a Windshield
2 years ago
Reply to  Dave

Ah, the English language.

Let me cut in and say, cut out the silliness. I’ll cut to the chase. The cut off will be cut (pause) on Wednesday to prepare for power lines being cut up and power poles cut down. Furthermore, this is serious and no time to cut the rug and no one wants any one to cut the cheese. Pacific Gas & Extortion is just trying to save their pocketbooks, so, cut them some slack.

Guest
Guest
Guest
2 years ago

Pretty sure Humboldt County is ready to be islanded. They have huge generators on Titlow by Berry Summit, been setting them up last couple weeks.

SE
Guest
SE
2 years ago
Reply to  Guest

I think we will not be shut off due to the old powerplant. I also looked at the PGE site that has a map of up-and-coming shut-offs. So far it shows nothing. The generators will help the people and not have to deal with power shut offs.

Bug on a Windshield
Guest
Bug on a Windshield
2 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Titlow? Berry Summit? You mean, fire country?

Nuttincowboy
Guest
Nuttincowboy
2 years ago

Federal judges have told PG&E to explain their roll in the Dixie fire. Initial reports had a lineman reporting fire from green vegetation shorting out a transformer.
This is business as usual for PG&E. Ever since Enron top PG&E management have used maintenance funds as their personal piggy bank by not doing the work and calling the savings a profit.
Power shut offs are a part of the same equation. Thee only reason they’re sacrificing the income is because once again; after a string of seasons where PG&E burns down a town or two for fun and profit the rat bastards are under scrutiny.
They need to be in prison. 🤬

Larry Winter
Guest
Larry Winter
2 years ago

Humboldt’s been on Islanding mode until just recently. Like for 8 days. It cut power to Hyampom when that happened. That’s how I know how long the Islanding mode lasted. It sucked because there was no infrastructure problems nor was there a red flag warning causing a PSPS. It was just a practice run I guess.

Nimby
Guest
Nimby
2 years ago
Reply to  Larry Winter

Not a practice run, power transmission lines were disabled due to the Monument fire between Redding and Eureka along the 299 corridor. It was a major feat for the fire crews and linesmen to get it back up. The high wind forecast means they will probably have to do it all over again. Respect and appreciation for the people out there working hard to protect our homes and keeping the lights on.

Jim’s Guest Is Someone Else’s Wife
Guest
Jim’s Guest Is Someone Else’s Wife
2 years ago

Recall Newsom

Vote Larry Elder for Governor of California.

Newsom is turning California third world.
Power outages again. Look at a satellite image of North Korea at night. That’s what Northern California will look like Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tim
Guest
Tim
2 years ago

This has nothing to do with Newsom and Elder wouldn’t fix it. This has to do with decades of PG&E ignoring maintenance in order to pad their shareholder’s dividends.

The recall is a waste of taxpayer money to mollify Republican’s butt-hurt feelings about dumping Trump. If they had somebody competent they would’ve run them against Newsom the last time.

chopsolutely
Guest
chopsolutely
2 years ago

oh quit the hysterics. take a look at alabama and texas. republican states. they’re far worse off than we are. higher infant mortality, worse education, higher covid death rates, etc.

i don’t even like newsom, but come on.

Eddie DeVacio
Guest
Eddie DeVacio
2 years ago

how is it that we let PG$E come up with the name for these power shut offs?

PSPS.. you know their marketing department is so proud of this. A more accurate name is BSBO…Bull Shirt Black Out.

They pay their execs a king’s ransom and skip the maintenance. We can’t let them get away with calling it Public Safety!

A sad consequence of their greedy management.

Antichrist
Guest
Antichrist
2 years ago

Fact is they have to spend more to buy the extra power for the heat waves , less profits for pge with demand so high per kw so it is better business to shut the power off making it appear that they give a shit all while making even greater profits

HotCoffee
Guest
HotCoffee
2 years ago

The CPUC is supposed to oversee PG&E safety procedures.
They have been rubber-stamping plans that do not meet the regulations imposed after the camp fire, and San Bruno explosions
Gavin promised to fix the CPUC that has been dirty since at least back when Michael Peevy (CPUC)was sent away with honors, when he should have been jailed. The CPUC doesn’t care what burns down, cause you get to pay for it.
Gavin thinks the Dem donor slush fund will keep him in office.
Dump Gavin, vote Larry Elder.

Yeah,sure
Guest
Yeah,sure
2 years ago
Reply to  HotCoffee

Why would I vote for a black man who doesn’t believe that systemic racism exists and doesn’t believe in a minimum wage?
Candace Owens brother from another mother, Trump suck-up. Ugh….

HotCoffee
Guest
HotCoffee
2 years ago
Reply to  Yeah,sure

Who’s the racist now?
Only like Black people who vote against themselves?
Larry talks to the So. LA black community every day, ever see Gavin there?
Ever see Gavin in any NON upscale community? Even in SF, or Sac.?
No the French Laundry doesn’t count.

Yeah,sure
Guest
Yeah,sure
2 years ago
Reply to  HotCoffee

Ooooooh, he talks to black people! Well then, that makes him A-OK !!!!!
Guess the NO MINIMUM WAGE, is a non-issue for you, lol.

Trump sycophantic, no thanks…

HotCoffee
Guest
HotCoffee
2 years ago
Reply to  Yeah,sure

That means, unlike Gavin living the high life at wineries and expensive restaurants with lobbyists,
Larry spends time on his radio show hearing what the people think and want.
Maybe NO MINIMUM WAGE isn’t the main issue they care about.

Biden and Gavin sycophantic, no thanks…

Z
Guest
Z
2 years ago

I feel sorry for the firefighters when these winds make a hellish situation way more dangerous.

oldguy
Guest
oldguy
2 years ago

just a f.y.i., the hwy 299 corridor powerlines don’t connect from redding to eureka, they separate around big bar. one’s pg&e east (weaverville/redding feed) and pg&e west (eureka side) i wish they were, it would mean back up power.

Lori Townsend
Guest
Lori Townsend
2 years ago

I live in Butte County. We have had to breathe smoke from wildfires for over a month, with another month to go, it is estimated. How are we going to breathe? We must keep our windows and doors shut. It is supposed to remain over 100 degrees. Without air conditioning, how can we breathe? I’m not even sick yet! I am healthy and I cannot breathe!