PG&E Inspecting Lines After Wednesday Shutoff, Most Customers Have Power Restored

Updated Thursday, 7:31 a.m.

Pacific Gas and Electric says nearly all customers have service back on after the utility shut off power for around 48,200 customers in the Sierra Foothills and North Bay Wednesday morning due to fire danger.

The shut off affected Butte, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Yuba, Napa and Sonoma counties. All counties have power except for around 3,441 customers in Butte County. PG&E said it expects to have power to those customers early Thursday after crews can resume inspection work during daylight hours.

PG&E spokesman Denny Boyles said Wednesday there are no plans for more public safety power shutoffs within the next seven days.

Customers in Butte, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, and Yuba counties had their power turned off around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, while those in Napa and Sonoma counties lost power around 4 a.m.

The majority of those affected — nearly 40,000 customers — were in Butte and Nevada counties.

The shutoffs, the second ones this week from PG&E, came as much of the region faced a red flag warning.

Red Flag Warning in effect through Wednesday.

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. Strong winds that are warm and dry can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Practice fire safety #CAwx #OneLessSpark pic.twitter.com/EzuB3NHFuj

— NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) September 24, 2019

More than 24,000 customers lost power Monday evening as PG&E attempted to prevent a possible wildfire. PG&E says it discovered four incidents of weather-related equipment damage.

This week is the third time PG&E has cut power in an attempt to avoid wildfires. It cut power to 60,000 customers last October, less than a month before the Camp Fire, which has since been blamed on PG&E equipment. It also powered off equipment in June.

PG&E will open resource centers Thursday for those affected by the shutoff. Centers open at 8 a.m. and remain open during daylight hours.

Sierra College Grass Valley Campus

250 Sierra College Drive

Grass Valley, CA 95945