PG&E Prepares Power Shutoffs Across 29 Counties Amid High Wind Risks
Pacific Gas and Electric Company is preparing to proactively cut power to approximately 70,000 customers starting Wednesday evening as a severe dry offshore wind event threatens to spark wildfires. The utility issued advance warnings across twenty-nine counties, citing extreme vegetation dryness and high-velocity gusts as primary safety hazards.
The potential Public Safety Power Shutoff is forecasted to persist through Saturday afternoon, targeting regions from the Sierra Nevada to the North and East Bay. Meteorologists expect peak conditions on Thursday and Friday, with Diablo and Mono winds driving humidity levels into the single digits. PG&E officials stated that while the event is expansive, new machine-learning models and high-resolution weather data are being utilized to narrow the scope of the outages compared to previous years.
Utility crews are currently conducting direct outreach to residents enrolled in the Medical Baseline Program, particularly those dependent on life-sustaining electrical equipment. The company plans to establish Community Resource Centers to provide charging stations, water, and climate-controlled environments for affected individuals. Customers can verify their status at pge.com/pspsupdates, while those needing emergency preparedness assistance are encouraged to dial 211.
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