PG&E says it may cut power to some customers this weekend, including parts of Alameda, Solano and Napa counties, as dry, windy weather raises the risk of wildfires across Northern and Central California.
Who could be affected
The utility told customers Thursday that Public Safety Power Shutoffs could reach roughly 12,200 customers in 17 counties, CBS Sacramento reported. The elevated-risk period starts Friday afternoon and could last through the weekend into Monday.
Most of the affected customers are far north of the Bay Area. FOX40 reported that Shasta County accounts for 6,797 and Tehama County 2,351. CBS Sacramento listed Alameda and Solano among the counties expected to see the most impact, along with Shasta, Tehama, Glenn and Colusa, with each of those counties ranging from 284 to 6,797 customers. Napa, Lake, Yolo, Merced, San Benito, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Kings, Kern and Butte counties are also on the list, some with only a handful of customers; FOX40 reported three in San Benito and five in San Joaquin.
The forecast
Forecasts call for westerly gusts of 30 to 45 mph on Saturday, reaching as high as 55 mph in the Northern Sierra, followed by north winds that could bring fire danger to the Sacramento Valley on Sunday, according to the two stations.
"The decision to proactively turn off power for safety is not taken lightly," PG&E said in a release quoted by FOX40, describing shutoffs as a last-resort layer of wildfire protection.
What to do
PG&E said it notified potentially affected customers by text, phone and email on Thursday and will update them if forecasts change. You can check whether your address is being monitored at pge.com/pspsupdates. It's a good weekend to charge phones and backup batteries, keep a flashlight handy and plan for any medical devices that need power.