UPDATED at 12:22 p.m. PDT October 10, 2019
Recently updated information about Pacific Gas and Electric’s preemptive power shutoff for much of Northern California includes additional locations in the San Francisco Bay Area and the north coast near Eureka (see map above). This brings the total number of PG&E addresses affected to 800,000, which could translate to approximately two to four million residents.
Below is a zoomed-in map showing the greater San Francisco Bay Area.
According to PG&E they have been turning off the power during periods of high wildfire danger since 2013, never before at this magnitude.
Hi Don, hopefully we can help clear up the confusion. Here is a chart of the public safety power shutoffs we’ve done since our first in 2013. pic.twitter.com/l7c81Wx7XX
— SDG&E (@SDGE) October 10, 2019
San Diego Gas and Electric was one of the pioneers in turning off the power to their customers when the wind blows and has been doing it for years.
“Moderate Santa Ana winds are expected to sweep through our region starting Thursday and peak on Friday morning, bringing elevated wildfire danger to the backcountry and the potential for Public Safety Power Shutoffs,” SDG&E said in a press release.
About 34,000 SDG&E customers have been notified their electricity may be turned off (see map below).
And in the Los Angeles area:
#DEVELOPING – Southern California Edison says 4500 customers have now had their power temporarily shut-off in LA, San Bernardino and Ventura Counties because of heightened fire risk #winds @CBSLA
— Kara Finnstrom (@KaraFinnstrom) October 10, 2019
The fire danger in Northern California is expected to decrease on Friday but remain elevated in the south part of the state.
