PG&E Continues to Notify Customers in Parts of Nine Counties About the Potential for Public Safety Power
Shutoff Due to Forecasted Extreme Weather
Due to expected extreme fire danger conditions, including the Red Flag warning from the National Weather Service, Pacific Gas
and Electric Company (PG&E) is continuing to notify approximately 70,000 customers in portions of nine counties that the
company may proactively turn off power for safety starting on Thursday, November 8.
“We understand how important electric service is to customers, so we are considering temporarily turning off power in the
interest of safety only as a last resort during extreme weather conditions to reduce the risk of wildfire,” said Pat Hogan, senior
vice president of Electric Operations.
Factors that PG&E considers when deciding to initiate a Public Safety Power Shutoff include strong winds, very low humidity
levels, critically dry vegetation and on-the-ground observations.
Continuing today, PG&E is sending automated voice messages, texts and emails to customers alerting them to a potential power
shutoff. The company has also taken extra steps to notify customers enrolled in the Medical Baseline program via available
channels, including deploying PG&E employees to knock on these customers’ doors. Due to forecasted high winds and dry
vegetation, PG&E may temporarily turn off power in portions of the following communities:
- Butte County (including Berry Creek, Chico, Forest Ranch, Magalia, Oroville, Paradise)
- Lake County (including Clearlake Oaks, Cobb, Hidden Valley Lake, Kelseyville, Middletown)
- Napa County (including Angwin, Pope Valley, St. Helena)
- Nevada County (including Grass Valley, Nevada City, North San Juan)
- Placer County (including Colfax, Foresthill, Alta)
- Plumas County (including La Porte)
- Sierra County (including Downieville, Sierra City)
- Sonoma County (only portions of unincorporated northeast Sonoma County)
- Yuba County (including Brownsville, Dobbins, Camptonville)
Customers in these potentially affected areas are served by approximately 3,100 miles of power lines. That’s the equivalent of
the driving distance from San Francisco to Boston. If power is turned off for safety, every mile will be inspected prior to safely
turning the power back on.
PG&E meteorologists continuously monitor weather conditions, and the company will issue additional details on affected areas
as weather reports become available. Gusty northeast winds are expected late Wednesday through Thursday primarily in the Sacramento
Valley, western slopes of northern Sierra and the North Bay hills.
PG&E is working closely with first responders and state and local agencies to keep them apprised of our response to the
evolving weather conditions.
Customers should make sure their contact information is up-to-date by visiting pge.com/mywildfirealerts, or by calling
1-866-743-6589 during normal business hours. Report downed power lines immediately by calling 911.
Customers can learn whether their home or business is in or near a high fire-threat area by reviewing
the California Public Utilities Commission’s High Fire-Threat District map. For more information on how to prepare, customers
should visit pge.com/wildfiresafety or call 1-800-PGE-5002. They can also visit pge.com/wildfiresafety to determine whether their
home or business is served by an electric line that may be turned off for safety.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of
PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States.
Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16
million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit
www.pge.com/ and
www.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/index.page.
PG&E Corporation
Media Relations, 415-973-5930
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