PG&E Starting Safety-Related Power Shutoffs Around NorCal Monday Morning

PG&E will start wind-related safety shutoffs around 4 a.m. Monday morning for about 25,000 targeted customers in small portions of 20 counties, the utility announced around 7 p.m. Sunday.

A dry, offshore wind event is expected to begin Sunday night and carry into Monday, with expected wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour. With wildfire danger elevated during California's historic drought, the utlity giant is trying to minimize danger from energized power lines.

Around the Bay Area, between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m., some residents in Napa, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, Solano, and Monterey counties may have their power shut off. The shutoffs will extend beyond the Bay Area as well, to areas of Fresno, Santa Barbara, Butte County and other areas.

PG&E said in a statement it expects "all clear" warnings to be issued in those areas by Monday evening, with full power restoration beginning Tuesday afternoon. Critical fire weather is forecast for California's Central Valley and coastal ranges on Monday, according to the National Weather Service Prediction Center. Strong northerly winds and dry conditions are expected, and a red flag warning was issued for the region. PG&E meteorologists, along with the company's wildfire safety and emergency operations centers, are monitoring weather conditions closely, officials said.

Customers are being notified by text, email and automated phone calls, which began Saturday, two days prior to the potential shutoff. In addition PG&E employees will pay in-person visits when possible to customers in the company's medical baseline program who haven't verified that they received the notifications. Customers can look up their address at www.pge.com/pspsupdates to check if PG&E is monitoring their location for the potential safety shutoff.

Customers can look up their address at pge.com/pspsupdates to check if PG&E is monitoring their location for the potential safety shutoff.