https://patch.com/california/martinez/s/gx3a8/pg-e-shutoff-in-contra-costa-county-over-23k-may-lose-power?utm_source=alert-breakingnews&utm_medium=email&utm_term=around-town&utm_campaign=alert

PG&E Shutoff In Contra Costa County: Over 23K May Lose Power

Customers who have provided their contact information to PG&E were notified Monday morning by phone, text and email.

By Maggie Fusek, Patch Staff

Nov 18, 2019 2:10 pm PT

PG&E is preparing for another potential public safety power shutoff that would begin early Wednesday morning, Nov. 20, 2019.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — With a fire-weather watch set to go into effect early Wednesday morning for the East Bay hills and the Diablo Range, Pacific Gas & Electric Company says it gave 48-hour advance notifications Monday morning to 23,230 Contra Costa County customers, including in Pleasant Hill, who may be impacted by another round of public safety power shutoffs.

If PG&E goes forward with the PSPS, the shutoffs would affect 264,000 customers beginning Wednesday morning not only in Contra Costa but parts of 21 other California counties.

In Contra Costa County, impacted cities and unincorporated communities would include Canyon, El Sobrante, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Pinole, Pleasant Hill and Richmond.

Customers who have provided their contact information to PG&E were notified Monday morning by phone, text and email; and will be notified again 24 hours and four hours prior, according to PG&E Spokeswoman Deanna Contreras.

"It's important to remember that customers not impacted by the PSPS may experience power outages due to PG&E equipment damaged during this wind event; those customers will not be notified in advance," Contreras said.

It is also very possible, according to PG&E officials, that customers may be affected by a power shutoff even though they are not experiencing extreme weather conditions in their specific location.

"This is because the electric system relies on power lines working together to provide electricity across cities, counties and regions," Contreras said.

According to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area:

    "Offshore winds are forecast to develop across the higher elevations of the North Bay and East Bay beginning late Tuesday night, and continuing during the day on Wednesday. These offshore winds in combination with low relative humidity values will likely lead to critical fire weather conditions. Additionally, poor overnight relative humidity recoveries are expected Wednesday night and into Thursday morning as a result of the continued offshore winds."

PG&E says once the high winds subside, crews will inspect the de-energized lines to ensure they were not damaged during the wind event, and then restore power.

"PG&E will safely restore power in stages as quickly as possible, with the goal of restoring most customers by end of day Thursday, based on the current weather conditions," officials with the utility company said.

"Worsening dry conditions and expected high wind gusts pose an increased risk for damage and sparks on the electric system that have the potential to ignite fires in areas with dry vegetation," according to PG&E. "High fire-risk conditions are expected to begin early Wednesday morning and continue throughout Thursday."

This week's PG&E PSPS would impact 264,000 customers in portions of 22 counties in parts of the below-listed cities and unincorporated communities.

Here's the breakdown:

    Alameda County: 12,200 customers, including 330 medical baseline, in Berkeley, Oakland and San Leandro
    Amador County: 2,690, including 90 medical baseline, in Amador City, Drytown, Fiddletown, Plymouth, River Pines and Sutter Creek
    Butte County: 14,110 customers, including 940 medical baseline, in Bangor, Berry Creek, Butte Meadows, Chico, Clipper Mills, Cohasset, Forbestown, Forest Ranch, Magalia, Oroville, Paradise and Stirling City
    Colusa County: 20 customers, 1 medical baseline, in Arbuckle and Williams
    Contra Costa County: 23,230 customers, including 740 medical baseline, in Canyon, El Sobrante, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Pinole, Pleasant Hill and Richmond
    El Dorado County: 38,570 customers, including 1,880 medical baseline, in Camino, Coloma, Cool, Diamond Springs, El Dorado, El Dorado Hills, Garden Valley, Georgetown, Greenwood, Grizzly Flats, Kelsey, Kyburz, Lotus, Mount Ankum, Pacific House, Pilot Hill, Placerville, Pollock Pines, Rescue, Shingle Springs, Somerset and Twin Bridges
    Glenn County: 230 customers, 9 medical baseline, in Elk Creek
    Lake County: 13,370 customers, 2,010 medical baseline, in Clearlake, Cobb, Finley, Hidden Valley Lake, Hopland, Kelseyville, Lakeport, Loch Lomond, Lower Lake and Middletown
    Marin County: 23,440 customers, 590 medical baseline, in Bolinas, Fairfax, Forest Knolls, Inverness, Lagunitas, Marshall, Mill Valley, Muir Beach, Nicasio, Novato, Olema, Point Reyes Station, San Anselmo, San Geronimo, San Rafael, Stinson Beach and Woodacre
    Mendocino County: 3,080 customers, 90 medical baseline, in Gualala, Hopland, Point Arena,
    Napa County: 11,180 customers, 250 medical baseline, in Angwin, Calistoga, Deer Park, Lake Berryessa, Napa, Oakville, Pope Valley, Rutherford and Yountville
    Nevada County: 30,030 customers, 1,180 medical baseline, in Emigrant Gap, Grass Valley, Nevada City, Norden, North San Juan, Penn Valley, Rough and Ready, Soda Springs and Washington
    Placer County: 12,440 customers, 500 medical baseline, in Alta, Applegate, Auburn, Baxter, Colfax, Dutch Flat, Emigrant Gap, Foresthill, Gold Run, Granite Bay, Lincoln, Meadow Vista, Weimar
    Plumas County: 780 customers, five medical baseline, in Belden, La Porte, Quincy and Story
    Shasta County: 21,720 customers, 1,340 medical baseline, in Anderson, Bella Vista, Big Bend, Cottonwood, French Gulch, Igo, Lakehead, Manton, Millville, Montgomery Creek, Oak Run, Palo Cedro, Platina, Round Mountain, Shasta, Shingletown and Whitmore
    Sierra County: 1,160 customers, 10 medical baseline, in Alleghany, Downieville, Goodyears Bar, North San Juan and Sierra City
    Solano County: 1,970 customers, 350 medical baseline, in Fairfield, Suisun City and Vacaville
    Sonoma County: 39,940 customers, 1,200 medical baseline, in Annapolis, Bodega, Bodega Bay, Calistoga, Cazadero, Cloverdale, Duncans Mills, Forestville, Geyserville, Glen Ellen, Guerneville, Healdsburg, Jenner, Kenwood, Monte Rio, Penngrove, Rio Nido, Santa Rosa, Sonoma, Sea Ranch, Stewarts Point, Villa Grande and Windsor
    Tehama County: 9,530 customers, 640 medical baseline, in Cottonwood, Flournoy, Manton, Mill Creek, Mineral, Paskenta, Paynes Creek and Red Bluff
    Trinity County: 50 customers, two medical baseline, in unincorporated areas of Trinity
    Yolo County: 400 customers, six medical baseline, in Brooks, Guinda and Rumsey
    Yuba County: 3,940 customers, 20 medical baseline, in Bangor, Browns Valley, Brownsville, Camptonville, Challenge, Dobbins, Forbestown, Marysville, Oregon House, Rackerby and Strawberry Valley

PG&E says it is planning to open several community resource centers in impacted communities. The centers will have restrooms, snacks, bottled water, ice, blankets (upon request), electronic-device charging, seating for up to 100 in air-conditioned and/or heated facilities. Locations for the centers are being confirmed and will be posted once available at pge.com/pspsupdates.

PG&E is also asking customers to plan ahead for medical needs such as medications that require refrigeration or devices that need power; identify backup charging methods for phones and keep hard copies of emergency numbers; build or restock emergency kit with flashlights, fresh batteries, first aid supplies and cash; keep in mind family members who are elderly, younger children and pets; and read up on wildfire risk and what to do before, during and after an emergency to keep your family safe.