PG&E Weighs Shutoffs in Sierra County, Wider Region

SIERRA NEVADA – Pacific Gas and Electric Company is considering a fire safety power shutoff that could affect 1,149 customers in western Sierra County, 213 in Nevada County, and 706 in Plumas County during a wind event from late Wednesday, October 14, through Saturday, October 17.

PG&E identifies its address lookup as the most accurate way to check the outage status of a home or business. Residents can enter their service address through PG&E’s shutoff status page.

The Sierra County estimate includes 46 customers enrolled in PG&E’s Medical Baseline program, which assists residential customers who depend on power for certain medical needs. Across its service territory, the company said Monday that approximately 30,000 customers in targeted portions of 22 counties were being considered for the potential shutoff.

In its October 12 announcement, PG&E said it was monitoring an offshore wind event accompanied by dry, gusty conditions. The company anticipated some of the strongest winds in the Sierra Nevada, activated its Emergency Operations Center, and began notifying potentially affected customers Monday night.

A Public Safety Power Shutoff temporarily cuts electricity to reduce the risk of energized power lines starting a wildfire. PG&E says its decisions weigh wind forecasts, humidity, vegetation moisture, weather warnings, and observations by crews. Its safety guidance also explains that a community can lose power when the line serving it passes through an area with dangerous wind and fire conditions.

The weather concern is a return to warmer, drier conditions after the recent cool spell. In its fire weather forecast issued at 2:02 AM Tuesday, the National Weather Service’s Sacramento office said building high pressure would raise temperatures above normal by late week. Afternoon relative humidity was forecast to fall into the teens and 20s, with some places getting little humidity recovery overnight.

Combined with periods of north-to-east winds, those conditions were expected to produce elevated fire weather at times through Friday across much of interior Northern California. The forecast for the northern Sierra and Lassen Volcanic National Park called for northeast winds of 10 to 20 miles per hour Wednesday night, Thursday, and Thursday night, easing Friday.

The Sacramento office’s Monday afternoon forecast discussion projected mountain downslope gusts of 25 to 45 miles per hour later in the week, while noting uncertainty about wind strength and humidity.

For the east side, Reno office’s Tuesday forecast discussion anticipated warming temperatures and generally lighter winds after Tuesday in its forecast area.

If PG&E shuts off power, crews will patrol and inspect lines after severe weather passes before restoring service. The company advises customers to prepare for an extended outage and follow updated notices. PG&E’s outage preparation guidance recommends making backup plans for electric medical equipment, considering a stay with friends or relatives, charging phones, and keeping flashlights and essential supplies ready. Current shutoff updates and information about charging centers and other assistance are available at PG&E’s PSPS updates page.