PG&E gives ‘all-clear’ for wildfire shutoffs, but another round of outages already planned

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. meteorologists have issued an “all clear” for portions of 23 counties affected by its latest public safety power shutoff, but another PSPS is just around the corner.

In a statement Monday night, the utility said crews were patrolling lines that were de-energized during the shutoff, which began at 4 a.m., and were restoring power where possible.

“As it becomes safe to do so, PG&E crews will patrol 2,549 transmission and distribution lines to ensure that no damage or hazards exist before those lines are re-energized and those customers restored,” the utility said in the statement. “Efforts related to this PSPS event will include up to 1,494 ground patrol units and 43 helicopters.”

A combination of sustained offshore winds and severe drought conditions spurred PG&E to issue the PSPS.

The shutoff ultimately impacted 24,000 customers in 23 counties, according to PG&E.

The utility said wind gusts topped 55 mph in Butte County, 52 mph in Shasta County and 47 mph in Tehama County.

The PSPS coincided with a red flag warning from the National Weather Service. The warning began at 11 p.m. Sunday and is scheduled to run through 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Even as the process to restore power gets underway, meteorologists with PG&E are monitoring forecasts that show high winds returning Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

“Another weather system is entering the PG&E service area forecasted to include dry offshore winds to portions of the Northern, Central and Southern regions of the company’s service area beginning late Wednesday evening,” the utility said. “PG&E meteorologists and operations professionals are closely monitoring this potentially dry offshore wind event that may lead to a targeted Public Safety Power Shutoff.”

The utility said that as many as 29,000 customers across 19 counties — including Yolo, Yuba, Plumas and Butte counties — and four tribal areas could be without power after midnight Thursday morning.

This story was originally published October 12, 2021 at 8:45 AM.