Possible power shutoffs at PG&E – NBC Bay Area

PG&E is warning that up to 28,000 customers in several counties will have to shut off power starting Thursday as a safety precaution, as dry and windy conditions pose the risk of sparking and spreading wildfires.

People can go to pge.com/pspsupdates to see if their location is at risk of a utility power shutoff.

The National Weather Service has issued an advisory for much of the Bay Area and elsewhere in Northern California beginning at 11 p.m. Thursday, as low humidity and winds of 25 to 35 mph are forecast, with isolated gusts of up to 65 mph at higher elevations surveys. The warning is valid until Saturday, 5 p.m.

Customers being monitored for power outages include 28 in Alameda County, 805 in Contra Costa County, 10 in Mendocino County, 576 in Monterey County, 648 in Napa County, 2,467 in Solano County and 707 in Sonoma County.

PG&E said in a statement that the utility's overall goal in the shutdowns is to stop catastrophic wildfires by proactively turning off power in specific areas when extreme weather threatens our electric grid. Our sole focus is the safety of our customers.

PG&E has sent customers advance notice of the possible closures and encourages customers to update their contact information if necessary by visiting pge.com/mywildfirealerts or calling (800) 743-5000.