PG&E Currents
| 9.28.24

Elevated Fire Risk in Limited Areas Prompts Possible Public Safety Power Shutoff

Update 9/29, 8 p.m.

PG&E meteorologists are tracking a weather system that may bring a low-pressure system through the Pacific Northwest, leading to locally gusty north to northeasterly winds across portions of PG&E’s service area Monday (Sept. 30) and Tuesday (Oct. 1). These winds will bring elevated fire danger in the Sacramento Valley and surrounding foothills and in elevated North Bay terrain.

The number of customers in scope for this potential PSPS event reflects a slight reduction due to improving forecasted weather conditions.  We have notified the customers who are no longer on the PSPS event scope and will maintain communication with the remaining customers. 

The PSPS is currently forecast to impact ~12,365 customers in 11 counties and two tribal areas.  

  • Alameda 57
  • Butte 415
  • Colusa 545 
  • Contra Costa 286 
  • Glenn 555
  • Humboldt 123
  • Napa 140 
  • Shasta 7,982
  • Sonoma 11
  • Tehama 1,986
  • Trinity 265
  • Glenstone Rancheria 44 
  • Pit River Tribes 6 

What can customers expect?

  • To be clear, a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) has not been called. No customers have been de-energized.    
  • The potential Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) event is anticipated to begin around 5 a.m. on Monday (Sept. 30), with winds continuing through Tuesday (Oct. 1). PG&E anticipates beginning patrols and restoring customers as early as Tuesday (Oct. 1) morning, with restoration of all impacted customers expected by Tuesday (Oct. 1) evening.   
  • The decision to begin shutoffs is based on real-time weather conditions and deactivations may be delayed or cancelled.

Visit www.pge.com/pspsupdates for the most up to date information.

Community Resource Centers

Twelve Community Resource Centers (CRC) are currently planned and will be located near potentially impacted areas. CRCs will provide support to customers, and offer ADA-accessible restrooms, device charging, Wi-Fi, blankets, air conditioning, bottled water and snacks, and more.  

  • Livermore (Alameda County), Costco Wholesale Livermore, 2800 Independence Dr., Sept. 30 from 4 p.m.- 10 p.m. 
  • Concow (Butte County), Concow Elementary School, 11679 Nelson Bar Rd., Sept. 30 from 8 a.m.- 10 p.m.  
  • Stonyford (Colusa County), Stonyford Community Hall, 229 Market St., Sept. 30 from 8 a.m.- 10 p.m.  
  • Elk Creek (Glenn County), Elk Creek Junior Senior High School, 3430 Co Rd 309, Sept. 30 from 8 a.m.- 10 p.m. 
  • Orland (Glenn County), Orland Shopping Center, 1016 South St, Sept. 30 from 8 a.m.- 10 p.m. 
  • Calistoga (Napa County), Calistoga Community Center, 1307 Washington Street, Sept. 30 from 4 p.m.- 10 p.m.  
  • Anderson (Shasta County), Frontier Senior Center, 2081 Frontier Trail, Sept. 30 from 8 a.m.- 10 p.m. 
  • Redding (Shasta County), Dignity Health Mercy Oaks, 100 Mercy Oaks Dr., Sept. 30 from 8 a.m.- 10 p.m. 
  • Round Mountain (Shasta County), Hill County Health and Wellness Center, 29632 CA-299, Sept. 30 from 8 a.m.- 10 p.m. 
  • Corning (Tehama County), Rancho Tehama Association, 17605 Park Terrace Rd., Sept. 30 from 8 a.m.- 10 p.m. 
  • Mineral (Tehama County), Lassen Mineral Lodge, 18961 Husky Way, Sept. 30 from 8 a.m.- 10 p.m. 
  • Mad River (Trinity County), Southern Trinity High School, 600 Van Duzen Rd, Sept. 30 from 8 a.m.- 10 p.m.

Update 9/28, 9 p.m.

Recent extreme heat in PG&E’s service area has led to a significant decrease in dead fuel moisture values, falling below normal levels. This, combined with the forecasted winds and low relative humidity, produces elevated fire risk conditions.

Given these conditions and the elevated wildfire risk, PG&E activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and began sending advanced notifications to 13,455 customers in portions of 13 counties where PG&E may need to proactively turn off power for safety to reduce the risk of wildfire from energized power lines.

These customers received notifications starting early Saturday and will be updated on Sunday morning. Those notifications will inform customers of any changes in the forecast and how it will impact a possible Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS).  

Due to elevated wildfire risk, PG&E is monitoring a weather event with breezy offshore winds and low humidity forecasted to start Monday morning, Sept. 30. In response, PG&E mobilized its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and shared two-day advanced notifications to approximately 13,455 customers throughout targeted areas within 13 counties where PG&E may need to proactively turn the power off for safety to reduce wildfire risk from energized power lines.     

These customers received notifications starting early Saturday and will be updated on Sunday morning. Those notifications will inform customers of any changes in the forecast and how it will impact a possible Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). 

Potentially affected counties and customer numbers 

PG&E understands that losing power, especially during periods of high heat, is extremely difficult for customers and is working diligently to provide resources in these communities.   

The PSPS is currently forecast to impact 13,455 customers in 13 counties and two tribal areas.  

  • Alameda  346 
  • Butte 1,585  
  • Colusa 545 
  • Contra Costa 286 
  • Glenn 464 
  • Humboldt 11 
  • Napa 140 
  • San Luis Obispo 33 
  • Santa Barbara 75 
  • Shasta 7,709 
  • Sonoma 268 
  • Tehama 1,927 
  • Trinity 62 
  • Glenstone Rancheria 44 
  • Pit River Tribes 6 

Fourteen Community Resource Centers will be available in the affected counties to support customers impacted by the Public Safety Power Shutoff. To accommodate the heat, CRCs will receive additional ice for customers. Additionally, each center offers ADA-accessible restrooms, device charging, Wi-Fi, blankets, air conditioning, bottled water and snacks.   

  • Castro Valley (Alameda County), Castro Valley Library, 3600 Norbridge Ave., Oct. 1, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
  • Livermore (Alameda County), Costco Wholesale Livermore, 2800 Independence Dr., Sept. 30 4 p.m.- 10 p.m.
  • Concow (Butte County), Concow Elementary School, 11679 Nelson Bar Rd., Sept. 30 4 p.m.- 10 p.m. 
  • Paradise (Butte County), Paradise Parks and Recreation Center (aka Terry Ashe Center), 6626 Skyway, Sept. 30 4 p.m.- 10 p.m.
  • Stonyford (Colusa County), Stonyford Community Hall, 229 Market St., Sept. 30 8 p.m.- 10 p.m. 
  • Elk Creek (Glenn County), Elk Creek Junior Senior High School, 3430 Co Rd 309, Sept. 30 8 p.m.- 10 p.m.
  • Calistoga (Napa County), Calistoga Community Center, 1307 Washington Street, Sept. 30 4 p.m.- 10 p.m. 
  • Santa Maria (Santa Barbara County), Edwards Community Center, 809 Panther Dr., Sept. 30 8 p.m.- 10 p.m.
  • Anderson (Shasta County), Frontier Senior Center, 2081 Frontier Trail, Sept. 30 8 p.m.- 10 p.m.
  • Redding (Shasta County), Dignity Health Mercy Oaks, 100 Mercy Oaks Dr., Sept. 30 8 p.m.- 10 p.m.
  • Round Mountain (Shasta County), Hill County Health and Wellness Center, 29632 CA-299, Sept. 30 8 p.m.- 10 p.m.
  • Sonoma (Sonoma County), Hanna Boys Center, 1700-17100 Arnold Dr., Sept. 30 4 p.m.- 10 p.m.
  • Corning (Tehama County), Rancho Tehama Association, 17605 Park Terrace Rd., Sept. 30 8 p.m.- 10 p.m.
  • Mineral (Tehama County), Lassen Mineral Lodge, 18961 Husky Way, Sept. 30 8 p.m.- 10 p.m.

Customer notifications via texts email, and automated phone calls began Saturday (Sept. 28), about two days before the potential shutoff. Customers can look up their address online to find out if their location is being monitored for the potential safety shutoff at pge.com/pspsupdates.     

When possible, PG&E employees will conduct individual in-person visits to customers enrolled in the company’s Medical Baseline Program who do not verify they have received these important safety communications, primarily focusing on customers who rely on electricity for critical life-sustaining equipment.     

The PSPS is expected to begin Monday morning and last through Tuesday. Once severe weather has passed and it is safe to do so, PG&E will work quickly and nimbly to patrol and inspect lines and restore power for customers as soon as possible.     

To find out the latest outage information, please visit pge.com/pspsupdates.