By admin 
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is warning that about 70,000 customers in 29 California counties could lose electricity beginning Wednesday evening as strong winds and critically dry vegetation increase wildfire danger, more than doubling the number of customers initially identified for possible shutoffs.
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The expanded threat includes more than 18,600 customers in Placer, El Dorado, Nevada and Yuba counties, where PG&E is monitoring conditions that could trigger deliberate power outages to prevent wildfires.
PG&E said Tuesday that it had expanded the potential public safety power shutoff event from about 30,000 customers in 22 counties to roughly 70,000 customers in 29 counties. The latest forecast Tuesday afternoon includes 3,920 customers enrolled in the utility’s Medical Baseline program and areas served by five tribal governments.
Despite the expanded threat, PG&E said about 5,700 customers initially identified for possible shutoffs were no longer at risk under the latest forecast.
The potential shutoffs could begin Wednesday evening and continue through Saturday afternoon, although PG&E said the strong winds could last into Saturday evening.
The strongest winds were forecast for Thursday across the northern and central Sierra Nevada and portions of the North and East Bay, according to PG&E. Strong winds also were forecast for Friday in the southern Sierra Nevada and parts of Southern California.
The utility began sending additional notifications Tuesday afternoon to customers newly included in the potential shutoff areas. No final decision to shut off power had been announced.
About 4,000 customers who experienced wildfire-prevention shutoffs earlier in the week could lose power again, PG&E said.
The number of homes and businesses facing possible shutoffs and the areas affected could continue to change as weather conditions develop.
Which California counties could face PG&E power shutoffs?
Here’s how many customers could lose power in each county, according to PG&E. The numbers could change as the weather forecast shifts.
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- Alameda: 4,705 customers (213 Medical Baseline)
- Alpine: 660 (9)
- Amador: 48 (5)
- Butte: 3,098 (256)
- Calaveras: 8,550 (407)
- Contra Costa: 1,605 (92)
- El Dorado: 6,907 (569)
- Fresno: 3,934 (275)
- Kern: 1,117 (48)
- Lake: 57 (4)
- Lassen: 88 (5)
- Madera: 1,724 (114)
- Mariposa: 931 (20)
- Mendocino: 27 (1)
- Napa: 3,027 (138)
- Nevada: 2,238 (95)
- Placer: 9,063 (681)
- Plumas: 706 (30)
- San Luis Obispo: 10,460 (357)
- Santa Barbara: 1,100 (26)
- Shasta: 3,019 (296)
- Sierra: 1,149 (46)
- Solano: 30 (1)
- Sonoma: 1,783 (69)
- Tehama: 835 (60)
- Tulare: 281 (9)
- Tuolumne: 1,787 (48)
- Yolo: 8 (0)
- Yuba: 419 (46)
The potential shutoffs also include four customers in the Mooretown Rancheria tribal community in Butte County and six customers in the Pit River Tribes in Shasta County, according to PG&E.
The largest potential outages could be in San Luis Obispo and Calaveras counties, where more than 10,000 and 8,500 customers, respectively, could lose power.
When could PG&E shut off power?
PG&E says its meteorologists continue to monitor the offshore wind event, which is expected to begin Wednesday and last through Saturday. Strong winds, low humidity and critically dry vegetation could increase the risk of electrical equipment sparking wildfires, the utility said.
PG&E began sending advance notifications by text, email and automated phone calls Monday evening. Employees also may visit customers enrolled in the Medical Baseline program who have not confirmed receiving notifications, particularly those who rely on electricity for life-sustaining equipment.
Once dangerous weather passes, crews will need to inspect power lines before electricity can be restored.
PG&E said it plans to open community resource centers in affected counties, offering device charging, Wi-Fi, bottled water, snacks and other supplies.
Customers can check whether their addresses are being monitored for potential shutoffs at pge.com/pspsupdates. The site also provides information about community resource centers and outage preparations.
This story was originally published October 13, 2026 at 7:33 AM with the headline “PG&E more than doubles potential power shutoffs to 70,000 customers in California.”
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