By admin 
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. expanded its planned wildfire-prevention power shutoffs Wednesday morning, warning that about 88,000 customers in 29 California counties could lose electricity as early as the evening as strong winds and dry conditions threaten to fuel wildfires.
Read more Texas races, including U.S. Senate, in dead heat ahead of early voting
The latest forecast added thousands of customers in Amador and Tuolumne counties, east of Sacramento, as well as Madera County in the central Sierra Nevada foothills.
PG&E said Wednesday that it had added about 25,000 customers to the potential shutoff areas while removing roughly 7,300 others as weather forecasts shifted. The utility had warned Tuesday that about 70,000 customers could lose power. The new estimate represents an increase of about 18,000 customers, although the areas at risk shifted, a PG&E spokesperson said Wednesday morning.
The possible public safety power shutoffs could begin Wednesday evening and continue through Saturday afternoon. PG&E said the dry offshore wind event was expected to last through Saturday morning.
The winds develop when air moves from the Great Basin west toward the California coast, descending mountain slopes and becoming warmer and drier. Known as Diablo winds in Northern California and Santa Ana winds in Southern California, they can spread wildfires rapidly, particularly when vegetation is already dry. Strong gusts also can knock trees and branches into power lines, potentially sparking fires. PG&E said it was considering shutting off electricity in areas where the combination of wind, low humidity and dry vegetation posed the greatest danger to homes and businesses.
The latest forecast includes approximately 5,500 customers enrolled in PG&E’s Medical Baseline program, which serves people with qualifying medical needs, and areas associated with six tribal governments.
Where did the power shutoff threat grow near Sacramento?
The potential shutoffs are concentrated in areas where PG&E provides electricity, particularly communities in the Sierra Nevada foothills and mountains. Sacramento County and some pockets of Placer County are served by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, or SMUD, and are not subject to PG&E’s planned shutoffs.
Lower-elevation communities in the Sacramento Valley also generally face less wildfire-related shutoff risk than the foothills and mountains, where strong winds, dry vegetation and trees near power lines can pose greater hazards.
But the threat has grown significantly in several counties east of of the capital region.
The number of customers facing possible shutoffs in Amador County jumped from 48 on Tuesday to 4,557 on Wednesday.
In neighboring Tuolumne County, the estimate rose from 1,787 to 7,248 customers. Calaveras County’s total increased from 8,550 to 10,793, while El Dorado County’s estimate climbed from 6,907 to 8,757.
In El Dorado County, the latest forecast put 1,850 more customers at risk than Tuesday’s estimate, an increase of nearly 27%. The 8,757 customers include 722 enrolled in PG&E’s Medical Baseline program.
PG&E’s updated shutoff map showed a much broader area under threat along Highway 50 and in the Sierra Nevada foothills. While earlier maps focused on a narrow stretch of Highway 50 east of Pollock Pines, the latest map showed potential shutoffs around Pollock Pines and Camino, as well as areas to the south around Grizzly Flats.
The forecast also changed in other Sacramento-area counties.
PG&E reduced the number of customers potentially affected in Placer County from 9,063 to 5,306 and in Nevada County from 2,238 to 2,137. Yuba County’s estimate remained at 419 customers, while Yolo remained at eight homes in the far-western edges of the county.
In Madera County, south of Yosemite National Park, the estimated number of customers at risk increased from 1,724 to 7,273.
Read more Davis school board candidate Beth Bourne arrested at Sonoma Pride flag protest
The changes followed an earlier expansion of the potential shutoffs, which grew from about 30,000 customers Monday to 70,000 Tuesday.
Which California counties could lose power?
PG&E released the following estimates Wednesday morning. The numbers show customers potentially affected in each county, with Medical Baseline customers in parentheses.
- Alameda: 4,705 customers (213 Medical Baseline)
- Alpine: 660 (9)
- Amador: 4,557 (401)
- Butte: 3,097 (255)
- Calaveras: 10,793 (554)
- Contra Costa: 1,605 (92)
- El Dorado: 8,757 (722)
- Fresno: 3,010 (217)
- Kern: 1,117 (48)
- Lake: 3,601 (344)
- Lassen: 88 (5)
- Madera: 7,273 (545)
- Mariposa: 1,326 (61)
- Mendocino: 778 (54)
- Napa: 3,027 (138)
- Nevada: 2,137 (82)
- Placer: 5,306 (379)
- Plumas: 706 (30)
- San Luis Obispo: 8,771 (353)
- Santa Barbara: 1,100 (26)
- Shasta: 3,019 (296)
- Sierra: 1,149 (46)
- Solano: 30 (1)
- Sonoma: 2,041 (79)
- Tehama: 835 (60)
- Tulare: 312 (10)
- Tuolumne: 7,248 (402)
- Yolo: 8 (0)
- Yuba: 419 (46)
The potential shutoffs also include customers in six tribal communities: Big Sandy Rancheria, Guidiville Rancheria, Mooretown Rancheria, North Fork Rancheria, Pit River Tribes and Tuolumne Rancheria.
The estimates could change again as PG&E monitors weather conditions. The possible outages would affect portions of counties, not entire counties, the utility stressed.
When could PG&E shut off power?
PG&E said the offshore wind event could begin after sundown and continue through the weekend, with possible power shutoffs lasting into Saturday afternoon.
The National Weather Service had issued a red flag warning for parts of Kern County near Lebec and a fire weather watch for portions of Southern California, including areas between San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, according to PG&E.
Strong winds combined with dry vegetation could increase the danger of power lines sparking wildfires.
PG&E said it sent notifications Wednesday morning to approximately 25,000 additional customers whose addresses were newly included in the potential shutoff areas.
The utility also removed about 7,300 customers from the list of potential outages.
How can customers prepare for possible shutoffs?
PG&E said it planned to open more than 40 community resource centers across 23 counties if the shutoffs proceed.
The centers would offer charging stations, Wi-Fi, bottled water, snacks, blankets, air conditioning and accessible restrooms.
Customers who need help preparing for outages, including those who rely on electricity for medical equipment, can call 211, text “PSPS” to 211 or visit 211.org for assistance.
Residents can check whether their addresses are included in the potential shutoff areas at pge.com/pspsupdates.
Read more Sacramento Kings launching season with open practice Fan Fest on Wednesday night