PG&E Says Huge Weekend Blackout Expected

Courtesy: MGN

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. is informing officials of another massive power shutdown expected this weekend throughout Northern California starting Saturday night and lasting into Monday.

The shutdown could affect 2 million people, much like a widespread pre-emptive blackout earlier this month.

It would be the third such shutdown in three weeks.

Utility officials said Thursday that forecasters are warning of the strongest winds this season, and possibly the strongest winds in years. They said hot, dry winds could knock over utility equipment and spark wildfires.

PG&E chief executive Bill Johnson said the utility will have a better idea Friday of which areas would lose power and how long the outages might last.

Notice was given to counties in the Sierra foothills and the San Francisco Bay Area.

  

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Original Story: Pacific Gas & Electric Company says it is proceeding with planned power shutoffs that will affect nearly 180,000 customers throughout portions of Northern California.

The utility says the shutoffs affecting about 450,000 people are expected to begin around 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Sierra Foothills, followed soon after by blackouts north of the San Francisco Bay Area. In all, the power will be cut to portions of 17 counties.

PG&E says the shutoffs are needed to prevent wildfires caused by downed or fouled power lines as the National Weather Service forecasts gusty winds amid hot, dry weather.

The utility says the outages will last about 48 hours.

A blackout two weeks ago affected about 2 million people in northern and central California. PG&E says both shutoffs were aimed at preventing wildfires caused by downed or fouled power lines. The danger is from gusty winds in the midst of hot, dry weather.

Meanwhile, Southern California Edison is warning it could cut power to 308,000 customers in seven counties to prevent winds from damaging electrical equipment and starting wildfires.

The utility nearly doubled its estimate of the number of homes and businesses that might lose electricity as a pre-emptive measure.

Earlier in the day, Edison said a possible outage Thursday affect about 160,000 people.

Red flag warnings for severe fire danger are expected later Wednesday and will likely last through Friday evening for much of greater Los Angeles. Forecasters predict peak wind gusts of 55 mph (89 kph).

(Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)