https://www.sfgate.com/california-wildfires/article/PG-E-power-outage-800-000-customers-length-number-14501984.php
By Alix Martichoux, SFGATE
Updated-
A wide view of the map shows much of Northern California will have its power shut off starting late Tuesday night. (Continue clicking or swiping through the gallery for a closer look.)
Photo: Screenshot / PG&EA wide view of the map shows much of Northern California will have its power shut off starting late Tuesday night. (Continue clicking or swiping through the gallery for a closer look.)
A wide view of the map shows much of Northern California will have its power shut off starting late Tuesday night. (Continue clicking or swiping through the gallery for a closer look.)
A wide view of the map shows much of Northern California will have its power shut off starting late Tuesday night. (Continue clicking or swiping through the gallery for a closer look.)
After days of warning, Pacific Gas & Electric confirmed Tuesday afternoon that 800,000 customers across 34 California counties would be left in the dark starting at midnight.
The utility planned the shut-off as a precaution due to high wildfire risk.
"The power will be turned off to communities in stages, depending on local timing of the severe wind conditions, beginning with counties in the northern part of the state," PG&E said in a statement.
PG&E said it would communicate with affected customers directly via automated calls, texts and emails. It also created a map of affected areas, which you can check for your neighborhood. PG&E's site was intermittently down Tuesday, so we've put some of the maps in the gallery at the top of this story.
PG&E said the shutoffs would begin starting just after midnight early Wednesday morning. PG&E meteorologists forecast high winds to last until mid-day Thursday, but power could be out for several days longer.
"Before restoring power, PG&E must inspect its equipment for damage and make any necessary repairs. That process cannot begin until the severe weather event has subsided," the company said.
The outages could last "five days or longer" in some areas.
ALSO: Map shows neighborhoods impacted by PG&E power shutoffs
The weather this week is expected to be dry and windy, which makes the risk of a catastrophic wildfire high, PG&E officials said. The utility company wants to shut off power so its electric equipment doesn't start a wildfire as has happened in recent years.
The number of potential customers affected in each Bay Area county, according to PG&E, is:
- 32,613 customers in Alameda County
- 40,219 customers in Contra Costa County
- 66,289 customers in Sonoma County
- 32,124 customers in Napa County
- 14,766 customers in San Mateo County
- 38,123 customers in Santa Clara County
- 32,862 customers in Solano County
- 9,855 customers in Marin County
San Francisco County was not expected to be affected.
Starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday, PG&E said it would open community centers to provide restrooms, bottled water, electronics charging stations, and air conditioning during daylight hours. See the locations below:
Alameda
Oakland: Merritt College LOT B – Leona St., Oakland 94508
Amador
Pioneer: Mace Meadows Golf Course, 26570 Fairway Drive Pioneer 95666
Butte
Oroville: Bird Street School, 1421 Bird St, Oroville 95965
Magalia 14144 Lakeridge Court, Magalia 95954
Calaveras
Arnold: Meadowmont Shopping Center – 2182 HWY 4, Arnold 95223
Colusa
Glenn: Williams, Orland 839 Newville Road, Orland 95963
Contra Costa
San Ramon: Bishop Ranch Parking Lot – 2600 Camino Ramon, San Ramon 94583
El Dorado
El Dorado Hills: Rolling Hills Christian Church 800 White Rock Road, El Dorado Hills 95762
Placerville: El Dorado Fairgrounds 100 Placerville Drive, Placerville 95667
Lake
Clear Lake: Clearlake Senior Center 3245 Bowers Avenue, Clearlake 95422
Mariposa
Coulterville: Coulterville Fire Dept – 10293 Ferry Road, Coulterville 95311
Mendocino
Ukiah: 1775 N. State Street, Ukiah 95482
Napa
Calistoga: Calistoga Fairgrounds – 1601 N. Oak Calistoga 94515
Nevada
Grass Valley: Sierra College Grass Valley 250 Sierra College Drive, Grass Valley 95945
Placer
Auburn: Gold Country Fairgrounds 1273 High Street Auburn 95603
Plumas
La Porte: 2140 Main St. La Porte 95981
Santa Clara
San Jose: Avaya Stadium 1123 Coleman Avenue, San Jose 95110
San Mateo
Half Moon Bay: Pasta Moon Restaurant, 845 Main St Half Moon Bay 94019
Santa Cruz
Aptos: Twin Lakes Church 2701 Cabrillo College Dr, Aptos 95003
Shasta, Tehama
Redding, Cottonwood, Red Bluff: Shasta College, 11555 Old Oregon Trail Redding 96003
Sierra
Sierra City : Loganville Campground parking lot – HWY 49, Sierra City 96125
Solano
Vacaville: Mission Church 6391 Leisure Town Road, Vacaville 95687
Vallejo: 1001 Fairgrounds Drive, Vallejo 94589
Sonoma
Santa Rosa, Sonoma: Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building 1351 Maple Ave, Santa
Rosa 95404
Stanislaus
Westley: Westley Hotel – 8615 CA-33, Westley 95387
Tuolumne
Sonora: Mother Lode Fairgrounds 220 Southgate Drive, Sonora 95370
Yolo
Winters: Next to PG&E Gas Academy – Intersection of E. Grant Avenue & Timber Crest Road, Winters 95694
Yuba
Oregon House: 9185 Marysville Road, Oregon House 95962
This story is developing and will be updated.
Alix Martichoux is an SFGate digital editor. Read her latest stories and send her news tips at alix.martichoux@sfgate.com.