PSPS Update: 55% of Customers Have Been Restored by Wednesday Night, with Essentially All Customers Who Can Receive Electric Service Expected to Have Power Back by Thursday Evening

Rhea-AI Summary

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has restored power to nearly 55% of the 48,000 customers affected by the recent Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) due to severe weather conditions. As of late August 19, PG&E anticipates full restoration for remaining affected customers across eight counties. Power shutdowns were necessary to mitigate wildfire risks from high winds, with gusts recorded up to 56 mph in Butte County. PG&E remains committed to customer support, offering resources and updates during this event.

Positive

• Restoration of power to 27,000 customers, representing over 55% of affected.
• Removal of five counties from the PSPS impact scope, indicating effective weather management.
• Active customer support through Community Resource Centers providing critical resources.

Negative

• Power shutoff impacted 48,000 customers, indicating a significant service disruption.
• Severe weather conditions leading to power shutoff raised concerns about wildfire risks.

After receiving weather all clears in most areas today, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) crews were able to patrol, inspect, repair impacted equipment and restore power to almost 55% of the 48,000 customers impacted by the current Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) event. By late tomorrow/Thursday evening (Aug. 19), PG&E expects to restore power to essentially all customers in the remaining 8 counties who can receive service and who were affected by PSPS that began on Tuesday (Aug. 17). As of 10:00 p.m., approximately 27,000 customers have had their electric service restored.

PG&E turned off the power to these customers, the majority living in Shasta, Butte, Napa and Tehama counties, to protect their safety and the safety of their communities because of dry, gusty offshore winds that elevated the risk of wildfires in Northern California. Due to changing weather conditions Tuesday evening, PG&E was able to decrease customer impact, removing five counties from the PSPS scope of impact: Alameda, Contra Costa, Sierra, Trinity and Yuba counties.

Strong Winds Recorded Across Service Area

The wind gusts in PSPS de-energized areas with some of the largest customer impacts were observed in the following counties:

• Butte (Jarbo Gap): 56 mph
• Shasta (Wilson Hill Road): 48 mph
• Tehama (Thomes Creek): 55 mph

Restoration to Continue Thursday

PG&E began notifying customers on Wednesday when the weather system had passed and will provide continuous additional updates on Thursday about when to expect the power to turn back on for the remaining customers.

Once conditions were clear, PG&E electric crews will begin patrolling in the air, in vehicles and on foot to check de-energized lines for hazards or damage to make sure it is safe to restore power. Restoration steps include:

• Inspect: Our crews work to visually inspect for potential weather-related damage to the lines, poles and towers.
• Repair: Where equipment damage is found, PG&E crews work to isolate the damaged area from the rest of the system so other parts of the system can be restored.
• Restore: Once the poles, towers and lines are safe to energize, PG&E’s Control Center can complete the process and restore power to affected areas.
• Notification: Customers are notified that power has been restored.

Customer Support

As of this evening, 25 Community Resource Centers (CRCs) in 11 counties remain open to support customers affected by this event. View the most current list of CRCs at www.pge.com/pspsupdates. CRCs open at 8 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. for the remainder of the shutoff.

During a PSPS, PG&E opens CRCs where community members can access resources, including:

• A safe location to meet their basic power needs, such as charging medical equipment and electronic devices.
• Up-to-date information about the PSPS.
• Water, snacks and other essential items to reduce hardships to our customers.

To keep our customers and communities safe, all resource centers reflect appropriate COVID-19 health considerations and federal, state and county guidelines.

We are offering 11 outdoor sites to supplement the 14 indoor CRCs and provide more options for customers.

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210818005869/en/

FAQ

What is the current status of power restoration for PG&E customers affected by the PSPS event?

PG&E has restored power to nearly 55% of the affected customers and aims for full restoration by August 19.

What counties were initially impacted by PG&E's PSPS?

Initially, the PSPS impacted customers in eight counties, but five were later removed from the scope.

What safety measures did PG&E take during the PSPS?

PG&E turned off power to prevent wildfire risks due to dry and gusty winds.

How is PG&E supporting customers during the PSPS event?

PG&E has opened 25 Community Resource Centers to provide resources and information to affected customers.

What were the recorded wind gusts during PG&E's PSPS event?

Wind gusts reached up to 56 mph in Butte County, contributing to the PSPS decision.