PG&E Warns 88,000 California Customers of Potential Power Shutoffs
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has warned approximately 88,000 customers across 29 California counties to prepare for potential power outages beginning Wednesday evening, October 14, as dangerous weather conditions raise wildfire risks across the state.
The utility, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation, said it is closely monitoring a statewide weather system that could trigger Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS), a preventive measure designed to reduce the risk of electrical infrastructure igniting wildfires during extreme conditions.
The potential outages could extend through Saturday, October 17, depending on weather conditions. PG&E has expanded the scope of its preparations as forecasts have evolved, adding approximately 25,000 customers while removing 7,300 from earlier outage projections.
The largest potential disruptions are concentrated in Calaveras County, where nearly 10,800 customers could lose electricity, followed by San Luis Obispo and El Dorado counties, each with approximately 8,800 customers at risk. Other significantly affected areas include Madera, Tuolumne and Placer counties.
Approximately 5,500 customers enrolled in PG&E's Medical Baseline program, which supports households with qualifying medical needs, are among those potentially affected. Six Tribal communities are also included in the warning.
PG&E said affected customers have already received multiple notifications and will receive another alert within four hours of any planned electricity shutoff.
To reduce the impact of potential outages, the utility plans to establish more than 40 Community Resource Centers across 25 counties, offering device charging, Wi-Fi, drinking water and other essential services. Additional assistance is available through California's 211 support network.
The warning comes as California utilities face persistent challenges balancing wildfire prevention with electricity reliability. Public Safety Power Shutoffs are increasingly important risk-management tools during periods of high winds, low humidity and dry vegetation, when damaged or fallen power lines can potentially ignite fast-spreading fires.
However, preventive outages also create significant disruption for households, businesses and critical infrastructure, highlighting the operational challenges facing utilities in wildfire-prone regions.
PG&E serves more than 16 million people across Northern and Central California, making its wildfire mitigation measures particularly consequential for electricity reliability in the state.
The company stressed that the final scope and timing of any shutoffs will depend on changing weather conditions. Customers can monitor outage forecasts and determine whether their properties are affected through PG&E's online PSPS information portal.
By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com
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