PG&E turned off power Monday night to about 172,000 customers across 22 counties, including Napa and Sonoma, because of weather conditions that the utility said posed a high risk of igniting a wildfire.
The shutdown that PG&E calls a Public Safety Power Shutoff, prompted by dry conditions and winds that could gust up to 50 mph or higher, started around 9 p.m. Monday. PG&E officials said some customers may not have power restored until 9 p.m.
Wednesday. County officials said Monday that the areas expected to be impacted in Napa County included Deer Park, Angwin, Calistoga, Aetna Springs, Berryessa Estates, the eastern slopes above St. Helena, and parts of Pope Valley, while in Sonoma County about 15,000 customers in Santa Rosa and about 2,600 in unincorporated parts of the county expected to lose power.
PG&E crews plan to patrol power lines, repair damaged equipment and work to restore power to customers once the dangerous weather conditions subside, saying inspections are needed along about 10,625 miles of transmission and distribution lines. The restoration can only take place during daylight hours for safety reasons, according to the utility.