SACRAMENTO, California — About 70,000 Pacific Gas and Electric Company customers in parts of 29 California counties face possible power outages this week. PG&E said it planned to activate its Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) protocols from Wednesday to Saturday to reduce the chance of its equipment starting fires. “This is a reach of about 70,000 customers, which is the largest public safety power outage we’ve had since 2021. And this is due to very windy conditions, low humidity and dry fuel conditions on the ground,” Paul Moreno said. a PG&E spokesperson.PG&E cited elevated fire danger due to dry, gusty conditions, with stronger winds expected in the Sierra, south central coast and parts of North Bay and East Bay. This content is imported from x. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their website. WATCHING THE WIND The north breeze will weaken tonight in the Valley. But gusty EAST winds will intensify in the Sierra and Foothills early Thursday morning and Friday night. @PGE4Me cites the wind forecast and dry air/fuels as the reason for widespread PSPS outages. @kcranews pic.twitter.com/PXxabz5JlG — Heather Waldman (@KCRAHeather) October 13, 2026 “We are still closely monitoring exactly where we expect the storm to impact the most,” Moreno said. The utility said the outages are a last resort designed to prevent wind-damaged overhead power lines or equipment from sparking a wildfire. PG&E said it tries to give customers at least two days’ notice to help them prepare. “Customers can do things like get dry ice to help keep their food and medications cold, keep their electronic devices charged and have generators on hand if needed,” Moreno said. Previously, PG&E said this planned outage would affect about 30,000 customers. Provided an update to include the increase in numbers due to vegetation and extremely dry winds. The outages could also affect 3,920 Medical Baseline customers and five tribal governments. A sign outside a Pollock Pines fire station shows a high fire danger, highlighting conditions that could prompt closure. Officials say the weather and the need to prevent wildfires are driving the decision. “At this point, it’s like here we go again, the breeze is blowing,” said Tim Roffe, a Pollock Pines resident. Roffe added: “We’re a little more prepared here than maybe other people would be, because we have snow, and we have power outages for falling trees and that kind of thing. But it’s still ridiculous that we have to have these power outages because of the weather.” Jenkins, another Pollock Pines resident, expressed concern about the impact of the outages. “They have to be worried about liability, but it’s going to be very difficult for a lot of people,” Jenkins said. Originally, PG&E said about 3,000 customers who were affected by a previous PSPS event last weekend could be affected again. That number increased to 4,000. The company also said that about 5,700 customers included in the originally planned closures have been “eliminated from scope.” The update from PG&E came around 1:05 p.m. Tuesday. He said the planned outage was about 12 hours before the time of the update, but conditions can change. The El Dorado County Fire Protection District emphasized the importance of having a plan in place, whether it involves keeping someone who has a generator or ensuring safe use of the generator. “When using generators, use them at least 20 feet away from any openings in the home, to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, and do not use any generators inside or next to the home due to the fire hazard they could pose,” said Jacob Poganski of the El Dorado County Fire Protection District. PG&E has identified more than 40 community resource centers where customers can charge devices, access snacks, water and Wi-Fi in the event of an outage. This content is imported from infogram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their website. See more coverage of California’s top stories here | Download our application | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source on Google
