With high winds forecasted for much of Northern and Central California this weekend, PG&E reminds its customers to be prepared in case of power outages. Although PG&E does not forecast the need for any Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) this weekend, windy conditions could lead to power outages.
PG&E’s in-house Meteorology team and our Hazard Awareness & Warning Center (HAWC) team monitor conditions 24/7 and continually apprise Electric Operations of current and forecasted conditions.
PG&E’s Meteorology team says that dry conditions and cooler temperatures are expected today ahead of an approaching weather system expected to impact the service area Saturday into Sunday. This system is expected to bring locally breezy to gusty northerly winds to the Sacramento Valley and surrounding terrain Saturday morning, with northeasterly winds developing across the Delta and Bay Area later Saturday. Winds should diminish by Sunday afternoon.
Ahead of the winds, PG&E crews have done pre-event patrols on 10 electric distribution circuits in areas identified by our Meteorology team based on expected winds. In some cases, we have done some additional Vegetation Management work. We have done similar pre-event patrols on selected electric transmission lines.
PG&E will have enhanced staffing of field resources in place, including members of our Safety Infrastructure & Protection teams, to enable rapid response to any emerging issues.
PG&E shares these tips on storm and outage safety with our customers.
Storm Safety Tips
- Never touch downed wires: If you see a downed power line, assume it is energized and extremely dangerous. Do not touch or try to move it—and keep children and animals away. Report downed power lines immediately by calling 9-1-1 and then PG&E at 1-800-743-5002.
- Use generators safely: Customers with standby electric generators should ensure they are properly installed by a licensed electrician in a well-ventilated area. Improperly installed generators pose a significant danger to customers, as well as crews working on powerlines. If using portable generators, be sure they are in a well-ventilated area.
- Use flashlights, not candles: During a power outage, use battery-operated flashlights and not candles, due to the risk of fire. And keep extra batteries on hand. If you must use candles, please keep them away from drapes, lampshades, animals and small children. Do not leave candles unattended.
- Have a backup phone: If you have a telephone system that requires electricity to work, such as a cordless phone or answering machine, plan to have a standard telephone or cellular phone ready as a backup. Having a portable charging device helps to keep your cell phone running.
- Have fresh drinking water and ice: Freeze plastic containers filled with water to make blocks of ice that can be placed in your refrigerator/freezer to prevent food spoilage.
- Turn off appliances: If you experience an outage, unplug or turn off all electrical appliances to avoid overloading circuits and to prevent fire hazards when power is restored. Simply leave a single lamp on to alert you when power returns.
- Safely clean up: After the storm has passed, be sure to safely clean up. Never touch downed wires and always call 8-1-1 or visit 811express.com at least two full business days before digging to have all underground utilities safely marked.
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