pge outage

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE** **PG&E Initiates Large-Scale Public Safety Power Shutoffs Across Northern California Amid Heightened Wildfire Risks** **SAN FRANCISCO** – Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) began implementing a series of Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) early Thursday morning, leaving approximately 75,000 customers across 12 counties without electricity. The utility provider cited "extreme fire weather conditions," including high wind gusts and historically low humidity levels, as the primary catalyst for the preemptive de-energization. The outages, which began shortly after midnight, have primarily affected residents in the North Bay, the Northern Sierra foothills, and portions of the Santa Cruz Mountains. According to PG&E’s meteorology team, wind gusts in higher elevations have exceeded 55 mph, creating a high-risk environment where debris or falling trees could damage electrical infrastructure and ignite fast-moving wildfires. “We understand the significant hardship that losing power places on our customers, especially those with medical needs or those working from home,” said Janisse Quiñones, PG&E’s Chief Operating Officer, during a morning press briefing. “However, our primary responsibility is the safety of our communities. Given the current atmospheric conditions, the risk of a catastrophic, equipment-sparked wildfire is simply too high to keep the lines energized.” The affected counties include Napa, Sonoma, Shasta, Butte, and El Dorado, among others. In response to the outages, PG&E has opened 28 Community Resource Centers (CRCs) across the impacted regions. These centers provide residents with access to air conditioning, bottled water, snacks, and charging stations for electronic devices and medical equipment. Local business owners in downtown St. Helena expressed frustration as the outage forced many to shutter their doors during a busy mid-week period. “We understand the fire risk, but these recurring shutoffs feel like a blunt instrument for a problem that should have been solved years ago with grid hardening,” said Marcus Thorne, a local restaurateur. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has been closely monitoring the shutoffs. While PG&E has significantly increased its "undergrounding" of power lines and installed hundreds of "sectionalizing" devices to minimize the footprint of these outages, the 2026 fire season has proven particularly volatile due to a dense buildup of dry vegetation following a late-spring heatwave. PG&E officials stated that they do not expect to begin the "all-clear" inspection process until Friday afternoon, when winds are forecasted to subside. Before power can be restored, crews must physically inspect thousands of miles of transmission and distribution lines—often via helicopter or on foot in rugged terrain—to ensure no damage occurred during the wind event. If damage is found, repairs must be completed before the lines are re-energized, a process that can take 12 to 24 hours after the weather clears. Residents are encouraged to check the PG&E online outage map for real-time updates and to sign up for text alerts. Emergency officials remind the public to treat all intersections with non-functioning traffic lights as four-way stops and to never use outdoor generators inside a home or garage due to carbon monoxide risks. As of 10:00 a.m. local time, there have been no reports of major fires related to PG&E equipment in the de-energized zones. For more information on CRCs and restoration timelines, visit pge.com/outagealerts. ### # # #