California To Cut Power To 2.5 Million People: 'Historic Wind Event'

PG&E threatens to cut power to 2.5 million people over 'historic wind event'

• PG&E announced that 850,00 households, or 2.5 million people, could lose power this weekend amid a 'historic wind event'
• Cuts could begin at 3pm on Saturday and last for at least two days
• The potentially affected areas are the Northern Sierra Foothills, North Bay/Mendocino, the Bay Area/ Central Coast/ South Sierra Foothills and Kern County 
• Winds are expected to reach 70mph this weekend  
• California governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Sonoma and Los Angeles counties
• He said of PG&E: 'They simply did not do their job. We will hold them accountable. This cannot continue' 
• The utility company say up to 2.1 million people in Northern and Central California could lose power 
• A PG&E high-voltage power line malfunctioned minutes before a Northern California wildfire broke out 
• 2,000 people have been evacuated, 49 homes have been destroyed and 21,900 acres have been burned
• California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said just five percent of the fire has been contained  
• There are currently nine active wildfires in California including the Cabrillo Fire, Kincade Fire, Muir Fire and Nelson Fire in the north; and the Mines Fire, Saddle Ridge Fire and Tick Fire in the south

Pacific Gas & Electric announced they may cut power to around 850,000 homes - or 2.5 million people - across 36 counties over the weekend.  

PG&E Corporation CEO and President Bill Johnson tried to reassure customers that the company was taking the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of Californians. 

'We understand that a longer shutoff would be very difficult for our customers. We are already working to minimize the length, including amassing a force of field personnel from PG&E, plus contractors and other utility companies, to be ready to tackle the inspection, repair and restoration process as soon as the weather passes,' he said in a statement.  

PG&E cites the 'historic wind event' set to hit the state this weekend as the main reason for the additional power cuts.

On Saturday evening, the Diablo winds are expected to pick up and will last until at least Monday morning.  

Dave King, meteorologist for the National Weather Service's Monterey office told the LA times that the event was 'historic'. 

'This is definitely an event that we're calling historic and extreme. What's making this event really substantial and historic is the amount of time that these winds are going to remain.'