Electricity was shut off to more than 500,000 California homes and businesses on Wednesday as Pacific Gas and Electric Co imposed a planned power outage of unprecedented scale to reduce wildfire risks posed by high winds and hot, dry weather.
A second phase of the "public safety power shutoff" was slated to begin at midday, extending cutoffs to another 234,000 customers, the utility said, and it was considering a third phase for 42,000 more homes and businesses.
The outages were planned for communities across 34 of the state's 58 counties, all in PG&E's service area in northern and central California.
Sustained gale-force winds were forecast to linger through midday Thursday, with isolated gusts of up to 70 miles per hour, the utility said in announcing the shutdown. Once power is turned off, it cannot be restored until winds subside, allowing PG&E to inspect equipment for damage and make repairs, the company said.
The utility has warned residents to prepare for outages that could last several days, but spokeswoman Kristi Jourdan said PG&E expected to restore electricity to most customers "within 24 to 48 hours after the weather has passed."
Ultimately the measure could leave nearly 800,000 homes and businesses, comprising millions of people, without electricity, the largest precautionary electricity shutoff PG&E has undertaken. Of six previous such power cuts, the largest occurred a year ago and affected 60,000 customers.
Ahead of Wednesday's shutdown, customers were urged to stock up on flashlights, fresh batteries, first-aid supplies and cash, and to plan for healthcare needs requiring refrigerated medications or electrical devices.
The utility said it opened 28 community centers across the planned outage zone to furnish restrooms, bottled water, battery charging and air-conditioned seating during daytime hours.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said "red-flag" warnings were posted across the state for what was shaping up to be the strongest wind event so far this season.
PG&E has come under increased scrutiny in recent years over maintenance of transmission wires and other equipment implicated in major wildfires.
Two California utilities said they may cut power to more than 900,000 customers for days starting after midnight Wednesday morning because of dry winds that could cause fires.
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo on Monday urged residents and businesses to prepare to be without electricity for as much as a week, saying the outages could affect almost 2 million people.
Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison on Tuesday raised the number of its customers who may be without power from 600,000 to almost 800,000, affecting 34 northern, central and coastal counties, starting with counties in the north just after midnight Wednesday morning.
Southern California Edison said it’s considering cutting power to more than 100,000 customers in eight counties. The utilities haven’t said how many people the outages will affect in all.
- The PG&E power shutoff began Wednesday morning and is the largest effort to combat wildfires caused by windblown power lines in the state's history
- Californians are outraged as the PG&E's power shutoff, announced on Tuesday, forces them to scramble for supplies
- Schools have been cancelled, businesses shut down, roadways overwhelmed with disabled traffic lights and dwindling supplies in stores
- One of the shutoff's biggest critics are those living in senior centers and people who rely on electric medical supplies
- PG&E have assured residents this is a preventative measure to reduce the risk of preventable wildfires
- Power cuts can be expected to be seen in 34 counties, affect nearly 800,000 customers and leave around 2 million people in the dark
PG&E, California's biggest power utility, cut power for more than a million people on Wednesday in the largest effort in the state's history to prevent wildfire's caused by windblown power lines.
PG&E planned to shut off power in 34 northern and central California counties, affected nearly 800,000 customers.
The sudden announcement, which came after two years of firestorms ravaging parts of California and forcing PG&E into bankruptcy, has left residents unimpressed.
The latest measure caused a myriad of unintended results, from drawn out lines at supermarkets and hardware stores to gridlocked cars trying to navigate roadways with disabled traffic lights.
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