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PG&E is expanding its resources for customers at risk of being affected by planned power outages as California s wildfire season rages on.
Public Safety Power Shutoffs, or PSPS events, are part of PG&E s efforts to prevent wildfires that could happen if high winds cause damage to power lines. A combination of factors such as low humidity, high winds, dry material and nearby tall trees can cause PG&E to temporarily shut off power until the danger of a wildfire has passed.
PG&E has only reported one PSPS event in 2021 so far: a planned outage from Jan. 19 to 21 that impacted about 5,100 Central California residents after 83 mph wind gusts created an imminent threat of wildfire.
By Megan Munce
Bay City News Foundation
PG&E is expanding its resources for customers at risk of being affected by planned power outages as California s wildfire season rages on.
Public Safety Power Shutoffs, or PSPS events, are part of PG&E s efforts to prevent wildfires that could happen if high winds cause damage to power lines. A combination of factors such as low humidity, high winds, dry material and nearby tall trees can cause PG&E to temporarily shut off power until the danger of a wildfire has passed.
PG&E has only reported one PSPS event in 2021 so far: a planned outage from Jan. 19 to 21 that impacted about 5,100 Central California residents after 83 mph wind gusts created an imminent threat of wildfire.
Local residents impacted by planned PG&E power shutoffs use generators, candles
and last updated 2021-01-19 23:01:59-05
Hundreds of PG&E customers on the Central Coast are without power due to a Public Safety Power Shutoff.
Those impacted are primarily just east of Highway 101 between Arroyo Grande and Santa Maria in unincorporated areas like Huasna or near the Twitchell Reservoir.
The PSPS went into effect just after 8 Tuesday morning for parts of San Luis Obispo and Northern Santa Barbara Counties. Gusty winds prompted PG&E to turn off power for the more than 460 residents. You get in this canyon like this and the wind really blows, said Steve High who lives in rural Nipomo not far from Upper Los Berros Road.