Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 

PG&E Begins Inspecting Lines To Restore Power, But Cautions More Outages Possible This Weekend

Thursday, October 24, 2019 | Sacramento, CA
Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo

Brian Boyd checks one of the generators used to provide power at the Clear Creek Crossing store near Paradise, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019.

Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo

After cutting power to more than 500,000 people Wednesday, Pacific Gas and Electric announced Thursday afternoon it's ready to inspect lines in nearly all the counties affected by the shutoff.

But the utility also warned that continued dry and windy weather this weekend could again increase the chance its equipment could cause wildfires, and that more shut offs were possible.

The most recent planned outage spanned 15 counties, mostly in the Sierra foothills but also parts of the North Bay and in Kern County. The utility began cutting power early Wednesday morning. It expects to have power back to most customers by Friday night.

Backlash against the utility for the shutoffs continued Thursday as Gov. Gavin Newsom said PG&E and Southern California Edison needed to step up efforts to secure power lines as the climate changes.

The governor says utilities need to be held accountable for the costs incurred by customers who lose money as a result of these power outages.

"It's about dog-eat-dog capitalism meeting climate change. It's about corporate greed meeting climate change," Newsom said. "It's about decades of mismanagement, it's about focusing on shareholders and dividends over you and members of the public. It's a story about greed and they need to be held accountable."

He says should the companies choose not to reimburse customers, the California Public Utilities Commission has the authority to demand they do.

PG&E CEO Bill Johnson pushed back against those allegations this week, saying the amount of land in its coverage area considered at high-risk for wildfire has increased in recent years.

"These events for us, they don't have anything to do with the quality of our system, with the vegetation management, they are pure weather related, blowing stuff out of the forest into our lines," Johnson said. "That's really what the story is."

PG&E began a policy of cutting power to prevent fires in October of last year, one month before the Camp Fire killed 84 people in Butte County. That fire has since been blamed on PG&E equipment, which the utility decided not to shut off in the hours preceding it.

The National Weather Service is forecasting another round of dry windy weather Saturday through Sunday morning. 

🚩 High Wind Watch in effect from Saturday evening through Sunday evening. Local gusts up to 60 mph are possible. Downed trees, power outages and difficult driving conditions can be expected. #cawx pic.twitter.com/RuSqy9S6fQ

— NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) October 24, 2019

PG&E has warned this week that outages could be possible this weekend, but has not yet announced they will shut off power. They cautioned anyone affected by this shutoff may also be included in new shutoffs this weekend.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

 PG&E Shutoff

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Stories

Poorer students still get the least qualified teachers, but California has made progress

August 7, 2022

Manola Secaira / CapRadio

Californians still want clean, safe water a decade after state declared it a human right

August 11, 2022

Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

Wrangling over renewables: Counties push back on Newsom administration usurping local control

August 6, 2022

Most Viewed

Parties, stolen cars, a gun: 9 police complaints at Council member Sean Loloee’s disputed North Sacramento residence

California coronavirus updates: Can the monkeypox outbreak be stopped? Experts believe it’s possible

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

Trump says he will not oppose the release of documents tied to the Mar-a-Lago search

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

Parties, stolen cars, a gun: 9 police complaints at Council member Sean Loloee’s disputed North Sacramento residence

California coronavirus updates: Can the monkeypox outbreak be stopped? Experts believe it’s possible

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

Trump says he will not oppose the release of documents tied to the Mar-a-Lago search

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.