CHICO, Calif. - Right now is still too early for widespread PG&E power shut offs but they could become more common again this year, later in the season. PG&E has made some pulled back on some of the ways power shut offs are implemented.
PG&E plans to shut off power again this year, just like last year if conditions call for it.
The criteria for power shutdowns includes low humidity, very strong winds, dry vegetation and red flag warnings.
"We don't anticipate any public saftey power shutoffs over the next 7 days. Last year, all but one of the public saftey power shutoff events occured in late summer and early fall. As the year went on fuel conditions in the field became drier," Paul Moreno, PG&E Spokesman.
They are striving to shut off power for no more than 12 hours after the event is called for.
PG&E has also added more switching devices in the field that will allow them to shut off power to smaller, specific regions.
PG&E has also been harening their system with stronger poles, insulating wires in areas, increasing the distance of pruned trees and adding more weather ststaions to their weather network.
If there is a power shut off expected in your area, PG&E will notify you ahead of time based on your contact information under your account. If this information is outdated, you should update your account information and can always find out on their website as well.
PG&E will be hosting a webinar for customers in Glenn, Shasta and Tehama counties to share information about its wildfire prevention work and improvements they've made to their power saftey shut offs. The webinar will be 5:30 to 7pm this Wednesday. The link can be found HERE.