Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is considering implementing a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) in parts of Santa Barbara County as a precautionary measure to prevent wildfires, with the shutoff possibly commencing as early as 7:00 AM on October 18,

The wind event is slated to start around noon on Thursday and may last until midday Saturday. The duration and extent of power outages will depend on the weather in each area, and not all customers will be affected for the entire period. These planned power shutoffs are utilized to help reduce the risk of wildfires.

Dry weather conditions and strong winds could heighten the risk of wildfires from starting or spreading, leading Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to announce possible power shutoff across the Bay Area starting Thursday.

Starting Thursday evening, much of Pacific Gas & Electric's territory will be blasted by offshore wind that could ignite wildfires. But big as the area is, those forcibly shut off will be small.

PG&E staff will be actively monitoring weather conditions for 30 California counties later this week for possible PSPS power shutoffs.

Tuolumne County is expected to see the worst of the incoming weather conditions this weekend. Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) is already planning to cut power to nearly 4,000 customers there to reduce fire risk.

Public safety power shutoffs are done in anticipation of fire risk. A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 11 p.m. Thursday through 5 p.m. Saturday.

PG&E is preparing to intentionally cut power as early as Thursday to thousands of customers in California to reduce hazards from power lines amid heightened wildfire risk, the utility company said. The move could leave up to 28,

PG&E is now warning customers across its service region of likely power shutoffs in the coming days as concerning weather moves into Northern and Central California.

PG&E, California’s largest utility provider, has warned upwards of around 32,000 customers in northern and central parts of the Golden State that they could see their power shut off in an effort to reduce the wildfire risk from energized equipment and power lines.

As many as 28,000 customers could be affected through the weekend, PG&E said in a statement Tuesday night after activating its PSPS advisory page. “Given the forecasted strong winds and current dry vegetation conditions,