Updated website provides faster, more complete
outage information
OAKLAND,
Calif., Feb. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- With many
customers still drying out from rains earlier this week, Pacific
Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is preparing for a stronger
storm forecasted to arrive Sunday. The storm, which meteorologists
are calling an atmospheric river event, is expected to bring heavy
rain, strong winds and potential power outages to customers across
Central and Northern
California.
The storm is expected to have the heaviest impact on communities
along the Central Coast and in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys, according
to PG&E Meteorologist Evan Duffey.
"The active storm track we experienced this week will continue
into this weekend with a significant storm likely arriving on
Sunday and continuing into Monday. This storm is looking to be
stronger than the Wednesday/Thursday system of this week, with
gusty winds expected for large swaths of the territory accompanied
by periods of heavy rain," said Duffey.
PG&E has been preparing for this storm, staging crews in the
areas expected to receive the most severe storm impacts. Electric,
Gas and tree crews follow guidance from meteorologists to forecast
crew and material needs, and timing of the storm.
Website Improvements Provide More Information, Faster
If an outage does occur, PG&E's online outage
center has been updated and improved based on customer
feedback. Significant changes include:
- Faster loading times to find important outage information
- An Outage Status Tracker so customers can get status updates on
the assessment and repair of their outage
- More local information on the extent of outages around a
customer's home and business
- More information on how to prepare ahead of outages, what
causes outages and how PG&E prioritizes restoration work.
Additionally, renters and others without a PG&E account can
sign up for outage notifications by text, email, or phone.
PG&E will let customers know the cause of an outage, when crews
are on their way, the estimated restoration time and when power has
been restored.
If receiving an outage text, customers can reply "status" to
learn the latest information on the outage without visiting the
outage page.
Storm Safety Tips
As PG&E follows its plan to prepare for the storm, customers
are urged to prepare their families as well.
- Never touch downed wires: If you see a downed power
line, assume it is energized and extremely dangerous. Do not touch
or try to move it—and keep children and animals away. Report downed
power lines immediately by calling 9-1-1 and then PG&E at
1-800-743-5002.
- Use generators safely: Customers with standby electric
generators should ensure they are properly installed by a licensed
electrician in a well-ventilated area. Improperly installed
generators pose a significant danger to customers, as well as crews
working on powerlines. If using portable generators, be sure they
are in a well-ventilated area.
- Use flashlights, not candles: During a power outage, use
battery-operated flashlights and not candles, due to the risk of
fire. And keep extra batteries on hand. If you must use candles,
please keep them away from drapes, lampshades, animals and small
children. Do not leave candles unattended.
- Have a backup phone: If you have a telephone system that
requires electricity to work, such as a cordless phone or answering
machine, plan to have a standard telephone or cellular phone ready
as a backup. Having a portable charging device helps to keep your
cell phone running.
- Have fresh drinking water and ice: Freeze plastic
containers filled with water to make blocks of ice that can be
placed in your refrigerator/freezer to prevent food spoilage.
- Secure your outside furniture: Strong winds can
blow lawn chairs and other outdoor items into powerlines.
- Turn off appliances: If you experience an outage, unplug
or turn off all electrical appliances to avoid overloading circuits
and to prevent fire hazards when power is restored. Simply leave a
single lamp on to alert you when power returns.
- Safely clean up: After the storm has passed, be sure to
safely clean up. Never touch downed wires and always call 8-1-1 or
visit 811express.com at least two full business days before digging
to have all underground utilities safely marked.
Other tips can be found at: Safety and Preparedness, Storm
Safety, and Safety Action Center.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a
subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined
natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million
people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information,
visit pge.com and pge.com/news.
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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company