More than 3,000 PG&E, Contract and
Mutual-Aid Personnel Are Responding After Significant New Year's
Eve Storm and Readying for New,
Approaching Storm System
OAKLAND,
Calif., Jan. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific Gas
and Electric Company (PG&E) is mobilizing personnel ahead of a
significant wet and windy winter storm due to arrive across
Northern and Central California
Wednesday and into Thursday.
This effort follows the restoration of nearly 500,000 customers
who lost power during the strong New Year's Eve storm last
Saturday.
Poised to respond to outages are approximately 360 four-person
electric crews, 397 troublemen, distribution line technicians and
system inspectors who serve as the utility's first responders and
another 800 personnel who will monitor electric incidents for
public safety
Additionally, hundreds of PG&E employees are serving in
roles in the company's Emergency Operations Center as well as
in regional and divisional emergency centers. Approximately 250
vegetation-management personnel also are at the ready.
PG&E is currently being supported by 16 crews from Southern
California Edison and has requested mutual-aid assistance from
additional West Coast power providers.
The company is using its storm outage prediction models that
help determine the potential timing, location, and number of power
outages. This allows the company to have extra crews on standby to
deploy to areas that are hard hit by the storm. PG&E is also
prestaging power poles, powerlines, transformers, and other
electric equipment at yards throughout its service area to restore
power to affected areas safely and as quickly as
possible.
The weather system forecasted to move through PG&E's service
area as early as Wednesday, Jan. 4,
will deliver strong, gusty winds, moderate to heavy rain and a
chance for isolated thunderstorms. Peak wind risk is expected
Wednesday across the central and southern parts of PG&E's
service area, with gusts in the 35-45 MPH range at lower elevations
and possibly 50-60 MPH across elevated terrain, portions of the
Central Valley and along the Central Coast.
Potentially hazardous conditions such as flooding, mud slides
and road closures—some which remain from the storms that occurred
over New Year's weekend—could slow restoration efforts for some
customers. The incoming adverse weather could result in trees,
limbs and other debris falling into powerlines, damaging equipment,
and interrupting electric service. Saturated soil in many locations
could cause trees to fall, and localized flooding and mudslides are
possible.
"This weather system by itself would present widespread
challenges, and we have to factor in that many parts of our service
area remain saturated after last weekend's storm. Our crews have
been working tirelessly to ensure we minimize any impacts this
storm may have on our customers and hometowns. We encourage
customers to prepare for the storm now – have an emergency plan in
case you lose power and update your contact information on
PG&E's website so we can provide you with real-time updates on
outages in your neighborhood," said Angie
Gibson, vice president, PG&E Emergency Preparedness
& Response
Keeping Customers Informed
Customers can view real-time outage information at PG&E's
online outage center and search by a specific address, by city or
by county. This site has been updated to include support in 16
languages.
Additionally, customers 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.
PG&E is coordinating with its community-based partners to
offer support to customers in need. PG&E partners with the
California Foundation for Independent Living Centers to offer
support for older adults and people with disabilities through the
Disability Disaster Access and Resources Program. As well, as the
California Network of 2-1-1 who can connect customers to resources
in their local communities.
Storm Safety Tips
- 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.
- 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 www.pge.com/
and http://www.pge.com/about/newsroom/.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pge-mobilizes-for-powerful-winter-storm-arriving-in-northern-and-central-california-wednesday-301712964.html
SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company