NAPA: The map keeps changing, and Napa County is still on it. PG&E said on Wednesday, Oct. 14, that its potential Public Safety Power Shutoff could now reach approximately 88,000 customers across 29 California counties, up from the roughly 70,000 the utility cited a day earlier. The Napa County estimate was unchanged at 3,027 customers, including 138 Medical Baseline customers who rely on electricity for medical needs.

The statewide scope has nearly tripled since Monday, when about 30,000 customers were first being monitored. PG&E raised the figure to about 70,000 on Tuesday, then expanded it again on Wednesday as the fire weather forecast changed, sending notifications that morning to about 25,000 additional customers while removing roughly 7,300 customers from the scope. Much of the latest expansion fell in Amador, Tuolumne and Madera counties, according to KION.

High-voltage transmission lines. The utility de-energizes lines during preventive shutoffs to reduce the chance of an ignition in dry, windy weather.
High-voltage transmission lines. The utility de-energizes lines during preventive shutoffs to reduce the chance of an ignition in dry, windy weather. Dillan Payne, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Statewide, the current scope includes approximately 5,500 Medical Baseline customers and six tribal governments. Potential shutoffs began Wednesday evening and could continue through Saturday afternoon, Oct. 17.

Three scopes in three days, and Napa is still on the map.

Why the scope keeps growing

PG&E tied the widening plan to a statewide fire weather event driven by dry offshore winds. The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for parts of Kern County, primarily around Lebec, and a Fire Weather Watch from Bakersfield across the southern plains from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara. Reporting by Bloomberg, carried by Insurance Journal, said PG&E forecasters found dead brush and grass critically dry, in the utility's words "approaching historical minimums in some areas."

The latest warning follows a separate shutoff event days earlier that, according to KION, affected about 10,400 customers in Colusa, Glenn, Shasta, Tehama and Yolo counties.

Transmission towers against the sky. Napa County's in-scope estimate held at 3,027 customers even as the statewide total rose to about 88,000.
Transmission towers against the sky. Napa County's in-scope estimate held at 3,027 customers even as the statewide total rose to about 88,000. unukorno, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Help while the power is out

PG&E said it plans to open more than 40 Community Resource Centers across 23 counties during the event, offering device charging, Wi-Fi, bottled water, snacks and other supplies, with ADA-accessible restrooms. The utility urged customers who may need extra support to contact 211 before, during or after an outage, including customers who rely on power for medical needs or have a disability. Customers can check whether their own address is being monitored for a possible shutoff at pge.com/pspsupdates, and PG&E cautioned that the scope could continue to change as conditions develop.