PG&E Cancels Public Safety Power Shutoff In Napa County

NAPA COUNTY, CA — Customers in the North Bay were removed from the scope of a potential public safety power shutoff that Pacific Gas and Electric previously expected would start early Monday morning.

"This PSPS is not expected to affect any Bay Area counties," PG&E Spokeswoman Deanna Contreras said Sunday. "Approximately 2,500 customers in Napa, Lake and Sonoma counties have been removed from the scope of the event."

PG&E began notifying customers in the three counties Friday about the potential PSPS, initially saying nearly 7,000 customers in parts of Napa County would be affected, as would nearly 2,000 in parts of Sonoma County and more than 1,200 in parts of Lake County. In total, some 132,000 customers were notified of the impending power shutoff.

On Sunday, PG&E said "due to substantial changes overnight in terms of the severity and location of the strongest winds along with improved humidity," it significantly reduced the scope of the shutoff expected to begin Monday morning.

As of Sunday afternoon, the potential scope was reduced to 8,500 customers in five counties — Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Tulare and Tuolumne — where high fire-risk conditions were forecast to peak in strength Monday and possibly linger through early Tuesday.

In the North Bay, although PG&E canceled its shutoff, the National Weather Service did implement a red flag warning at 11 p.m. Sunday.

The red flag warning was expected to remain in effect until 5 p.m. Monday for the entire North Bay, the East Bay hills and interior valleys, the Santa Cruz Mountains and the San Francisco Peninsula Coast.

"A combination of gusty offshore winds and lowering humidity can contribute to extreme fire behavior," the National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area said. "A Red Flag Warning means critical fire conditions are ongoing or expected shortly. Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly and outdoor burning is not recommended. Peak winds are expected overnight. However, breezy offshore winds with occasional stronger gusts are possible through the afternoon."