PG&E confirms power will shut off to 800,000 customers statewide – SFGate, Sfgate.com

After days of warning, Pacific Gas & Electric confirmed Tuesday afternoon that 800, 000 Customers across 34 California counties would be left in the dark starting at midnight.

The utility planned the shut-off as a precaution due to high wildfire risk.

“The power will be turned off to communities in stages, depending on local timing of the severe wind conditions, beginning with counties in the northern part of the state,” PG&E said in a statement.                  

PG&E said it would communicate with affected customers directly via automated calls, texts and emails. It also createda map of affected areas, which you can check for your neighborhood. PG & E’s site was intermittently down Tuesday, so we’ve put some of the maps in the gallery at the top of this story.

PG&E said the shutoffs would begin starting just after midnight early Wednesday morning. PG&E meteorologists forecast high winds to last until mid-day Thursday, but power could be out for several days longer.

“Before restoring power, PG&E must inspect its equipment for damage and make any necessary repairs. That process cannot begin until the severe weather event has subsided,” the company said.

The outagescould last “five days or longer”in some areas.

ALSO:Map shows neighborhoods impacted by PG&E power shutoffs

The weather this week is expected to be dry and windy, which makes the risk of a catastrophic wildfire high, PG&E officials said. The utility company wants to shut off power so its electric equipment doesn’t start a wildfire as has happened in recent years.

The number of potential customers affected in each Bay Area county, according to PG&E, is:

• 32, 613 customers in Alameda County
• 40, 219 customers in Contra Costa County
• 66, 289 customers in Sonoma County
• 32, 124 customers in Napa County
• 14, 766 customers in San Mateo County
• 38, 123 customers in Santa Clara County
• 32, 862 customers in Solano County
• Marin County TBD

San Francisco County was not expected to be affected.

                 Starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday, PG&E said it would open community centers to provide restrooms, bottled water, electronics charging stations, and air conditioning during daylight hours. See the locations below:                  

Alameda

                 Oakland: Merritt College LOT B – Leona St., Oakland 94508                  

Amador

Pioneer: Mace Meadows Golf Course, 26570 Fairway Drive Pioneer 95666

Butte

Oroville: Bird Street School, 1421 Bird St, Oroville 95965
Magalia (Lakeridge Court, Magalia)

Calaveras

                 Arnold: Meadowmont Shopping Center – (HWY 4, Arnold)                  

Colusa

                 Glenn: Williams, Orland 839 Newville Road, Orland 95963                  

Contra Costa

                 San Ramon: Bishop Ranch Parking Lot – 2600 Camino Ramon, San Ramon 94583                  

El Dorado

                 El Dorado Hills: Rolling Hills Christian Church 800 White Rock Road, El Dorado Hills 95762                  Placerville: El Dorado Fairgrounds 100 Placerville Drive, Placerville 95667                  

Lake

Clear Lake: Clearlake Senior Center 3245 Bowers Avenue, Clearlake 95422

Mariposa

                 Coulterville: Coulterville Fire Dept – 10293 Ferry Road, Coulterville 95311                  

Mendocino

                 Ukiah: (N. State Street, Ukiah)                  

Napa

                 Calistoga: Calistoga Fairgrounds – 1601 N. Oak Calistoga 94515                  

Nevada
Grass Valley: Sierra College Grass Valley 250 Sierra College Drive, Grass Valley

Placer

Auburn: Gold Country Fairgrounds 1273 High Street Auburn 95603

Plumas

La Porte: 2140 Main St. La Porte 95981                  

Santa Clara

                 San Jose: Avaya Stadium (Coleman Avenue, San Jose)                  

San Mateo

Half Moon Bay: Pasta Moon Restaurant, 845 Main St Half Moon Bay 94019

Santa Cruz

                 Aptos: Twin Lakes Church (Cabrillo College Dr, Aptos)                  

Shasta, Tehama

Redding, Cottonwood, Red Bluff: Shasta College, 11555 Old Oregon Trail Redding 96003

Sierra

                 Sierra City: Loganville Campground parking lot – HWY 49, Sierra City 96125                  

Solano

                 Vacaville: Mission Church 6391 Leisure Town Road, Vacaville 95687
Vallejo: 1001 Fairgrounds Drive, Vallejo 94589                  

Sonoma

                 Santa Rosa, Sonoma: Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building 1351 Maple Ave, Santa
(Rosa)                  

Stanislaus

                 Westley: Westley Hotel – 8615 CA – 33, Westley 95387                  

Tuolumne

                 Sonora: Mother Lode Fairgrounds 220 Southgate Drive, Sonora 95370                  

Yolo

                 Winters: Next to PG&E Gas Academy – Intersection of E. Grant Avenue & Timber Crest Road, Winters 95694                  

Yuba

Oregon House: 9185 Marysville Road, Oregon House 95962

This story is developing and will be updated.

Alix Martichoux is an SFGate digital editor. Read herlatest storiesand send her news tips at[email protected].