SAN FRANCISCO — After the first round of PG&E's planned power outages for 2020, the electric company found over 80 incidents of damage or hazards to power lines that could've caused wildfires.
Over Labor Day weekend, 22 Northern California counties — roughly 172,000 customers — were subjected to PG&E's Public Safety Power Shutoffs [PSPS]. According to a press release, following inspections of power lines, the company identified over 80 incidents that had the power not been de-energized, the chance of wildfires would have increased.
PG&E shared its findings in a report with the California Public Utilities Commission. Click HERE to read the full report.
Incidents were found in the following counties:
- In Butte County, a tree fell into a wire and knocked it to the ground
- In El Dorado County, multiple tree limbs fell on a 21,000-volt power line
- In Placer County, a broken crossarm was found that could have resulted in the power line sagging or falling
- In Shasta County, a broken pole was found during patrols
PG&E weather stations also reported wind gusts exceeding 50 mph in 14 counties, including
- A 66-mph gust in Butte County
- A 66-mph gust in Sonoma County
- A 62-mph gust in Kern County
PG&E’s equipment has been linked to more than 20 wildfires, including the deadly 2018 Camp Fire. The utility initiates its PSPS plan to de-energize transmission lines during fire-favorable weather conditions. That means more communities are facing the potential for power shutoffs as PG&E preemptively shuts off the power, waits for the weather conditions to pass and then inspects every inch of the de-energized lines to make sure it’s safe to turn the power back on.
Watch more:
How to control California fires, scientists explain | FIRE – POWER – MONEY, Ep. 1 of 3
