PG&E Warns of New Shutoffs as California Fire Risk Persists — SkimNews
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- PG&E warned more planned shutoffs are likely this week beginning Wednesday, potentially affecting more than two dozen counties in northern and central California through Saturday, with the utility monitoring potential offshore winds and elevated fire weather across its territory.
- PG&E began de-energizing targeted areas Oct. 9 in Fresno, Kern, Kings, San Benito and San Luis Obispo counties, impacting up to 12,200 customers across 17 counties and three tribal areas, then issued all-clear notices and restored power Oct. 10.
- PG&E announced a fresh round of shutoffs Oct. 11 in Colusa, Glenn, Shasta, Tehama and Yolo counties, again affecting approximately 12,200 customers across 17 counties and three tribal areas.
- CAISO issued Restricted Maintenance Operations notices Oct. 5–10 and logged six alerts during the heat wave — two for Southern California and four across the full ISO footprint — while demand peaked around 46,000 MW on Oct. 5.
- CAISO's Grid Emergencies History Report, last revised Oct. 9, lists six Restricted Maintenance Operations incidents for 2026 but zero Flex Alerts, Energy Emergency Alert Watches or transmission emergency incidents, indicating the grid held under peak load.
- SDG&E began preemptive shutoffs Oct. 2 affecting 35,000 customers and citing extreme heat, high winds and severe wildfire conditions, before issuing an all-clear Oct. 4; the National Weather Service Los Angeles office had warned Oct. 1 of a 'very dangerous and long lasting heat wave' beginning Oct. 2.
Why it matters: About 12,200 PG&E customers and 35,000 SDG&E customers have already been preemptively blacked out since Oct. 2 — yet CAISO recorded six Restricted Maintenance Operations notices and zero Flex Alerts, showing the bulk power grid held even as fire-driven shutoffs kept stacking up on ratepayers.
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