Six counties in the Bay Area are facing potential power shutoffs on Election Day and the days that follow, according to PG&E’s announcement on Sunday. The planned shutoffs are a precautionary measure in response to forecasts of high winds and dry conditions in the region.
The affected counties include Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, and Santa Clara, with shutoffs anticipated on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Additionally, several Northern California counties may also be impacted, including Butte, Lake, Plumas, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus, and Yolo.
While the specific number of residents affected and the exact times of the shutoffs remain unclear, there is concern about how these outages might influence voter turnout on Election Day. KTVU reached out to local election registrars for insights on the matter.
Santa Clara County’s Office of the Registrar confirmed they have backup generators in place to maintain power and are in contact with PG&E for further updates. Sonoma County officials stated they are collaborating with their emergency management department to monitor the situation, noting that none of the voting centers in their area are expected to be impacted.
PG&E has not yet responded to KTVU’s request for additional information. The utility company explained that power shutoffs are implemented when extreme weather conditions and other on-the-ground factors significantly raise the risk of wildfires. These factors include low humidity, strong winds, dry vegetation, and red flag warnings from the National Weather Service, along with real-time assessments from weather experts and ground crews.
Residents can find more information about potential outages for their specific addresses and available resources through PG&E’s website.
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