Over 100,000 PG&E customers are preparing to possibly lose power Monday or Tuesday as the heat wave continues and high winds are expected this week.
The utility issued a 48 hour warning to customers that they could lose power because of high fire danger. Most of the affected residents are in the Sierra foothills, but some are also in Napa, Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino Counties.
It could be the first safety-related power shutoff of the year.
PG&E spokesperson Jeff Smith says people should start preparing now to potentially be without power for several days.
“For example if they have life-sustaining medical equipment or even things that we use every day like cell phones or computers, that they keep those charged and ready to go should they experience an outage,” he said. “I always recommend filling two-liter bottles with water, freezing them and putting them in your refrigerator. That will help keep your perishables from going bad.”
Customers are also asked to make sure that their contact information is up to date in case of a shutoff.
Meanwhile the heat wave is ongoing.
“We’re looking at highs well into the triple digits. East Bay, for example, and interior valleys will be over 110,” said Matt Mehle with the National Weather Service. “We have the excessive heat warning in effect for one more day, so today will be the hottest day out of the next few.”
A Flex Alert has also been issued for Monday afternoon from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Californians are asked to conserve electricity to avoid straining the state’s electric grid and triggering rolling blackouts.
