PG&E continues to install weather stations on its power poles to more accurately monitor wildfire conditions and offer precision in the event of a public safety power shutoff.
About 300 of the utility's solar-powered, self-contained compact weather stations are attached to power poles in the Bay Area. One such station was recently installed in Castro Valley.
Every 10 minutes, a station sends information like wind speeds, temperature and humidity levels to PG&E meteorologists and wildfire safety operations analysts.
"Because of the nature of our terrain and the dynamic weather we have between regions, even just a mile apart, we have to get very granualr," PG&E Senior Meteorologist Ashley Helmetag told KCBS Radio.
Each of these 1,200 installed stations throughout Northern and Central California offers an opportunity to pinpoint dangers and provide precision in the event of a public safety power shutoff. There will be 1,300 by the end of the year in the utility's service area, PG&E said.
Parts of the Bay Area have already had a shutoff this year. Power shutoffs typically occur in September and October, but PG&E has needed to be ready amid a fire-friendly drought.
With extreme or exceptional drought throughout the Bay Area, conditions Helmetag said have not been seen since the 1970s, plants that are likely to burn are at a critical load.
"What that means for us is those fuels are ready to go, absolutely ready to go," Helmetag said. "So what we worry about coming into the fire season is (that) all we need is that wind trigger."
PG&E spokesperson Deanna Contreras said precision is more important than ever. In 2012, she said just 15% of the PG&E service area was in a fire threat area. Now, that's the case for "approximately half the service area."
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