Over 700 Without Power In East Bay Due To 'Near-Critical Fire Weather', More Shutoffs Possible

LIVERMORE, CA — A total of 627 PG&E customers are without power in eastern Contra Costa and Alameda County, and western San Joaquin County as of Friday morning, as part of a series of Public Safety Power Shutoffs, according to PG&E. Areas affected included parts of Clayton near Mt. Diablo State Park, areas around the Vasco Hills, rural areas southeast of Livermore near Lake Del Valle, areas along the San Luis Reservoir, several hundred more in San Benito County, and areas along I-580 south of Livermore and Tracy.

The power was shut off at various points Thursday, with estimated restoration times throughout Saturday, according to PG&E. No other part of the Bay Area received PSPS as of Friday morning.

PG&E announced Wednesday that shutoffs were likely in Alameda Contra Costa, Santa Clara, and several more counties across Northern California due to near-critical fire weather caused by high winds and dry conditions. According to the National Weather Service, gusts of 20 to 35 mph and humidity as low as 25% is expected in the East Bay Hills, the Eastern Santa Clara Hills, the Gablian Range, and San Benito and Monterey counties through the weekend.

Power shutoffs are listed on PG&E’s website. Customers can receive notifications for their address by signing up for text or phone call alerts.

The National Weather Service advised actions like storing water near any fire, securing tow chains to avoid dragging, extinguishing cigarette butts, and avoiding any equipment that could create sparks.

See here for tips on preparing for a PSPS, which include memorizing or writing down important phone numbers, keeping flashlights in easy to find spots, and making sure your car has at least half a tank of gas.