PG&E warns of power shutoffs in Bay Area, Central Coast amid heat and wind

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) has issued warnings that thousands of customers in California’s Bay Area and Central Coast could face Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) beginning Wednesday, July 15, and lasting into Thursday, July 16. The utility cites forecast high temperatures in the 90‑100 °F range, low humidity and gusty winds of 20‑30 mph that raise wildfire risk. Affected counties include Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, San Joaquin, Fresno, Merced, San Benito, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, with specific notifications to 3,083 customers in Monterey County and 2,017 in Marin County.

PG&E plans to open Community Resource Centers at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds, San Antonio Union School, and Carmel Valley Community Park, and will provide “Grab‑N‑Go” assistance kits. Residents are urged to prepare backup power sources, review evacuation routes and follow local burn bans. The utility’s Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPPS) aim to detect hazards and shut off power within seconds, reducing ignitions by 69% since 2021, but may extend outage durations while crews inspect circuits.