Overview
- PG&E launched preemptive Public Safety Power Shutoffs starting Wednesday, cutting electricity for about 90,000 customers across 29 counties to reduce the risk of equipment‑ignited wildfires.
- By Friday, utilities had begun staged restorations in Bay Area counties with thousands of customers brought back online while crews continued inspections before re-energizing remaining circuits.
- Large pockets on the Central Coast remained without power, including about 8,700 PG&E customers in San Luis Obispo County and 360 SCE customers in Santa Barbara County with more than 11,000 properties under consideration for shutoff.
- Local impacts included dark traffic signals on major routes that Caltrans warned drivers to treat as four‑way stops, school and campus disruptions, and guidance for residents who rely on powered medical equipment to contact emergency services.
- Utilities and local agencies opened resource centers and cooling centers offering water, charging, Wi‑Fi and restrooms, and said restorations will continue only after improved forecasts and on‑the‑ground safety checks, a process that aims to prevent wildfire starts but can prolong outages for vulnerable residents.