PG&E Response to March 1 Winter Storm

FINAL UPDATE - Sunday, Mar. 3, 10:00 a.m.

As of 10 a.m. today, about 9,900 customers remain without power, and most are expected to be restored today, or tomorrow for isolated areas difficult to access (see video above). During the course of the event, about 280,000 customers temporarily lost power.  

PG&E was well-prepared for this event with more than 6,500 personnel dedicated to storm response efforts, including approximately 450 crews staged to restore power where it was safe and accessible to do so:

• Sixty-four Sno-Cats, specialized machines for navigating through deep snow, were deployed, allowing our crews to reach and repair damaged infrastructure in otherwise inaccessible areas.  
• PG&E collaborated with county officials to form taskforces in several counties to expedite the safe removal of fallen trees and debris to clear roadways for first responders and utilities.  
• Temporary generation sources were provided to supply power to communities in Humboldt County and more were in place to serve the Sonoma Coast and Big Basin on the Central Coast but were not needed as the low snow predicted did not materialize.  

To support our customers most in need of help, PG&E worked with 211/Disaster Disability Access and Resources (DDAR) to provide gift cards for meals and fuel or hotel accommodations for customers with disabilities or functional needs who were temporarily impacted by power outages. PG&E thanks all of its customers for their support and patience as we continue to monitor conditions throughout the area and work to keep our system safe and reliable. 

UPDATE - Saturday, Mar. 2, 10:00 a.m.

PG&E Meteorologist Scott Strenfel on How Snow Can Impact PG&E Equipment

The March 1 winter storm continues to progress through our service area this weekend. In this video, PG&E meteorologist Scott Strenfel shares how hazardous conditions from wet and heavy snow may damage equipment and create access issues at certain locations.

PG&E has mobilized more than 6,500 personnel, including over 450 crews, who are staged and restoring power where it is safe and accessible to do so. Additionally, PG&E has collaborated with county officials to form taskforces in several counties to expedite the safe removal of fallen trees and debris to clear roadways for first responders and utilities during severe weather.  

UPDATE - Friday, Mar. 1, 4:00 p.m.

PG&E Supervisor Dave Ebbert Provides a Storm Update 

Dave Ebbert, a Supervisor in PG&E’s Sierra Division, provides a first-hand look at the storm conditions in the Sierras and the impact it is having on electric infrastructure. PG&E crews and equipment are stationed throughout the areas forecast to be hardest hit by the storm to response safely and quickly to outages.

As of Friday at 3:45 p.m., approximately 11,400 customers were experiencing storm-related outages, with the majority located within the North Coast and Sierra regions.

UPDATE - Friday, Mar. 1, 12:45 p.m.

PG&E Vice President Joshua Simes on PG&E’s Storm Readiness 

More than 400 crews and pre-staged equipment are in place to support a safe and swift response to the winter storm, which some experts have said, “will be one for the record books.”

As the storm begins to strengthen in some areas, Joshua Simes, PG&E Vice President for the Central Valley Region, notes in the following video, “We are mobilizing right now. We have crews prepared and ready for when outages happen.”

UPDATE - Thursday, Feb. 29, 10:00 p.m.

Customers in Remote Areas Encouraged to Prepare for Extended Power Outages

Ahead of the strong and snowy winter storm expected to hit Northern and Central California in the coming days, PG&E is encouraging customers to take steps to prepare for power outages.

Paul Moreno, spokesperson based in the North Valley Region, and Megan McFarland, spokesperson based in the North Coast Region, shared videos with customers on social media today providing preparedness tips. These regions are expected to see the heaviest snowfall.

In previous storms with high accumulations of low-elevation snow, some customers have experienced extended outages as PG&E crews often face roads blocked by trees, debris and snow.

Additional storm safety tips from PG&E are available at the following links: Safety and Preparedness, Storm Safety, and Safety Action Center.

UPDATE - Thursday, Feb. 29, 1:30 p.m.

Emergency Operations Center Activated to Support Companywide Storm Response

PG&E activated its Emergency Operations Center Thursday morning as part of a companywide response to the expected severe winter storm. In preparation for this storm PG&E is pre-staging crews and materials in the areas expected to receive the most severe storm impacts and is prepared to use helicopters, snow cats and four-wheel drive to gain access to hard hit areas. Storms this severe have the potential to create outages lasting several days. PG&E will send automated updates with an estimated time of restoration as we get real-time information from our crews in the field.

Helping Our Customers

• PG&E is sending automated voicemails to Medical Baseline and Self-Identified Vulnerable customers in areas in which we’re expecting Category 4/5 conditions, urging them to prepare and providing resources.
• Use 2-1-1, especially to help seniors — California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC) + Disability Disaster Access and Resources (DDAR) Program. Both 211 and Disability Disaster Access & Resources have been activated. Proactive Outreach is occurring in Category 4/5 areas by CFILC to existing clients in the DDAR program who were previously impacted to see about their current needs.

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Wednesday, Feb. 28, 3 p.m.

PG&E Mobilizes for Potent Storm System Arriving Late This Week

Time to prepare is now as after rain and wind Thursday and Friday, snow could fall as low as 2,000 feet with several feet of accumulation over 5,000 feet;
National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning encouraging people to avoid travel

Ahead of a strong winter storm expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds and low-elevation snow, PG&E crews are readying to respond to expected power outages.

The National Weather Service has issued a rare-for-California Blizzard Warning, which runs from Thursday to Sunday. A social-media post from the NWS’ Sacramento Office makes the potential severity quite clear: “Blizzard warning! Driving conditions will deteriorate rapidly Friday-Saturday AM with white-out conditions & near-zero visibility from this dangerous winter storm. AVOID TRAVEL DURING THIS TIME!”

Starting Thursday and continuing through the weekend, the storm is expected to have the heaviest impact in the Sierra Nevada foothill and mountain communities between El Dorado and Nevada counties. Other impacted areas include the North Coast, Peninsula and the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys, according to PG&E meteorologists.

An initial wave of moderate to heavy rain and gusty winds is expected in the northern part of PG&E’s service territory during the day Thursday, with more widespread rain and gusty conditions on Friday. Low- and middle-elevation snow impacts are expected Saturday into Sunday, with several feet of snow above 5,000 feet and six-to-12-inches possible down to 2,000 feet.

In previous winter storms where high accumulations of low snow have occurred, some customers have experience extended outages as our crews often have difficulty accessing more remote locations in higher terrain due to roads blocked by trees, debris and snow. PG&E is pre-staging crews and materials and is prepared to use helicopters, snow cats and four-wheel drive to gain access to hard hit areas; however, customers in remote areas should prepare for extended outages given the unique circumstances of this storm.

The utility also has been communicating with cities and counties to share preparation and plans.

Storm safety tips 

Just as PG&E follows its plan to prepare for and respond to a storm, customers are urged to prepare their families and neighbors as well. Here are some storm safety tips:

• Never touch downed wires: If you see a downed power line, assume it is energized and extremely dangerous. Do not touch or try to move it—and keep children and animals  away. Report downed power lines immediately by calling 9-1-1 and then PG&E at 1-800-743-5002.
• Use generators safely: Customers with standby electric generators should ensure they are properly installed by a licensed electrician in a well-ventilated area. Improperly installed generators pose a significant danger to customers, as well as crews working on powerlines. If using portable generators, be sure they are in a well-ventilated area.
• Use flashlights, not candles: During a power outage, use battery-operated flashlights and not candles, due to the risk of fire. And keep extra batteries on hand. If you must use candles, please keep them away from drapes, lampshades, animals and small children. Do not leave candles unattended.
• Have a backup phone: If you have a telephone system that requires electricity to work, such as a cordless phone or answering machine, plan to have a standard telephone or cellular phone ready as a backup. Having a portable charging device helps to keep your cell phone running.
• Have fresh drinking water and ice: Freeze plastic containers filled with water to make blocks of ice that can be placed in your refrigerator/freezer to prevent food spoilage.
• Secure your outside furniture: Strong winds can blow lawn chairs and other outdoor items into powerlines.
• Turn off appliances: If you experience an outage, unplug or turn off all electrical appliances to avoid overloading circuits and to prevent fire hazards when power is restored. Simply leave a single lamp on to alert you when power returns.
• Safely clean up: After the storm has passed, be sure to safely clean up. Never touch downed wires and always call 8-1-1 or visit 811express.com at least two full business days before digging to have all underground utilities safely marked.

Faster online outage info

If an outage does occur, PG&E's online outage center has been updated and improved based on customer feedback. Significant changes include:

• Faster loading times to find important outage information.
• An Outage Status Tracker so customers can get status updates on the assessment and repair of their outage.
• More local information on the extent of outages around a customer's home and business
• More information on how to prepare ahead of outages, what causes outages and how PG&E prioritizes restoration work.

PG&E will let customers know the cause of an outage, when crews are on their way, the estimated restoration time and when power has been restored.

If receiving an outage text, customers can reply "status" to learn the latest information on the outage without visiting the outage page.

Other tips can be found at: Safety and Preparedness, Storm Safety, and Safety Action Center.