PG&E may shut off power to areas of Fresno County, Merced County this weekend

FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – PG&E customers in Fresno County and Merced County may be impacted by intentional power shut-off this weekend.

PG&E says the elevated potential of a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) is a response to high winds and dry conditions.

According to PG&E’s shutoff forecast , shutoffs are possible over the weekend on both July 20 and July 21 in select areas of Fresno and Merced counties. The utility said Friday afternoon that three customers in Fresno County and 3,979 customers in Merced County will potentially be impacted by the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS).

Other counties impacted by the Public Safety Power Shutoff include Alameda County, Contra Costa County, San Benito County, San Joaquin County and Stanislaus County. The potential shut-off is expected to affect approximately 16,000 customers, PG&E says.

According to the operational meteorologist from PG&E’s Meteorology and Analytics team, there is a potential for stronger-than-normal westerly winds to develop Saturday afternoon. Their team says these winds in combination with the heat produced by an expected high-pressure system have led them to consider a PSPS.

The company says they will continue to monitor the forecast for any changes to determine whether it is safe to keep the power on.

Specific addresses, maps, and shutoff details are usually available two days before shutoff, according to PG&E staff. Residents can find out whether they are going to be affected by entering their address online at the PG&E Outage Center’s Public Safety Power Shutoff alert page .

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