PG&E Executes Statewide Power Shutoffs as Fire Risk Peaks

Key points

• PG&E initiated PSPS events from Wednesday through Saturday, affecting up to 90,000 customers across 29 counties, including 5,500 medical baseline customers and six tribal governments.
• In Berkeley, 2,385 customers lost power starting Thursday at 5 a.m., with restoration expected by Friday, though some areas may remain offline until Saturday noon.
• A 5-acre brush fire ignited in Lake County near Lower Lake on Thursday, coinciding with the power shutoffs and red flag warnings.
• ALERTCalifornia wildfire monitoring cameras went offline due to the power cuts, with PG&E confirming that generator systems failed to activate as expected.
• The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings through Friday morning, citing strong winds and low humidity, with rain forecast for the following week.

Background

This event follows a series of extreme weather conditions in October 2026, including a record-breaking heat wave in Southern California and Santa Ana winds affecting Los Angeles and Ventura counties. PG&E had previously expanded its PSPS plans from 30,000 to 70,000 customers earlier in the week due to worsening fire weather forecasts.

How outlets are covering it

The Berkeley Scanner emphasizes local impacts in Berkeley, noting that while PG&E planned the shutoff, the National Weather Service did not forecast Red Flag Warning conditions specifically for the city. In contrast, The Press Democrat highlights the broader regional crisis in the North Bay, where the power shutoffs coincided with a brush fire and the failure of wildfire monitoring cameras, raising concerns about emergency response capabilities. KCRA provides a statewide overview, noting that the number of affected customers increased from 30,000 to 70,000 due to dry vegetation and winds. KRCR focuses on Northern California, reporting that over 5,400 customers in Shasta, Tehama, and Butte counties were without power, underscoring the widespread nature of the utility's response.

Why it matters

The PSPS events highlight the tension between wildfire prevention and community resilience. While the shutoffs aim to prevent catastrophic fires, they disrupt essential services, including medical equipment and wildfire monitoring systems. The failure of ALERTCalifornia cameras during a red flag warning period raises questions about the reliability of backup systems and the potential risks of unplanned outages during high-risk weather events. As California faces increasingly volatile weather patterns, the balance between safety and service continuity remains a critical challenge for utilities and local governments.

What to watch

PG&E expects to restore power in the East Bay by Friday, with some areas potentially remaining offline until Saturday noon. The National Weather Service forecasts that red flag warnings will expire by Friday morning as winds weaken, with rain expected to begin Monday night, reducing fire risk. Residents are advised to monitor PG&E's outage map for updates and utilize community resource centers for support during the shutoff period.