PG&E says a third shutoff could happen this weekend

Dan Noyes Image
Thursday, October 24, 2019
PG&E says a third shutoff could happen this weekend
On the same day as PG&E rolls out a second public safety power shut off the utility said there could be another this weekend. The utility is monitoring a wind event set to start Saturday.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- On the same day as PG&E rolls out a second public safety power shut off the utility said there could be another this weekend. The utility is monitoring a wind event set to start Saturday.

Wednesday night, the I-Team's Dan Noyes asked CEO Bill Johnson about ongoing work to protect overhead wires to reduce fire risk.

On the same day as PG&E rolls out a second public safety power shutoff the utility said there could be another this weekend.

RELATED: PG&E planned shutoffs begin in parts of North Bay, parts of San Mateo County to lose power overnight

Noyes: "We've got 25,000 miles of wire in high fire threat areas. This year we are replacing 100 miles of that with the hardened, with the covered wire. Next year it's projected for about 700 miles, so that leaves you know 24,000 miles uncovered for the years to come. Are you speeding up that process?"

Johnson: "We are. 150 miles this year, 750 the next year. What we're also doing is doing it in the highest risk areas. The system is huge. It's 70,000 square miles with tens of thousands of miles of wires. This is a huge undertaking, it's going to take some time."

PG&E's CEO also told people not to take their frustrations out on crews. He said an employee in Glenn County was shot at by what they believe was a pellet gun, while in his truck today.

For the latest stories about PG&E's Public Safety Power Shutoff go here.

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