As residents across the Bay Area and beyond prepare to cast their ballots on Election Day, some areas may vote in the dark. Pacific Gas and Electric has warned that high winds and dry conditions might prompt Public Safety Power Shutoffs starting tomorrow evening, potentially affecting 15,000 customers across multiple counties. Affecting is a list of regions, including Alameda, Butte, and parts of Northern California. The preemptive blackouts are intended to mitigate wildfire risks.
Power outages could hit as early as 7 p.m. tomorrow, an unfortunate coincidence with election night activities. PG&E has communicated with state and local election officials to plan for power interruptions. As CBS News reports, "PG&E has been working with state and local election officials for more than a month to prepare accordingly." The utility company has reassured that the only polling location likely to be affected, Calpine Geothermal Visitor Center in Lake County, will have backup power supplies to prevent any disruption to the voting process.
Despite PG&E's contingency plans, an air of uncertainty hovers over one of democracy’s pivotal moments. According to PG&E's Newsroom, the utility has compared maps of the potential PSPS impact zones with locations of election facilities. Thankfully, no tabulation centers are presently in the PSPS area, and each of the 48 centers has verified backup generation capabilities. However, for two polling places, including Lakeside Elementary School in Los Gatos and the Calpine Visitor Center, measures like temporary generation are in place out of an abundance of caution, highlighting both preparation and concern.
The potential power shutoffs are a response to PG&E's wind models that suggest 50 mph winds over elevated terrains such as the North and East Bay, with gusts in specific areas like the Geysers and Mt. Diablo potentially reaching above 70 mph. Humidity levels are expected to drop to 15-30%, escalating the fire risk in these regions. The utility provider contacted Customers at risk last night to alert them of the possible power outages, as CBS News details.
