Shut-offs: PG&E power restoration could be slowed by smoky skies, wind damage - San Francisco Chronicle

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Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said most of its customers affected by recent planned power outages should have their electricity service restored by the end of the day Wednesday after crews finish inspecting thousands of miles of transmission lines.

But the strange atmospheric conditions over much of Northern California, as well as the possibility of greater wind damage than expected, threatened to delay some of the restoration.

The process began at daybreak — if you could call it that, given the orange, smoke-filled skies — on Wednesday for customers in Sonoma and Napa counties, the Sierra foothills, and Sacramento Valley. Power was shut down in stages, starting late Monday and continuing into Tuesday morning, as part of the utility’s program to prevent its lines and equipment from sparking wildfires in windy, dry weather.

PG&E gave the all-clear signal for several counties overnight, meaning the danger posed by gusty winds that bellowed overnight had passed. The utility said only half of its air fleet could patrol because of the smoky, hazy conditions, requiring it to pause some inspections.

The shut-offs affected about 172,000 customers in parts of 22 counties, including 17,000 in Sonoma and 5,000 in Napa as well as some in Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Humboldt, Kern, Lake, Lassen, Mariposa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity Tuolumne and Yuba counties.

According to PG&E, it has assigned extra workers to inspect the shut-down power lines so they can be turned back on more quickly, with a goal of 12 daylight hours after the all-clear sign is given. The utility company has about 10,750 miles of transmission lines to inspect and will deploy a crew of 3,000 personnel, including ground crews and helicopters.

However, officials warned that heavy winds, which got up to 66 mph in some locations in the northern Sierra, may have caused significant damage that will slow some power restoration.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan

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Shut-offs: PG&E power restoration could be slowed by smoky skies, wind damage - San Francisco Chronicle
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