The most massive blackout in California history: hundreds of thousands of homes will be left without electricity

More than 800 000 electricity consumers in California will be left without electricity for several days as the state's leading utility cuts electricity to parts of 34 counties to reduce the risk of fires in dry and windy conditions. Writes about it USA Today.

Фото: Depositphotos

Pacific Gas and Electric said power outages in parts of northern, central, and coastal California will begin early Wednesday morning, October 9. This will be the largest preventive power outage in state history.

Since several people can live at one registered client address, or it can be an enterprise, the number of people without electricity can be in the millions.

On Wednesday and Thursday, October 9-10, winds are expected at speeds from 40 to 70 miles per hour (60-112 km per hour), the company plans to turn off electricity in case of damage to power lines in order to avoid fires. In recent years, some of the most devastating explosions in California began precisely because of power lines.

Almost all nine counties in the San Francisco Bay Area can be disabled, with the exception of the city and San Francisco County.

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In addition, in Southern California, more than 170 000 customers may experience power outages in eight counties, including 49 000 in Los Angeles County.

Michael Lewis, senior vice president of the company, said that "it may take several days to fully restore power supply after bad weather."

“This will be one of the most high-profile events we have seen in the state in recent years,” the company said in a statement. “We want our customers to be prepared for an extended outage that could last several days.”

AccuWeather noted that strong winds and dry, hot weather can cause huge fires. But by the end of the week, air temperature should drop, which will reduce the threat.

“However, the combination of dry air and gusty winds will significantly increase the likelihood of fires,” said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.

According to Lewis, PG&E's meteorological and operations teams monitored the "evolving situation" and worked with state and local public education agencies.

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He warned that a power outage could affect customers, even if they do not have extreme weather conditions in a particular place due to the fact that power lines operate in unison between cities, counties and regions.

California residents lined up at gas stations and shops to buy generators, flashlights, batteries, and non-perishable food.

Jennifer Siemens, whose house burned down in a devastating fire in a northern California city of paradise, said she is currently renting an apartment in nearby Oroville and preparing for her third outage in a month.

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Siemens said power outages scared her children, who had been injured in a massive fire earlier.

The company took the blame for the fires caused by damaged power lines, which killed dozens of people and destroyed thousands of homes. PG&E paid $ 1 billion in compensation to local governments.

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