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Offshore wind prompts fire watch, possible PG&E shutoffs

Original post made on Oct 7, 2019

Strong, dry winds across large areas of Northern and Central California may prompt PG&E to turn off power across 30 counties, including San Mateo County, on Wednesday and Thursday.

Read the full story here Web Link posted Monday, October 7, 2019, 12:07 PM

Comments (9)

Posted by Joseph E. Davis
a resident of Woodside: Emerald Hills
on Oct 7, 2019 at 2:09 pm

Also, please avoid starting any wildfires while fueling and operating your individual generator.

Not sure if each family having a generator due to frequent power shutdowns is going to be safer than a central utility maintaining their equipment (for example, by undergrounding the lines).


Posted by the underground
a resident of Menlo Park: other
on Oct 7, 2019 at 2:13 pm

Yes, time to underground them


Posted by Underground Now
a resident of Portola Valley: Central Portola Valley
on Oct 7, 2019 at 6:48 pm

Here in PV some people have started under grounding the utilities (at their expense). This should be done town wide using county funds, state funds, along with PG&E covering the cost. Paramount to fire safety and then we wouldn’t have to endure these shut offs which cause many problems


Posted by CyberVoter
a resident of Atherton: other
on Oct 8, 2019 at 1:24 pm

1) "Undergrounding" electric cables is a very partial solution:
a) The real fire risk is from High Voltage cables/transmission & not local lower voltage distribution cables
- Proper vegetation management by homeowners, City/County & PG&E is all that is required
b) The total cost of putting an existing distribution system underground is enormous & NOT a good use of limited Gov't/Tax funding that should be spent on healthcare, transportation and other local services

2) PG&E (Driven by their very overpaid lawyers & Top Management) is now shifting the burden of fire prevention to the homeowner:
a) Southern CA Edison has been operating "Public Safety Power Shutoffs" for many years, To my knowledge, they have not been as big an issue there - in that shutoffs do NOT last days (unless afire started or the winds continue @ extreme levels for days)
b) If there is a real chance that PGE will shut your power off for days, you will need a natural gas (or LPG) standby generator
- PGE should take action to recommend & subsidize the purchase & installation of such generators

All in all, it is time to "Clean House" @ PGE & the PUC

I just can't afford higher taxes & higher utility rates!


Posted by Blasey Ford
a resident of Portola Valley: Westridge
on Oct 8, 2019 at 8:30 pm

PG&E has got you by the bulbs!

World’s 5th largest economy. 3rd World power grid.


Posted by Blasey Ford
a resident of Portola Valley: Westridge
on Oct 9, 2019 at 7:50 am


Recall Newsome.

Recall Newsome.


Posted by the underground
a resident of Menlo Park: other
on Oct 9, 2019 at 9:05 am

> Recall Newsome. (sic)

The last recall signaled the end of the GOP in California. It gave us Arnold, who was the *last* republican to hold statewide office in California. An absolute blue, clean sweep of every office ever since.

Ya sure you want a repeat of that? I guess your answer will be: "why not?"

Can it get blue-er than all-blue?


Posted by Elaine
a resident of Menlo Park: The Willows
on Oct 11, 2019 at 1:28 am

Thank goodness the Menlo Park City Council voted (unanimously) to ban natural gas lines from new multi-family developments. In the future, when PG&E turns off the electricity, it will be important to have NO OTHER SOURCE OF POWER!


Posted by Peter Carpenter
a resident of Atherton: Lindenwood
on Oct 11, 2019 at 8:33 am

Peter Carpenter is a registered user.

Posted by Peter Carpenter
a resident of Atherton: Lindenwood
on Jul 25, 2019 at 2:05 am
Peter Carpenter is a registered user.
The fatal flaw in the proposed policy is PG&E's new policy of making unannounced and prolonged shutoffs of electrical power. Without gas a building will be without any source of energy for cooking or heating.


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