Attorneys painted starkly different pictures of PG&E and their oversight over natural gas infrastructure during closing arguments of a federal criminal trial on charges of violating a pipeline safety law.
After PG&E on Sunday significantly reduced the scope of a proposed power shutoff, the utility on Monday canceled plans for the shutoff entirely because weather conditions were more favorable than expected.
On Friday, about 132,000 PG&E customers were notified of a possible Public Safety Power Shutoff on Monday in five tribal communities and 15 counties, including Sonoma, Napa and Monterey.
PG&E has implemented the shutoffs when dry and windy conditions pose a danger of the utility’s electrical equipment sparking wildfires.
On Saturday, the scope was reduced to about 92,000 customers for a proposed shutoff, then on Sunday that number was further reduced to just 8,500 customers in five counties — Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Tulare and Tuolumne.
Observing that wind speed and relative humidity would not reach critical levels, PG&E wrote Monday morning:
“After monitoring weather conditions throughout the night, the company’s Emergency Operations Center determined that conditions would not warrant initiating a PSPS.”
The remaining 8,500 customers who were at risk of losing power in the shutoff will be notified of the cancellation of the PSPS.
Last modified December 7, 2020 10:08 am
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