California

Pacific Gas and Electric says it might cut power to about 12,000 customers in parts of Northern California because of potential fire danger.The utility said it was monitoring weather conditions and may shut off power in parts of Butte, Plumas and Yuba counties starting Saturday night when winds were expected to pick up.Butte County is where a wildfire blamed on PG&E transmission lines killed 85 people last year and devastated the town of ParadisePG&E was also monitoring weather conditions in El Dorado, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Tehama and Yolo counties as the forecast calls for gusty winds and hot, dry weather in Northern California inland areas. … [Read more...] about PG&E warns of power shutoffs in parts of Northern California

Pacific Gas and Electric says it has cut power to about 10,300 customers in Northern California because of potential fire danger.Electricity was shut off about 10 p.m. Saturday in parts of Butte, Plumas and Yuba counties amid dry, windy conditions. The utility says the outages could last 48 hours or longer.PG&E crews are patrolling power lines and repairing any equipment damaged by strong gusts.PG&E says it has opened air-conditioned community resource centers on Sunday to provide affected residents with restrooms, bottled water and electronic device charging. Butte County is where a wildfire blamed on PG&E transmission lines killed 85 people last year and devastated the town of Paradise. … [Read more...] about PG&E cuts power over wildfire risk in Northern California

Pacific Gas and Electric says it has restored power to thousands of customers in Northern California who lost electricity over the weekend amid dry, windy weather.Electricity was shut off about 10 p.m. Saturday in parts of Butte, Plumas and Yuba counties amid dry, windy conditions. The utility says all 10,300 customers had power by Sunday afternoon.The utility says that after weather improved Sunday morning, crews by land and air began inspecting about 950 miles of power lines in the three counties to ensure they were free of damage and safe to energize.PG&E opened air-conditioned community resource centers on Sunday to provide affected residents with restrooms, bottled water and electronic device charging. … [Read more...] about PG&E restores power to thousands in Northern California

Californians will vote next year whether the state should issue $15 billion in bonds for school construction and modernization projects.Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Monday placing the bond on the March 2020 ballot. He says improving physical conditions in schools will improve students’ educational experiences.Nine billion dollars will go to facilities serving students in pre-school through 12th grade. Two billion dollars each will go to the University of California system, the California State University system and community colleges.Local governments have to provide matching funds. But the state will provide a greater share of the money for districts with high percentages of low income, foster care and English learning students. Newsom says he’s confident voters will approve the bonds. … [Read more...] about California puts $15 billion schools bond on March ballot

With windy, dry weather in the forecast, California utilities are considering shutting off power to more than 700,000 customers to try to prevent wildfires ignited by electrical equipment.Southern California Edison’s website showed Tuesday that more than 106,000 customers in parts of eight counties could face power cuts.That’s in addition to the more than 600,000 customers that Pacific Gas & Electric announced a day earlier could be affected.The largest numbers of potentially affected SoCal Edison customers are in Los Angeles County and to the east in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Also under consideration are areas to the west in Ventura County and to the north in Kern, Tulare, Inyo and Mono counties.On Monday, Pacific Gas & Electric announced possible blackouts in 30 northern and central counties starting Wednesday. … [Read more...] about Possible fire prevention power cutoffs expand in California