PG&E warns of possible public safety power shutoffs for CA wildfire danger
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is warning that nearly 5,000 customers in parts of eight Northern California counties could lose power this week as forecasters warn of dangerous fire weather, strong winds and triple-digit heat.
PG&E said it is monitoring conditions that could trigger a Public Safety Power Shutoff, or PSPS, beginning Wednesday and potentially lasting into Thursday. If implemented, it would be the utility’s second wildfire-prevention shutoff of 2026.
Why PG&E may shut off power
The utility said a combination of high temperatures, strong winds and dry vegetation has increased wildfire risk in portions of its service area.
The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning from 11 a.m. Wednesday through 5 p.m. Thursday for parts of the Sacramento Valley, citing north winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph and humidity levels as low as 9% to 15%.
Forecasters warned that the combination of gusty winds, low humidity and hot temperatures could allow any fire to spread rapidly.
Which counties could be affected?
PG&E said about 4,940 customers could be impacted in portions of:
- Colusa County
- Glenn County
- Lake County
- Napa County
- Sonoma County
- Sutter County
- Tehama County
- Yolo County
The utility also said potential outages could affect customers in the Cortina Rancheria and Grindstone Rancheria tribal communities.
The highest fire danger is expected along and west of the Interstate 5 corridor in the Sacramento Valley, according to the National Weather Service.
When could outages happen?
PG&E said the weather pattern is expected to arrive Wednesday morning and continue through Thursday.
The utility began sending advance notifications Monday evening to customers in areas being monitored for a possible shutoff. Whether power is actually turned off — and how long outages last — will depend on weather conditions and fire risk assessments, the utility said.
The potential shutoffs come as a prolonged heat wave moved into Northern California.
Sacramento is forecast to reach 97 degrees Wednesday, then climb to about 102 degrees Thursday and Friday. Redding could see highs of 103 degrees Thursday and as high as 106 degrees Friday and Saturday.
Forecasters expect dry conditions and little relief from the heat through the weekend.
What are Public Safety Power Shutoffs?
PG&E uses Public Safety Power Shutoffs to cut electricity in targeted areas when extreme weather threatens to turn power lines into wildfire ignition sources. Here’s what California customers need to know about why outages happen, how to prepare and what to expect.
Why it happens: PG&E shuts off power preemptively when forecasts call for strong winds, low humidity and dry vegetation that could allow electrical equipment to spark a wildfire, with red flag conditions like gusty winds and single-digit humidity triggering recent shutoffs.
The track record: PG&E’s equipment has been blamed for starting more than 30 wildfires since 2017 that destroyed more than 23,000 homes and businesses and killed more than 100 people, including the 2018 Camp Fire that devastated Paradise.
How to prepare: PG&E opens community resource centers during shutoffs offering water, snacks, blankets, device charging and Wi-Fi for affected customers, typically operating from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Restoration takes time: Power isn’t restored immediately after weather improves — in a 2023 event, PG&E crews patrolled 589 miles of transmission and distribution lines using 78 ground personnel, 20 helicopters and two drones before re-energizing customers.
Sacramento is different: SMUD customers are not affected by PG&E shutoffs because SMUD’s grid is not reliant on PG&E and its 900-square-mile service territory is mostly urban and outside high-risk wildfire areas.
Not the same as rolling blackouts: PSPS events differ from rolling blackouts, which are planned one- to two-hour outages declared when energy demand exceeds supply, typically during heat waves.
Check your status: Customers can check whether their address is being monitored and sign up for alerts at pge.com/psps, with the site offering a seven-day forecast, outage maps and preparation tips.
This story was originally published June 8, 2026 at 7:28 PM with the headline "PG&E warns of possible public safety power shutoffs for CA wildfire danger."