Many communities in the Bay Area are getting ready for the first storm issues of the season as temperatures drop and rain arrives this weekend. PG&E has announced that it is preparing to keep the lights on in the Bay Area as storm clouds gather and rain moves in.
We are making plans for the logistics involved. PG&E spokesperson Tamar Sarkissian says, “we are making sure we have the right number of crews in place.” Technology that predicts where outages will occur during a storm can help utilities get ready to respond more quickly.
“It’s difficult to predict how many people will be affected”-Sarkissian says
The first rain of the season can cause power outages, and this phenomenon has been observed on occasion. There is sometimes a buildup of dirt, debris, and pollution on the lines. As a result, there may be more power outages than usual,” she explained.
More than half an inch of rain is predicted for some locations starting this weekend. According to the utility, powerlines and transformers are protected by year-round vegetation management and storm preparations. Despite the utility’s best efforts, some power outages are still to be expected, so customers should be ready for the weekend and the rest of the cold season.
You should be ready for power outages, and the main thing to remember is to stay away from downed powerlines. “Always assume that a downed powerline is energized,” Sarkissian advised.
