More than 54,000 PG&E customers told to be ready for possible power shutoffs

Bridgette Bjorlo reports

MORE BRIDGET.YEAH MAKING ERIC PORTIONSOF EL DORADO COUNTY COULD SEETHE LIGHTS GO OFF AGAIN INTHIS LATEST ROUND OF POWERSHUT OFF.

MANY OF THESECUSTOMERS ARE ALREADYEXPERIENCE THESE OVER THESUMMER MONTHS WITH SOMETELLING US TONIGHT, NOT AGAIN.HOT DRY AND GUSTYCONDITIONS COULD SEND 10'S OFTHOUSANDS OF PG E CUSTOMERS INTHE DARK AGAIN, THE UTILITYGIANT WARNING MORE THAN 54,000PEOPLE TUESDAY TO STAND READYIN CASE CREWS NEED TO PULL THEPLUG ON ELECTRICITY.

WEUNDERSTAND HOW DIFFICULT PSPESTIMATES ARE ON THEIRCUSTOMERS.AND WE KNOW THIS HAS BEENINCREDIBLY CHALLENGING YEAR PGAND E LEADERS SAY PLAN SAFETYPOWER SHUTOFF IN AREAS WHEREWILDFIRE CONDITIONS ARE RIPEIS DESIGNED TO SAVE LIVES ANDPROPERTY NOT HOT TURNING OFFPOWER TO OUR CUSTOMERS IS NOTDECISION THAT WE HE S E S ANANSWER TO A LAST RESORTFALLING WHEN THE WEATHERTHAT'S FOR SOME SEVERE THATPEOPLE SAFETY THERE ARE LOTSOF HOMES AND THEIR BUSINESSESMAY BE IN DANGER AND IN PLACESLIKE EL DORADO COUNTY THATHAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED SHUTOFF OVER THE SUMMER THEY KNOWWHAT TO EXPECT ANDINCONVENIENCE BUT SO IS HAVINGTO JUMP UP EVERY MORNING ANDGO TO WORK, BUT IT'S SOMETHINGTHAT WE DO BUT SOME HOMEOWNERSSAY THE PERIODIC OUTAGES AREMAKING THEM RESTLESS THEY SAYIT MIGHT HAPPEN AND LIKE ISAID THEY DON'T TELL YOU IF ITWILL IN FACT HAPPEN IN YOURAREA.SO WE JUST HAVE TO KIND OFPLAY THERE.SO THEY GET THAT SO MANYTIMES IN NEARLY A 10 TEAM OROTHER PREVENTATIVE MEASURESWERE TAKEN TO REDUCE THE FIREDANGER SHOULD BE CLEANINGMAKING SURE THAT MAINTAIN OUROUR WILDLIFE AND OUR FOR US INWHICH I DON'T BELIEVE WE'VEDONE.THE WINDY CONDITIONS AREEXPECTED TO DIE DOWN AROUNDTHURSDAY WITH CREWS HOPING TORESTORE POWER AROUND 12 THEDAYLIGHT HOURS LATER REPORTING