PG&E Could Cut Power to People over Wildfire Risks in Northern California
Posted on 10/12/2020
The State of California was plagued with wildfires over the summer again in 2020. In 2020, wildfires in California have burned more than 4 million acres, while blanketing the sky in red tones. PG&E Corporation disclosed it may have to cut power this week in portions of Northern California. The utility giant is worried that its equipment could start a blaze, as the risk of wildfires is expected to come back gain. PG&E is concerned over wind conditions in California in the mountainous areas north and south of San Francisco and in the Sierra Nevada foothills, according to a statement posted Sunday on the utility’s website.
Last year, its equipment was blamed for causing some of California’s worst wildfires, forcing the company into bankruptcy in 2019. PG&E emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2020 after having coughed up US$ 25.5 billion to pay fire claims.
PG&E also disclosed in a filing with the Public Utilities Commission that California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection investigators seized some electrical equipment near the Zogg Fire, which began September 27, 2020.
