Northern California utility PG&E is launching a second phase of power shut-offs this morning, after cutting power to over 500,000 customers yesterday. According to KQED, as of this morning, the recent outages are expected to impact 200,000 customers.
With low humidity and high winds, PG&E says the shut-offs are necessary to prevent from electrical equipment from sparking—and potentially igniting wildfires. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, economists say yesterday's outages could easily cost businesses and residents billion dollars.
Regions of Southern California have also been put at risk of critical fire weather conditions and power outages, including parts of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
Guests:
Don Daigler, director of business resiliency at Southern California Edison
Jeremy Siegel, weekend afternoon anchor and editor for KQED News who has been reporting on the planned outages by Pacific Gas & Electric in Northern California; he tweets