PG&E trying a new tactic in power cuts to prevent wildfires

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The nation's largest utility said Tuesday it is executing smarter and shorter power shutoffs after receiving widespread criticism last year when it turned off electricity to 2 million people to prevent its equipment from sparking wildfires.

The targeted outages that began overnight to nearly 172,000 homes and businesses in central and Northern California are the first by Pacific Gas & Electric since critics blasted last year's shut-offs as poorly executed and overly broad.

The outages come as thousands of firefighters battle wildfires that have been burning for weeks at the same time many of the state's 40 million residents shelter at home because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The business and household customers without power Tuesday were in areas including the Sacramento Valley, Sierra Nevada foothills and parts of Napa and Sonoma counties in wine country. PG&E started shutting off power Monday night, saying that dry, hot, windy weather forecast until Wednesday posed a significant fire risk.

Power likely won't be restored until Wednesday evening, and extra helicopters will be on hand to speed up inspections required before the utility can turn lines back on, said company spokesman Jeff Smith. Its website detailing the locations of power shutoffs appeared to be working Tuesday, unlike last year when it crashed repeatedly.

The utility has learned to make the planned shutoffs, “smarter, shorter and smaller," than last year's blackouts, said Smith. He said the utility is targeting outages more narrowly and plans to have power restored within 12 daylight hours of severe weather ending.

Southern California Edison warned roughly 55,000 customer accounts may lose power while San Diego Gas & Electric said 16,700 customers are at risk of a...