PG&E Napa / Sonoma Update
PG&E recently appeared before the Napa County Supervisors and released some great background information about is efforts, plans and anticipated impacts for Napa and Sonoma County residents. See this article in the Napa Valley Register.
PG&E's Goals are to: 1) Reduce the number of customers impacted by 1/3 compared to 2019; 2) Restore power twice as fast; and 3) provide more accurate and timely information.
PG&E has been installing 'Sectionalizing' devices allowing the utility to cut up its grid into smaller pieces and keep power on in the more populous areas of the Valley floor while powering down more 'remote' sections. PG&E installed 8 switches last year in Napa County and plans to finish work on an additional 43 devices by September, 2020. The Utility plans to install 45 devices in Sonoma County this year. This 'Sectionalization' plan should eliminate or minimize the power shut off times for residences and businesses in the Valley Floor. I recall seeing a great map of where these switches are going to see if you will benefit from the switching plan. I should have a copy of that map shortly.
There were 6 Shut-offs in 2019 in Napa:
June 8-9 1,300 Customers.
Sept 23-26 700 Customers
Oct 9-12 32,200 Customers
Oct 23-25 6,900 Customers
Oct 26-31 18,800 Customers
Nov 20-21 10,700 Customers
Sonoma experienced the same shut-offs except the first one.
The Utility estimates based on historical weather data from 1989 to 2018 and estimates that both Napa and Sonoma Counties will experience between 1 to 3 power shut-downs. Of course, we anecdotally know that our late Summer /Fall weather has been 'evolving,' so my own view is the triggering weather conditions will be a bit more often than an estimate based on a 30 year average.
PG&E is also working on reducing vegetation around poles, that it estimates will take about 9 years in total to complete work in elevated fare areas.
Net/ Net -- PG&E is committing assets and action to lessening our PSPS impacts, especially in more populous areas. However, we will still have PSPS events this coming late Summer and Fall, so preparing is still necessary, especially if you our on the fringes of the Valley floor.
Here is the PGE Webinar page for more information: