California PG&E Cuts Power To 600,000+

No Power = No Fires Caused by Electrical Lines!

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) is the biggest power supplier in California. On Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019, they shut down power to 34 counties in Northern California. This action was considered a planned outage.

The giant power company attributed this outage to the possible danger of downed power lines due to high winds and fire that could result due to dry conditions. The planned cut off to customers came in two phases.

As of today, more than 600,000 business and residential customers have lost power. This could increase to 800,000 additional customers in the first phase. The second phase will see power loss for an additional 234,000 more customers. A total of 2,000,000 customers could have power lost. Once the conditions pass, it could take up to five days for power to return.

This was the states' biggest planned power outage. The counties of Humboldt, Shasta, Tehama, Plumas, Utte, Glenn, Mendocino, Lake, Colusa, Yuba, Sierra, Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Kern, Santa Barbara, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Alameda, San Mateo, Contra Costa, Solano, Marin, Sonoma, Napa, and Yolo are all affected by the power outage.

It’s incredible to see how many things quickly went wrong causing roads and businesses to go dark and the PG&E website crashed. The California Department of Forestry and Fire increased its staffing and said the winds will be the strongest the region has seen in two years.

Sumeet Singh, head of Community Wildfire Safety Program said, "This is a last resort."

Governor Gavin Newsom made the following statements on the actions of PGE listed below

"People should be outraged by PG&E's move," said Newsome. "No one is satisfied with this, no one is happy with this."

"The utility needs to upgrade and fix its equipment so massive outages are not the norm going forward"
Cloverdale Mayor Melanie Bagby said, "It's inexcusable that we're in this position. We pay our bills, and we gave PG&E a monopoly to guarantee we would have reliable power."

Oct. 10, 2019 marks the second day power has been secured by PG&E, and more than 1,000,000 customers were without power. Outages are not limited to affected areas because power has to be cut to an entire grid. This appears to be a power cut in anticipation of windy weather from a forecast.

Scott Strenfel, PG&Es principal meteorologist, said this is a part of a California-wide weather system that will produce Santa Ana winds in the next day or so.

Using the equation provided by the PG&E experts, the Santa Ana winds could begin in the next day or so. If the Santa Ana winds begin on 10/12/2019 and last three days, the wind event would end on 10/15/2019. Allowing an extra five (5) days for PG&E to complete an inspection of the entire grid and push an approximate date to 10/20/2019 for the return of utility power.

This is a true event sparked by a weather forecast. Can other power companies throughout the United States secure power when they choose?
 
A backup generator can provide electrical service when power is not available from the utility supplier. Generator Source has more than 40 years of experience providing power solutions.
We have a large selection of diesel and natural gas (NG) generators in stock. We can arrange for shipping within 24 hours of purchase completion. Our stock includes new, surplus, and preowned generators. All preowned generators must pass a 31-point inspection prior to sales advertisement. Go to Inventory to see our generators.

Generators are Defense Against Power Outages

Electrical customers cannot control when power outages occur. Generally, these outages are caused by damage to equipment because of acts of nature. In the past, scheduled shutdowns to the grid were for repairs or maintenance. Now we can add power companies securing power for a lengthy amount of time to the equation. The financial cost to both business and individuals grows greater each day power is secured.
 
The best offense is a defense when utility power fails. Diesel and NG engine-powered generators offer an option during power failures.Generator engines fueled by natural gas can be operated as long as the utility natural gas supply is not interrupted.

Generator engines fueled by diesel do not need any utility support. They operate from fuel supplied by diesel tanks. Generators are manufactured to satisfy most any operational requirement. The three styles available are:

Outdoor - Engine, generator, and radiator are mounted on a skid. The skid framework normally contains a fuel tank sized for engine consumption. A weather-resistant or weather-tight sound attenuated container surrounds the unit. Ready to be placed on a flat level surface (rated for weight of generator operation) and connected to the Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS). No Auxiliary support systems are needed for this system. Require trucking and crane or fork truck services to unload.

Indoor - Engine, radiator, and generator are mounted on a skid. The generator is installed indoors and requires support from auxiliary systems. Day tanks directly supply fuel to the engine. Primary fuel tanks supply the day tanks, generally controlled by an automated system. Exhaust must be routed from the engine exhaust manifold or muffler. Radiator is connected to cooling louvers that provide outside air access. If the room generator is located in does not have direct outside air access a Heat Exchanger (HEX) system can be used.

Portable - Outdoor generator concept manufactured on a trailer. All trailers are Department of Transportation (DOT) approved. They can be small or even large generators that have 5th wheel connections to be towed by a semi-truck.

Smaller generators have ring & pintle or ball & hitch connections, size dependent. Popular in the rental and construction industry because of ease of movement.

When unexpected utility power outages occur, companies can elect to rent generators until the power outage concludes.

Rental generators offer a no-maintenance approach to power during a utility outage. Our rental program offers all sizes of generators ready for operation. It also includes a lease-to-own option. We provide turn-key backup or emergency power services.

Contact Us for any generator troubleshooting, maintenance, testing, repair, or complete system installations.

What is a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS)?
A Public Safety Power Shutoff is a precautionary measure where PG&E proactively turns off power in certain areas during extreme weather conditions to reduce the risk of wildfires caused by electrical equipment.

Why is PG&E conducting these power shutoffs?
PG&E is conducting these shutoffs to prevent their electrical equipment from potentially sparking wildfires during high-risk weather conditions, including strong winds and dry conditions.

How long do PSPS outages typically last?
PSPS outages can last several days. PG&E has stated that once weather conditions improve, it could take up to 5 days to fully restore power as they must inspect all lines before re-energizing.

Which areas are affected by the PSPS?
The October 2019 PSPS affected 34 counties in Northern California, impacting over 600,000 customers initially, with the potential to affect up to 2 million customers.

How can I prepare for a potential PSPS?
To prepare, stock up on essential supplies like food, water, batteries, and medications to last about a week. Have a backup power source. Stay informed by signing up for PG&E alerts.

Are PSPS events likely to continue in future years?
Yes, PG&E has indicated that PSPS events may continue for several years as they work to upgrade their infrastructure. Their CEO stated it could take up to 10 years to significantly reduce the need for PSPS.

What are the economic impacts of these widespread outages?
Extended power outages can have major economic impacts on businesses and individuals. Estimates for large-scale outages have ranged from $4-10 billion in economic damages.

What is PG&E doing to reduce the need for PSPS events in the long-term?
PG&E is working on system upgrades like undergrounding power lines. The company is also installing stronger poles and covered lines, improving vegetation management, and using microgrids to reduce reliance on PSPS events.

Diesel Blog Team | 10/10/2019 1:25:37 PM | 0 comments