California Utility Cuts Power To 27,500 Customers

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Pacific Gas & Electric is shutting off power to 27,500 people in Northern California to reduce the risk of wildfires in the face of hot, dry weather and gusty winds that could knock down power lines.  The utility announced Monday evening that it’s turning off the electricity for customers in Butte, Nevada and Yuba counties in the Sierra Nevada. The power will stay off until conditions are safer – which could be several days.  Strong winds, low humidity and warm temperatures are forecast in the region through Wednesday.  More than 9,000 customers affected by the PG&E shutoff are in Butte County, where the utility’s power lines were blamed for a wildfire last year that killed 86 people and virtually destroyed the town of Paradise.  Meanwhile, Southern California Edison is considering proactively shutting off power to 41,000 customers.