California utility begins another blackout amid fire fears

Lights went out across large portions of rrn California on Wednesday, as state's largest utility began its second massive blackout in two weeks, citing return of dangerous fire wear. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. said rolling blackouts that initially stretched from Sierra foothills to rth of San Francisco Bay Area would ultimately impact a half-million people — or nearly 180,000 customers — in 17 counties.

outs will last about 48 hours, utility said , but its seven-day forecast shows an elevated likelihood of a shut-off across a much larger portion of rrn California for weekend, when heavy winds are expected to return. Sourn California Edison said it could cut power Thursday to more than 308,000 customers in seven counties, and San Diego Gas & Electric was warning of power shutoffs to about 24,000 customers.

Two weeks ago, a PG&E blackout affected nearly 2 million people, prompting feelings of frustration and resignation among some residents and business owners and renewing rushes to stock up on batteries and or emergency supplies. Soma County Supervisor James Gore said PG&E was better this time about getting information to people who would be affected, but he was still astonished by need to resort to large-scale blackouts.

"I am a big believer in shutdowns to prevent fires. But thing that erodes public trust is when it doesn't make sense," he said. "You say, 'God, I kw if we can put a man on moon ... we can man a (power) grid.'" Santa Rosa Fire Department said it was getting multiple reports of outs and urged residents on Twitter to drive carefully since traffic signals would go dark.

With winds forecast to top 60 mph (97 kph), utilities worried branches and debris could be thrown into power lines or topple m, sparking wildfires. PG&E cut power across rrn and central areas of state in rolling blackouts from Oct. 9-12, paralyzing parts of region in what was largest deliberate blackout to prevent wildfires in state history. Schools and universities canceled classes and many businesses were forced to close.

California Gov. Gavin sent a sharply worded letter Tuesday to Bill Johnson, PG&E's CEO, blaming unprecedented mass out earlier this month on company's failure to maintain and upgre its equipment. "I believe unacceptable scope and duration of previous out - deliberately forcing 735,000 customers to endure power outs - was direct result of deces of PG&E prioritizing profit over public safety,"

Newsom wrote, referring to number of businesses and households affected, t total number of people. PG&E said shutdowns are t about money. only goal "is to prevent catastrophic wildfire," Johnson said in a Tuesday briefing.