PG&E to Cut Power to 159,000 Californians as Fire Risk Returns

PG&E Corp. said it will cut power to about 53,000 customers, or 159,000 people, in parts of Northern California to reduce the chances of its power lines starting fires as the parched region braces for another round of high winds.

A so-called Diablo wind event will develop by Wednesday evening that will require PG&E to start turning off power as soon as 6 p.m. local time in 24 counties including parts of Oakland and in the Northern California wine country resort town of Calistoga, a spokeswoman said. Impacted customers will likely be without electricity until Friday evening, the company said.