PG&E power shutdown: electricity restored to all who were cut off

A car passes power lines Highway 12 near Glen Ellen, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. Some customers in the region remain without power after PG&E cut electric service in hopes of preventing fires amid red flag fire warnings.
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A car passes power lines Highway 12 near Glen Ellen, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. Some customers in the region remain without power after PG&E cut electric service in hopes of preventing fires amid red
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Photo: Noah Berger / The Chronicle
At-risk California counties for Wildfires

At-risk California counties for Wildfires
Photo: Getty Images
Alameda County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 13 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 77,000

Alameda County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 13 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 77,000
Photo: Getty Images
Alpine County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 88 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 1,600

Alpine County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 88 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 1,600
Photo: Stephen Saks/Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images
Amador County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 61 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 11,000

Amador County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 61 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 11,000
Photo: Buyenlarge/Getty Images
Butte County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 42 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 40,300

Butte County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 42 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 40,300
Photo: Cal Fire/ Facebook
Calaveras County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 65 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 18,100

Calaveras County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 65 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 18,100
Photo: David McNew/Getty Images
Colusa County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 14 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 1,100

Colusa County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 14 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 1,100
Photo: JIM WILSON, STF
Contra Costa County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 13 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 50,100

Contra Costa County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 13 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 50,100
Photo: Raphael Kluzniok, The Chronicle
Del Norte County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 44 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 5,000

Del Norte County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 44 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 5,000
Photo: Tom Stienstra
El Dorado County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 61 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 53,900

El Dorado County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 61 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 53,900
Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle
Glenn County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 11 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 1,200

Glenn County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 11 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 1,200
Photo: David Madison / Getty Images
Humboldt County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 44 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 27,300

Humboldt County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 44 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 27,300
Photo: Getty
Lake County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 56 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 19,800

Lake County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 56 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 19,800
Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle
Lassen County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 50 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 6,400

Lassen County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 50 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 6,400
Photo: Getty Images
Marin County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 30 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 33,700

Marin County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 30 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 33,700
Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle
Mendocino County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 59 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 23,800

Mendocino County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 59 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 23,800
Photo: Cal Fire
Modoc County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 32 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 1,600

Modoc County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 32 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 1,600
Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle
Napa County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 44 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 24,100

Napa County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 44 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 24,100
Photo: Peter DaSilva, Special To The Chronicle
Nevada County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 75 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 39,300

Nevada County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 75 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 39,300
Photo: John Hart / The Union 2017
Placer County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 24 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 37,200

Placer County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 24 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 37,200
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle
Plumas County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 71 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 11,100

Plumas County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 71 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 11,100
Photo: Paul Kuroda / Special To The Chronicle 2017
Sacramento County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 1 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 4,800

Sacramento County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 1 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 4,800
Photo: Slobo/Getty Images
San Joaquin County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 0 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 300

San Joaquin County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 0 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 300
Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
San Francisco County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 2 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 8,300

San Francisco County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 2 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 8,300
Photo: Liz Moughon / The Chronicle
San Mateo County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 15 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 40,500

San Mateo County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 15 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 40,500
Photo: Jeff Chiu
Santa Clara County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 10 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 63,200

Santa Clara County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 10 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 63,200
Photo: Hans Blossey/Getty Images/imageBROKER RM
Santa Cruz County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 50 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 52,400

Santa Cruz County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 50 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 52,400
Photo: Kylie McLaughlin/Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images
Shasta County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 32 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 25,100

Shasta County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 32 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 25,100
Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle
Sierra County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 64 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 1,400

Sierra County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 64 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 1,400
Photo: Tom Stienstra
Siskiyou County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 54 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 13,100

Siskiyou County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 54 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 13,100
Photo: Sarahbeth Maney / Special To The Chronicle
Solano County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 3 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 4,300

Solano County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 3 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 4,300
Sonoma County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 23 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 47,600

Sonoma County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 23 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 47,600
Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle
Stanislaus County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 2 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 3,700

Stanislaus County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 2 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 3,700
Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Sutter County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 0 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 100

Sutter County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 0 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 100
Photo: Mike Kepka
Tehama County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 40 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 10,700

Tehama County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 40 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 10,700
Photo: Michael Burke/Special To The Chr
Trinity County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 81 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 7,000

Trinity County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 81 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 7,000
Photo: Caltrans District 2/Twitter
Tuolumne County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 80 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 25,100

Tuolumne County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 80 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 25,100
Photo: Tom Stienstra, Tom Stienstra / The Chronicle
Yolo County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 1 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 500

Yolo County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 1 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 500
Photo: Photos By Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle
Yuba County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 25 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 6,900

Yuba County

Percent of housing units in high to extreme risk: 25 percent
Number of housing units in high to extreme risk: 6,900
Photo: SAM DEANER, STAFF

Photo: Noah Berger / The Chronicle

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Caption

Image 1 of 50

A car passes power lines Highway 12 near Glen Ellen, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. Some customers in the region remain without power after PG&E cut electric service in hopes of preventing fires amid red flag fire warnings.

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Photo: Noah Berger / The Chronicle

Update: PG&E said Tuesday that as of 8:45 p.m., it had restored power to all remaining customers.

More than 1,800 people in Northern California had their power restored late Tuesday after Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s two-day, pre-emptive power shutdown to minimize the chance of a downed power line sparking a blaze during a spell of bone-dry conditions and gusty winds.

The outage started Saturday night. At it’s peak, more than 60,000 people were without electricity, according to PG&E.

The final people to have power restored included roughly 1,300 customers in Calaveras County, as well as customers living in El Dorado, Lake and Amador counties.

The shutdown was an unprecedented move by the utility to prevent the possibility of power lines igniting the kind of deadly wildfires seen last year in wine country, which were fueled by dry vegetation, low humidity and strong winds.

A red flag fire warning was in effect from late Saturday through Monday morning for the North Bay and East Bay hills, including the Diablo Range, according to the National Weather Forecast.

Roughly 150 PG&E crews worked on restoration efforts through Tuesday night to restore power to most customers, said Angela Lombardi, a PG&E spokeswoman.

Lombardi was not able to immediately confirm which regions were most heavily impacted, but she said there were “multiple instances where equipment was potentially damaged.”

It is unclear if the potentially damaged equipment refers to poles, power lines or PG&E substations.

Lombardi said crews will inspect and test the infrastructure of electric transmission and distribution lines by foot, vehicle and aerial patrols. The trouble with some of these impacted areas, she said, is that PG&E equipment is sometimes located where crews must navigate narrow access roads or hike to locations where there is no road access at all.

She said crews noticed the potentially damaged equipment following the “recent weather event” on Sunday, when wind gusts reportedly reached more than 60 mph.

“The critically dry conditions may persist for the next few days,” said Roger Gass, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

By Tuesday morning, the threat of fire was contained to elevations above 1,500 feet, Gass said.

Conditions are nowhere near as concerning as they were the last few days, when “those really dry conditions made it down all the way to the valley floor and pushed it all over the coast,” Gass said.

On Monday, PG&E restored power to 40,000 people in the North Bay and Sierra Foothills, officials said. The utility expected to turn electricity on for the remaining people impacted at some point Tuesday.

In total, seven counties experienced a power shut down: Lake, Napa, Sonoma, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado and Placer.

Sarah Ravani and Lauren Hernandez are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com; lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani @LaurenPorFavor

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