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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Pacific Gas and Electric said Tuesday night that it was moving forward with cutting power to 18 counties beginning early Wednesday morning in response to a weather event forecast to bring high winds.
The company confirmed the shutoff just before 9 p.m. Tuesday, after a day and a half of issuing preliminary warnings that a public safety power shutoff could occur.
The announcement also came after light rain was reported across parts of Lake County and other locations in the shutoff area.
PG&E said it has further narrowed the scope of the shutoff, now down to 18 counties and less than 150,000 customer accounts, that latter number about half of the company’s peak estimate issued on Monday night.
In another update at around 11 p.m. Tuesday, PG&E spokeswoman Deanna Contreras told Lake County News that the scope for Lake County has been narrowed down to a total of 12,854 customer accounts.
Contreras said she could confirm the shutoffs are expected to begin at 7 a.m. Wednesday in Lake County.
PG&E had adjusted the outage area in Lake County on Tuesday, shifting it away from the main part of Kelseyville and further south to areas around Hidden Valley Lake and Middletown, where wind gusts of more than 30 miles per hour are forecast Wednesday.
Other locations in Lake County to be impacted include Clearlake, Cobb, Hidden Valley Lake, Kelseyville, Lakeport – not the city of Lakeport but an area to the west, near Hopland – along with Loch Lomond and Lower Lake.
In addition to Lake, the counties to be included in the shutoff are Amador, Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Solano, Sonoma, Tehama, Yolo and Yuba, PG&E said Tuesday night.
In a Tuesday evening briefing, Mark Quinlan, PG&E’s senior director for emergency preparedness and response, said the change in scope is the result of favorable weather conditions.
Across the shutoff area, power is scheduled to go off as early as 6 a.m. Wednesday, with others not seeing the shutoff taking place until 4 p.m., PG&E said.
PG&E said the decision to move forward with the shutoff – the fourth to impact Lake County since the start of October – was made based on “weather forecasts indicating the potential for high winds and dry conditions leading to increased fire risk.”
He said deenergization in the North Bay could take place between 7 and 8 a.m. Wednesday.
PG&E said there is still “considerable uncertainty regarding the strength, timing and humidity levels associated with this weather system,” however, it expects the winds to clear about mid-morning Thursday, which will allow the patrol and restoration process to begin.
Quinlan said 5,600 personnel and 45 helicopters will be part of the inspection process.
PG&E said it will “safely restore power in stages as quickly as possible, with the goal of restoring the most customers by the end of the day Thursday, based on the current weather conditions.”
Five community resource centers will open on Wednesday in Lake County to offer restrooms, device charging, bottled water and information. They will remain open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the outage.
The centers in Lake County will be at the following locations:
– Clearlake Senior Community Center, 3245 Bowers Ave., Clearlake;
– Konocti Vista Casino, 2755 Mission Rancheria Road, Lakeport;
– Twin Pine Casino & Hotel, 22223 Highway 29, Middletown;
– Robinson Rancheria Resort and Casino, 1545 State Highway 20, Nice;
– The Scotts Valley Pomo tribe’s Red Hills property, 7130 Red Hills Road, Kelseyville.
Customers are encouraged to use PG&E’s address lookup tool to see if they will be impacted by the shutoff.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A special Clearlake City Council meeting on Wednesday will address ongoing issues with the need for sales of tax defaulted properties, with the city manager suggesting that the council ask local and state agencies to investigate the county treasurer-tax collector.
The meeting will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
On the agenda is the discussion and possible action related to county sales of tax-defaulted properties.
In September, Clearlake City Manager Alan Flora went to the Board of Supervisors to raise issue with the lack of tax sales, as Lake County News has reported.
Flora told the board that there are 3,400 properties of almost 17,000 properties in the city of Clearlake – or about 20 percent of all of the city’s properties – that are at some level of tax default, with a total debt of $5.3 million. Some of the properties have been in default since 1981.
He also told the board that 1,500 parcels, or 9 percent of the city’s properties, have been in default for five years or more and are now eligible for tax sale, with $1.74 million owed.
The county has a tax sale planned for March, with a total of 300 properties slated for sale, according to Treasurer-Collector Barbara Ringen’s statements at the September meeting. She said that number was what the board budgeted.
In his report to the council, City Manager Alan Flora wrote, “The City has been advocating County officials, including the Tax Collector, for sale of tax defaulted properties. A tax sale has been tentatively scheduled for March 2020, but it is still uncertain what properties within the City will be included in the sale. Regardless of what happens in March of 2020 the County’s response over the past several years has not made any significant progress in addressing the problem. The City needs to pursue any available remedies to address this issue in the future and return properties to the tax roll.”
Flora will ask the council to approve the submittal of letters to the Board of Supervisors requesting that it take action to facilitate additional properties being offered for tax sale to be signed by the full city council.
He’s also requesting that letters be prepared and sent to agencies including – but not limited to – the Lake County Civil Grand Jury, the California State Controller, California State Treasurer, California Board of Equalization and the California Attorney General requesting an investigation into Ringen’s “actions related to the lack of tax sales.”
In other business on Wednesday, the council also is expected to approve two consent agenda items, approval of a contract with Caltronics Business Systems for copy machines for the police department and city administration, and the award of a construction contract to RO Construction for the Senior center portable restroom.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
The meeting will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
On the agenda is the discussion and possible action related to county sales of tax-defaulted properties.
In September, Clearlake City Manager Alan Flora went to the Board of Supervisors to raise issue with the lack of tax sales, as Lake County News has reported.
Flora told the board that there are 3,400 properties of almost 17,000 properties in the city of Clearlake – or about 20 percent of all of the city’s properties – that are at some level of tax default, with a total debt of $5.3 million. Some of the properties have been in default since 1981.
He also told the board that 1,500 parcels, or 9 percent of the city’s properties, have been in default for five years or more and are now eligible for tax sale, with $1.74 million owed.
The county has a tax sale planned for March, with a total of 300 properties slated for sale, according to Treasurer-Collector Barbara Ringen’s statements at the September meeting. She said that number was what the board budgeted.
In his report to the council, City Manager Alan Flora wrote, “The City has been advocating County officials, including the Tax Collector, for sale of tax defaulted properties. A tax sale has been tentatively scheduled for March 2020, but it is still uncertain what properties within the City will be included in the sale. Regardless of what happens in March of 2020 the County’s response over the past several years has not made any significant progress in addressing the problem. The City needs to pursue any available remedies to address this issue in the future and return properties to the tax roll.”
Flora will ask the council to approve the submittal of letters to the Board of Supervisors requesting that it take action to facilitate additional properties being offered for tax sale to be signed by the full city council.
He’s also requesting that letters be prepared and sent to agencies including – but not limited to – the Lake County Civil Grand Jury, the California State Controller, California State Treasurer, California Board of Equalization and the California Attorney General requesting an investigation into Ringen’s “actions related to the lack of tax sales.”
In other business on Wednesday, the council also is expected to approve two consent agenda items, approval of a contract with Caltronics Business Systems for copy machines for the police department and city administration, and the award of a construction contract to RO Construction for the Senior center portable restroom.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
112019 Special Clearlake City Council Agenda Packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Cal Fire’s Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit reminds all residents to be vigilant for the potential of wildfires during the incoming wind event.
The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for the North Bay, including Lake County, from 4 a.m. Wednesday through 7 a.m. Thursday due to strong winds, low humidity and low fuel moisture.
Cal Fire’s reminder comes on the heels of an early Tuesday morning vegetation fire off Rio Nido Road and Armstrong Woods Road in the Russian River area of Guerneville in Sonoma County.
Cal Fire said its crews and those of local fire agencies contained the Armstrong fire to one half acre. No structures were damaged or destroyed. No evacuations or road closures were in place.
“Some of the most destructive fires in California occur from October through December,” said Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit Chief Shana Jones, reminding all Californians to be vigilant.
“Wind driven fires move fast, and residents need to be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice in the event of a wildfire,” said Chief Jones.
Cal Fire urges everyone to exercise extreme caution when in or near the wildland or open areas to prevent sparking a fire.
A few helpful reminders and safety tips include:
• Don’t mow or trim dry grass on windy days.
• Never pull your vehicle over in dry grass.
• Avoid target shooting during periods of high fire danger.
• Check and obey burn suspension.
• Ensure campfires are allowed, and if so, in designated areas only, be sure to extinguish them completely before leaving the area.
• Report any suspicious activities to prevent arson, see something – say something.
For more information about fire safety, visit the Cal Fire website www.readyforwildfire.org or call your local Cal Fire facility.
The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for the North Bay, including Lake County, from 4 a.m. Wednesday through 7 a.m. Thursday due to strong winds, low humidity and low fuel moisture.
Cal Fire’s reminder comes on the heels of an early Tuesday morning vegetation fire off Rio Nido Road and Armstrong Woods Road in the Russian River area of Guerneville in Sonoma County.
Cal Fire said its crews and those of local fire agencies contained the Armstrong fire to one half acre. No structures were damaged or destroyed. No evacuations or road closures were in place.
“Some of the most destructive fires in California occur from October through December,” said Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit Chief Shana Jones, reminding all Californians to be vigilant.
“Wind driven fires move fast, and residents need to be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice in the event of a wildfire,” said Chief Jones.
Cal Fire urges everyone to exercise extreme caution when in or near the wildland or open areas to prevent sparking a fire.
A few helpful reminders and safety tips include:
• Don’t mow or trim dry grass on windy days.
• Never pull your vehicle over in dry grass.
• Avoid target shooting during periods of high fire danger.
• Check and obey burn suspension.
• Ensure campfires are allowed, and if so, in designated areas only, be sure to extinguish them completely before leaving the area.
• Report any suspicious activities to prevent arson, see something – say something.
For more information about fire safety, visit the Cal Fire website www.readyforwildfire.org or call your local Cal Fire facility.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two workshops on the Northshore Communities Traffic Calming Plan will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 4.
The workshops will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. at the North Shore Event Center, 2817 East Highway 20 in Nice, and from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Northshore Fire Station at 12655 State Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks.
The same information will be provided at both workshops, officials said.
Community members are encouraged to attend and provide their input as the work to prepare final designs for improvements for walking, bicycling and transit use along Highway 20 in the communities of Nice, Lucerne, Glenhaven and Clearlake Oaks gets under way.
Families and children are welcome. Snacks and refreshments will be provided.
Funding for the Highway 20 Northshore Communities Traffic Calming Plan is paid for by a grant from the California Department of Transportation received by the Lake Area Planning Council.
For more information contact Cayla McDonell atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 916-448-1198, Extension 324.
The workshops will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. at the North Shore Event Center, 2817 East Highway 20 in Nice, and from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Northshore Fire Station at 12655 State Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks.
The same information will be provided at both workshops, officials said.
Community members are encouraged to attend and provide their input as the work to prepare final designs for improvements for walking, bicycling and transit use along Highway 20 in the communities of Nice, Lucerne, Glenhaven and Clearlake Oaks gets under way.
Families and children are welcome. Snacks and refreshments will be provided.
Funding for the Highway 20 Northshore Communities Traffic Calming Plan is paid for by a grant from the California Department of Transportation received by the Lake Area Planning Council.
For more information contact Cayla McDonell at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Pacific Gas and Electric said Tuesday that it has added 3,000 more Lake County customer accounts to the area of a potential public safety power shutoff that is expected to start on Wednesday morning.
Based on PG&E’s latest report, issued mid-afternoon Tuesday, approximately 16,013 customer accounts are now included in the portion of Lake County that could be included in the shutoff area.
PG&E has not given specifics about where, exactly, those 3,000 additional customers are located in Lake County.
Communities that the company said will be impacted by a shutoff include Clearlake, Cobb, Hidden Valley Lake, Kelseyville, Lakeport (not including the city of Lakeport), Loch Lomond, Lower Lake and Middletown.
The number of Lake County’s medical baseline customer accounts in the proposed shutoff area has dropped from 2,010 to 900, PG&E said.
The Lake County Office of Emergency Services said that the newly added customers appear to be mostly in the Hidden Valley Lake area.
During an update to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday morning, PG&E Senior Public Safety Specialist Stewart Roth said the shutoff is anticipated to begin at around 7 a.m. Wednesday, with the weather event to last for 24 hours.
Roth said the all-clear is expected to be issued for Lake County at 8 a.m. Thursday, with PG&E to start immediate equipment inspections with a goal of restoring power within 24 hours of the all-clear.
At that time, Roth said the decision to go forward with the shutoff hadn’t been finalized.
Company spokeswoman Deanna Contreras told Lake County News shortly after 3:15 p.m. Tuesday that the final decision to go forward with the shutoff still hadn’t been made.
Overall shutoff area adjusted
On Tuesday PG&E also adjusted the overall footprint of the proposed shutoff, dialing the number of total counties back from 25 – the number given late Monday – to 16.
The updated list of impacted counties are Butte, El Dorado, Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Solano, Sonoma, Tehama, Yolo and Yuba, PG&E said Tuesday afternoon.
The number of customer accounts expected to be impacted is now 181,000, down from the 303,000 PG&E previous had estimated.
The company said it has given the 24-hour notification of a potential shutoff to all of those customers.
The counties that have been removed from the proposed outage area are Alameda, Amador, Colusa, Contra Costa, Marin, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Mateo and Trinity.
PG&E said weather forecasts “continue to be dynamic with significant variation across different portions of PG&E’s service area.”
On Tuesday, the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for much of Lake County and several surrounding counties that is to be in effect from 4 a.m. Wednesday through 7 a.m. Thursday.
The high winds are forecast to continue through mid-morning Thursday.
The Lake County forecast continues to show the strongest winds occurring in and around the south county, with sustained winds of close to 25 miles per hour and gusts as high as 40 miles per hour.
While PG&E said it’s goal is to have power back on to most impacted customers by the end of the day Thursday, that process could be slowed if equipment damage is found during the inspections.
Five community resource centers to be opened in Lake County
Contreras reported that the company will open five community resource centers in Lake County to offer restrooms, device charging, bottled water and information, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the outage.
The centers in Lake County will be at the following locations:
– Clearlake Senior Community Center, 3245 Bowers Ave., Clearlake;
– Konocti Vista Casino, 2755 Mission Rancheria Road, Lakeport;
– Twin Pine Casino & Hotel, 22223 Highway 29, Middletown;
– Robinson Rancheria Resort and Casino, 1545 State Highway 20, Nice.
– Red Hills Property, 7130 Red Hills Road, Kelseyville.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Pacific Gas and Electric said it has expanded the area to be impacted should it go forward with a public safety power shutoff on Wednesday in response to a wind event, while a State Senate committee held a Monday hearing on how to protect state residents during the power shutoffs.
Lake is among 25 counties that are included in this week’s proposed shutoff area. Unlike the last two shutoff events last month, only a portion of Lake County is expected to be impacted.
Over the course of Monday, PG&E added 39,000 customers in portions of three counties – Santa Cruz, Santa Clara and San Mateo – to the original list of 22 counties announced earlier in the day: Alameda, Amador, Butte, Colusa, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Glenn, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Solano, Sonoma, Tehama, Trinity, Yolo and Yuba.
Across that region, 303,000 customer accounts are expected to be impacted, PG&E said. On Monday, PG&E said it sent out advanced notifications to those customers.
In Lake County, approximately 13,370 customer accounts – just over one-third of the total customer accounts countywide – are included in the outage area, including 2,010 medical baseline customer accounts. The impacted accounts are in Clearlake, Cobb, Finley, Hidden Valley Lake, Hopland, Kelseyville, Lakeport, Loch Lomond, Lower Lake and Middletown.
The proposed outage map does not show Lakeport proper as being included, and the city of Lakeport on Monday said it had indications from PG&E that it was not to be included.
However, local officials have acknowledged that the outage scope can change due to dynamic weather conditions.
PG&E is expected to make the final decision on the power shutoff on Tuesday and announce the final locations of customer resource centers, where residents of shutoff areas can charge medical equipment, phones and other devices, get information and other basic services. The centers, however, are not shelters.
If it goes forward, the shutoff is anticipated to begin early Wednesday and continue until the wind event subsides mid-morning Thursday. Power will be restored after inspections of safety equipment, with PG&E reporting that its goal is to restore most customers by the end of the day Thursday.
In related news, on Monday, State Sen. Mike McGuire, who represents Lake County, and the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee held a special hearing to look at what actions can be taken to protect Californians during the shutoffs.
“This is the third strike for PG&E – the first was the San Bruno explosion and cover-up, the second was the massive wildfires of 2017 and 2018, and strike three is the debacle of a response to these power shutoffs. PG&E has failed us too many times. All options need to be studied and on the table – including breaking up the utility,” said McGuire.
McGuire has been named co-chair of a Senate Working Group focused on energy and insurance stability.
He said he will be helping lead the legislative discussion on power shutoffs, stabilizing California’s insurance market and wildfire resiliency.
“Holding PG&E accountable will be one of the top priorities of the legislature this coming year. We must expedite grid hardening, grid modernization and vegetation management around PG&E’s lines, especially in the most fire critical regions, which is most of the North Coast,” McGuire said. “We must mandate a clear timeline for these critical improvements, we must protect seniors and the medically fragile, set new laws that require backup power for cell phone towers and we need to ensure the California Public Utilities Commission does their job and holds this utility accountable. Californians deserve so much better.”
Email Elizabeth Larson at