PG&E cuts power to some Northern California schools

Planned power outages across Northern California are further complicating the beginning of the school year.

Currently, schools in portions of Shasta, Tehama, Butte, Colusa, Contra Costa, Glenn, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Napa, Plumas, Solano, Sonoma, Trinity, Alameda, Sierra and Yuba counties are impacted by the planned power outages. It is unclear how many schools are impacted.

Last night PG&E began shutting off power to 51,000 structures in 18 counties to reduce the danger of fire caused by a combination of dry vegetation from drought conditions and dry offshore winds, according to a news release.

“I really think it’s another layer of issues for schools,” said Tim Taylor, executive director of the Small School District Association of California. “There are already so many issues with Covid.”

Closing schools at the beginning of the school year for planned power outages also is disruptive to students who are trying to get into the routine of going to school, Taylor said.

Butte, Tehama, Lassen and Plumas counties are also currently being threatened by the Dixie fire, which  burned down one school and consumed over 635,000 acres by this morning.