SAN DIEGO — San Diego Gas & Electric on Tuesday announced it may have to cut power to more than 24,700 customers in the county's back country as early as Wednesday morning as extremely dry and blustery weather has created acute fire hazards across San Diego County this week.
However, the utility said there will no anticipated impact to polling sites for Tuesday's election.
Public Safety Power Shutoffs are "approved by state regulators as an important safety tool of last resort to mitigate fire risk during dangerous weather conditions," a statement from SDG&E read.
Customers who have been notified should be prepared to be without power through Friday, but the utility has opened its Emergency Operations Center to monitor conditions and has crews, materials and equipment ready for response.
Over the warning period, humidity levels will fall as low as 11% and winds out of the north and northeast will range from 15 to 30 mph, with gusts hitting 55 mph in some spots. Any brush fires that spread are likely to spread rapidly.
Authorities advised the public to refrain from any outdoor burning while the wildfire warning remains in effect.
A Fire Weather Warning has been issued for San Diego County inland valleys and mountains. While the entire county should be on alert, the highest concerns will be for those areas with the strongest winds on Wednesday through Thursday morning and afternoon.
SDG&E asks customers who experience a power outage to visit their outage map for status updates.
Safety & preparedness tips from San Diego Gas & Electric
- Report downed electrical lines or gas emergencies to San Diego Gas & Electric at 800-411-7343
- Do not touch any downed power lines or broken gas lines. Report them immediately to the police or fire department
- Do not touch someone if they made contact with a power line
- If evacuating, disconnect all electrical appliances, turn off electricity at the panel, gas service at the meter and water at the main valve
- Secure loose outdoor items like umbrellas, garbage pins, and patio furniture to prevent them from flying away and damaging power lines
- Drive slower and allow for more braking
- Have an essential supplies kit. Keep a battery-operated radio and flashlights handy. Do not rely on solely candles for lighting
- Have backup power arrangements for any medical equipment
- View the SDG&E Outage Map here
WATCH RELATED: How to prepare for a power outage in San Diego County (Sep 6, 2022)
