Sonoma County homes and businesses fully restored after public safety power shut-off

The final 1,100 homes and businesses in Sonoma County that were waiting for power to be restored were back in service Wednesday afternoon, nearly three days after Pacific Gas & Electric Co. cut power to avert a major wildfire during periods of high wind and low humidity.

Energy had been restored to 96% of the more than 23,400 homes and businesses affected by the planned blackout by Wednesday morning, but wind damage, including downed power lines, delayed restoration for the remaining customers until about noon, PG&E spokeswoman Deanna Contreras said.

Initial data showed at least 76 instances of weather-related damage to PG&E equipment across the 34 counties statewide that were affected by the planned power shut-off, the utility said. Specifics on where the damage occurred were not immediately available Wednesday.

You can reach Staff Writer Yousef Baig at 707-521-5390 or yousef.baig@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @YousefBaig.