West Sonoma County power failure affects more than 2,100 PG&E customers

A distribution line was flipped off after something triggered the enhanced power line safety setting, which turns off power within one-tenth of a second after an object touches an energized line in an area with high fire risk. Why the safety measure was triggered has not yet been determined.|
MADISON SMALSTIG
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

More than 2,100 Pacific Gas and Electric customers in west Sonoma County were without power Tuesday after a power failure.

The failure began about 9:29 a.m. and affected 2,105 customers in an area that stretches from north of Camp Meeker to Valley Ford and from west of Sebastopol to east of Bodega Bay, according to the PG&E outage center.

Power was restored to 574 customers by about 2 p.m.

All electricity was restored about 7:30 p.m., PG&E spokesperson Megan McFarland said Tuesday night.

A distribution line was flipped off after something triggered the enhanced power line safety setting, which turns off power within one-tenth of a second after an object touches an energized line in an area with high fire risk, McFarland said.

Crews do not yet know what triggered the setting. Most of the time, McFarland said, it involves vegetation, such as falling tree branches.

Helicopters patrolled the line to make sure it was clear before power was turned back on, according to the utility’s online outage center.

You can reach Staff Writer Madison Smalstig at madison.smalstig@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @madi.smals.

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