June 8 (UPI) -- The largest electric utility in California, Pacific Gas and Electric, said it plans to shut off power to multiple communities in the Sierra Foothills Saturday as a pre-emptive measure to avoid sparking a wildfire.
The company said some 1,600 customers in North Bay and 27,000 in the Sierra Foothills could be affected by the blackout, including Napa, Solano, Yolo, Butte, Yuba, Nevada, El Dorado and Placer counties. PG&E shut off power for some communities earlier Saturday, but more blackouts were expected starting at 9 p.m. until the end of the peak period of fire risk at noon Sunday.