Mutual assistance crews head to California to assist with restorations

Mutual aid crews from several utilities are traveling to Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) service territory to assist with restorations following a high wind event and wildfires.

New York utility Orange and Rockland (O&R) announced Monday that 20 O&R and Con Edison electric line workers, and supervisory and support personnel deployed to California to help conduct safety patrols and line inspections. Public Service Electric and Gas and PSEG Long Island said Monday that it would send 70 line workers and supervisors to assist PG&E with damage assessment related to wildfires.

“California residents have been suffering greatly due to these fires, which affect thousands of residents each day,” Dave Daly, PSE&G president and CEO and chairman of the board of PSEG Long Island, said. “Responding to the call from colleagues in need is part of what we do to keep everyone safe. We have a great team and we’re happy to lend the assistance that we can.”

PG&E is working to restore power to customers by a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) on Oct. 26 to reduce wildfire risk during a severe wind event. Approximately 970,000 customers in portions of 37 counties were impacted by the shutoff. Additionally, roughly 100,000 customers lost power due to wind-related outages in areas that were not de-energized.

PG&E reported that, as of 10 p.m. on Monday, it had restored power to approximately 57 percent of the customers impacted by the PSPS. Crews have been inspecting de-energized lines and repairing wind-related damage since Monday morning.

More than 6,300 on-the-ground field personnel are available to assist with the efforts, PG&E said. The company also noted that 46 helicopters are available to assist with inspections, but helicopter inspections may be impacted by firefighting efforts in some areas.

PG&E requested mutual aid of 1,000 workers from other energy companies.