Parts of North, East Bay face PG&E power shut-offs

Nearly 8,000 Pacific Gas & Electric Co. customers in the Bay Area were bracing to have their electricity cut starting Monday morning amid a wave of planned outages intended to reduce the chance that the utility company’s equipment could topple in high winds and potentially spark a wildfire.

The power shut-offs began around 4 a.m. Monday, PG&E officials said. In the Bay Area, about 7,957 customers in parts of Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties could lose power.

A PG&E spokesperson said some of the first shut-offs were initiated in the North Bay.

PG&E expected to restore power to everyone affected by a preemptive shut-off by Tuesday afternoon.

Approximately 25,000 customers were expected to lose power across Northern California due to the dry and gusty conditions in the forecast this week, PG&E said.

In El Granada, a small town along the coast in northern San Mateo County, Cal Fire officials tweeted that the strong winds toppled trees and damaged three vehicles.

“Please use caution on the roads,” Cal Fire tweeted.

PG&E said it will notify its customers when the weather conditions have cleared up and expects to begin the restoration process Tuesday afternoon.

The powerful, dry winds prompted the National Weather Service to issue several alerts in the Bay Area on Sunday, including a red flag warning for the North and East Bay mountains. The warning is in effect through 5 p.m. Tuesday.

The Chronicle’s PG&E power outage map shows real-time shut-off zones in Northern California and expected outages. Information on PG&E’s public safety shut-offs is available at SFChronicle.com.