No. 1: PG&E cuts power to Humboldt County twice

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The first power outage came with almost no notice and was expected to last up to five days, though it ultimately lasted a little over one day. Locals said they were better prepared for the second outage, but were still frustrated with Pacific Gas & Electric Co. for being ill-prepared in rolling out its public safety power shutoffs.

Humboldt County experienced two shutoffs in the month of October that left many businesses and residents reeling. On Oct. 8, the utility company announced it would shut off power statewide, impacting about 30,000 people in Humboldt County.

The ensuing rush left ATMs without cash, grocery stores barren and gas stations jammed with lines of cars waiting 30 to 45 minutes to get fuel.

PG&E officials said later that Humboldt County wasn’t expected to be part of that shutoff, but was ul- timately affected because one of the two transmis- sion lines that deliver energy into the county was down for maintenance.

That’s why there was no local community resource center set up, as was the case in other counties, before the power came back on.

Businesses, from the

North Coast Co-op to Green Diamond Resource Co., said they lost big because of the shutoffs. Green Diamond reported losing $570,000 and about 30 Eureka businesses reported a loss of $200,000.

Businesses and residents

alike said they were better prepared for the second outage, having bought generators and made contact with businesses with the resources to assist them.

For instance, North Coast Co-op was able to secure

a refrigerated trailer for its perishable foods during the second outage, but not the first because there was such short notice.

After the outages, the California Public Utilities Commission launched an investigation

into PG&E’s public safety power shutoffs.

The utility company met with District 1 Supervisor Rex Bohn and Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal in December to discuss the viability of using the Humboldt Bay

Generating Station to keep the county energized in the event of future outages.

Ongoing meetings with PG&E and the county are expected to continue.

RUTH SCHNEIDER — THE TIMES-STANDARD Residents huddle around a table at the Muni to power up devices at the Community Resource Center that opened up amid the power shutoffs spurred by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. during October.