power outages

The Blue Lake Rancheria microgrid powers a number of buildings on the reservation and helped provide necessary energy during county-wide power outages.

Environment

California Reservation's Solar Microgrid Provides Power During Utility Shutoffs

8:26am January 11, 2020

by Erik Neumann

California utility PG&E continues planned power outages to prevent its equipment from sparking wildfires. One Native tribe's solar-powered microgrid is proving to be a lifeline for rural communities.

Portable generator sales fluctuate yearly based on weather-related power outages, but demand remains high. Since 2007, all portable generators have been required to include labels warning about carbon monoxide poisoning.

National

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning From Portable Generators Proves Predictable, And Deadly

9:52am December 04, 2019

by Rachel Treisman

Portable generator use increases in winter, raising the risk of deadly carbon monoxide exposure. Safety advocates say the issue transcends user error, but legislative and regulatory efforts stall.

PG&E says it may impose a blackout on 16 California counties on Wednesday because weather conditions could favor wildfires.

More California Blackouts To Avert Wildfires May Start Wednesday, PG&E Says

5:32pm October 22, 2019

by Paolo Zialcita

The utility giant warned over 200,000 customers in 16 California counties that gusty winds and low humidity may bring more proactive power shutoffs starting Wednesday.

Earlier this month, California utility PG&E shut down power for about 800,000 customers in north and central California. The move was meant to prevent wildfires caused by their equipment during high winds.

Are Blackouts The Future For California?

7:28pm October 21, 2019

by Lauren Sommer

Residents are wondering whether widespread power outages are the future and whether they're the only way to prevent wildfires. New technology may help prevent them if utilities are willing to invest.

Queue Listen Now

A car drives through a darkened Montclair Village in Oakland, Calif., after Pacific Gas & Electric shutdown power last week to prevent wildfires.

National

California Can Expect Blackouts For A Decade, Says PG&E CEO

11:03pm October 18, 2019

by Richard Gonzales

PG&E is under fire for its management of last week's planned power outages that left about 800,000 customers in the dark. CEO Bill Johnson admits the company was ill-prepared for the operation.

Power lines knocked down due to storm damage in Danvers, Mass.

National

New England Nor'easter Storm Shuts Power Off For Hundreds Of Thousands

5:12pm October 17, 2019

by Paolo Zialcita

A powerful and intense coastal storm has pummeled several states with heavy rain and strong winds, downing power lines and trees in Maine, Massachusetts and other states.

Joseph Pokorski drinks a beer at The Town Square as downtown Sonoma, Calif., remains without power on Wednesday.

National

Utility Giant PG&E Voluntarily Shuts Off Power, Could Impact 800,000 Calif. Customers

7:05pm October 09, 2019

by Brakkton Booker

California is in the peak of its wildfire season. With strong winds forecast to hit 70 mph on Wednesday, the utility says it wants to reduce the chance that its wires could spark a fire.

A worker inspects damage in a supermarket in Caracas on Sunday after it was looted during a days-long blackout in Venezuela.

World News

'This Is Going To End Ugly': Venezuela's Power Outage Drags On

3:25pm March 11, 2019

by Merrit Kennedy

The country has been hobbled by a blackout since Thursday. People wait in long lines for gas and water, and increasingly are having difficulty communicating by phone or Internet.

Nicholas Nicolet and his son Rocco cross-country ski on Sunday in Montpelier, Vt. A major winter storm hit the Midwest and New England this weekend.

National

Winter Storm Grounds Flights, Delays Trains And Knocks Out Power

12:43pm January 20, 2019

by Shannon Van Sant

The storm barreled through New England after hitting the Midwest, creating havoc along some transportation routes.

Triad Wakes To Power Outages Caused By Ice

8:35am January 13, 2019

by WFDD Staff

Piedmont residents are waking to ice-covered trees and power outages after a winter storm moved through the region.