More than 1,600 customers in and around Watsonville were affected by a power outage as of noon on Wednesday. Pacific Gas & Electric was investigating the cause and aiming to restore power by 2:30 p.m., though a map indicated that it had come back on for many customers by 12:30.
power outages
Posted inLatest News
California has new weapons to battle summer blackouts: Battery storage, power from record rain
Last summer, a dangerous heat wave across California pushed the power grid almost to the brink. Officials say the state is better equipped to weather such extreme heat this year, but late summer could still be a test.
Posted inEnvironment
California’s blistering heat sparked power shortages last summer. Here’s this year’s forecast
State officials say the winter’s wild weather helped refill hydropower generators, decreasing the risk of dangerous electricity outages this summer.
Posted inLatest News
Strong winds cause power outages, downed trees and power lines across Santa Cruz County
Gusts reached up to 76 mph in the Santa Cruz Mountains on Tuesday, leading to downed trees and wires across the county. National Weather Service meteorologist Rick Canepa said the brunt of the system would pass through by Tuesday afternoon.
Posted inLatest News
Child critically injured by falling tree as high winds leave thousands without power around Santa Cruz County
A 1-year-old child had to be rescued from beneath a fallen tree in Boulder Creek on Tuesday night, when gusty winds also took out power to large swaths of Santa Cruz County and caused localized damage.
Posted inLatest News
Storms 2023: Power to be restored Friday to 23 Felton customers
The power went out in Felton during storms that hit the community around 1 a.m. on Jan. 8. Pacific Gas & Electric crews were unable to begin repairs in the area of Pine Drive and Redwood Drive until Jan. 23 because of a mudslide, flooding, downed trees and damaged equipment.
Posted inLatest News
Mass storm outages bring misery across California, exposing power grid’s vulnerabilities
California’s power grid is typically tested during wildfire season or intense heat waves, but a winter storm system has challenged the state’s electric grid in new ways. Experts say resiliency measures are needed.
Posted inEducation
UCSC power restored and in-person instruction to resume Wednesday after storms hit Santa Cruz County
UC Santa Cruz will resume in-person instruction Wednesday and power has been restored, after widespread storms across Santa Cruz County caused some areas of campus to lose power Monday and forced the school to move to remote instruction Monday and Tuesday.
Posted inEducation
UC Santa Cruz loses some power, will continue remote instruction through Tuesday
UC Santa Cruz moved classes to emergency remote or online instruction Monday and Tuesday after the recent storms created dangerous conditions across the county and led to power outages for some living on campus.
Posted inFood & Drink
Damaged and without power, Capitola Village restaurants struggle to reopen and brace for next surge of storms
The Esplanade in the Capitola Village remained closed to pedestrians and traffic on Friday after a storm surge on Thursday damaged many businesses. Others could reopen relatively soon, but power has yet to be restored to the area.