Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) released today that it does plan to move forward with what they’re calling Public Safety Power Shut Offs or PSPS.

This decision is due to the forecast of dry, hot and windy weather which PG&E said creates a higher risk for damage and sparks on the electric system and can spread wildfires more rapidly.

The shut offs could affect 17 counties, including Butte , impacting around 179,000 customers according to PG&E in posts to Twitter.

These precautionary shut offs come only weeks before the one-year anniversary of the Camp Fire which occurred two days after PG&E announced shut-offs, due to similar weather conditions, which ultimately did not take place.

Customers who will be affected by the outage were notified Monday and again Tuesday.

Shut-offs are expected to begin at 2 p.m. today in 21 surrounding areas in Butte County. PG&E expects over 17,000 Butte residents will be affected.

There are resource centers in the affected areas in Butte county including Chico Costco, a strip mall off of Lakeridge Court in Magalia and Bird Street School in Oroville.

PG&E suggests customers who will experience shutoffs are prepared with emergency supplies such as food, water, flashlights, a radio, fresh batteries, first aid supplies and cash.

Do you have emergency supplies (food, water, flashlights, a radio, fresh batteries, first aid supplies & cash)? A back up charger for your phone? Know how to manually open your garage door? Learn more about preparing for a Public Safety Power Shutoff. https://t.co/X1ClEBDDlC pic.twitter.com/DeZXLTUPZH

— Pacific Gas & Electric (@PGE4Me) October 23, 2019

The company stated that once weather conditions improve they will inspect the lines to ensure none were damaged and then restore power. The company aims to restore power as quickly as possible with the majority of people to receive power within 48 hours.

Carolyn Allen can be reached at [email protected] or @carolynallen48 on Twitter.