On Thursday, PG&E faced significant power grid instability, resulting in electricity cuts impacting over 61,000 customers across Manteca, Tracy, and Lathrop. The utility initiated power de-energization around 4:30 p.m. in Stockton and Manteca to restore balance to the overloaded grid.
The number of customers affected by unplanned outages fluctuated throughout the evening, initially exceeding 61,000 by 7:30 p.m., then dropping to 44,464 at 8:30 p.m., before increasing again to 52,650 by 9:30 p.m. PG&E had initially assured customers through automated calls that power would be restored within two hours; however, the situation escalated, and by 11:30 p.m., approximately 24,163 households and businesses in Manteca remained powerless.
At this time, four-fifths of PG&E’s customer base in Manteca were affected, as nearly 28,000 homes and businesses, along with several thousand commercial users, were unable to access electricity. Power restoration was most successful around key areas such as Yosemite Avenue, Highway 99, the 120 Bypass, and South Main Street. However, some traffic signals remained non-operational, creating confusion for motorists navigating affected zones.
In Tracy, 24,628 customers were also without power, illustrating the widespread nature of the outages. PG&E had previously conducted some planned public safety outages in San Joaquin County, but only a small fraction—948 outages—were attributed to these safety measures.
This situation highlights the challenges utilities face in maintaining grid stability, especially during peak demand times or in adverse conditions. The swift response by PG&E to manage the grid imbalance illustrates the complexities of energy management in areas with critical infrastructure needs. As power restoration efforts continue, hope remains for full recovery in the affected communities.