A potential Public Safety Power Shutoff by Pacific Gas and Electric could leave residents in six Madera County communities without electricity beginning Wednesday night, according to the Madera County Sheriff’s Office.

PG&E is monitoring conditions that could require power to be shut off around 11 p.m. Wednesday with service estimated to be restored Saturday, depending on weather conditions and safety inspections.

The potential outage area has expanded to include Bass Lake, North Fork, Oakhurst, Ahwahnee, O’Neals, and Coarsegold.

The sheriff’s office emphasized that PG&E is solely responsible for determining which areas are affected, when electricity is shut off, and when service is restored.

The sheriff’s office will increase patrol staffing in potentially affected communities, while the county’s Emergency Operations Center will be activated to coordinate emergency response efforts.

Charging Station Available in Oakhurst

Residents needing to charge phones or other electronic devices can visit the Oakhurst Sheriff’s Substation at 48267 Liberty Drive.

The charging station will be available Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Officials are urging residents to prepare by charging electronic devices, gathering emergency supplies, fueling vehicles, and developing backup plans for medical equipment requiring electricity or refrigeration.

Residents are also encouraged to check on neighbors who may need assistance.

Those seeking information about potential outages can visit PG&E’s outage map to determine whether their addresses could be affected.

Additional updates are available at pge.com/pspsupdates.

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