PG&E expects the work planned on Dec. 18 to be completed within the four-hour window. Designed by Freepik, www.freepik.com

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Residents are being urged to button up, settle in and get comfortable as Gridley prepares for a planned afternoon power outage on Dec. 18. The city has declared a local emergency to ensure crews and households are ready if the shutoff stretches beyond the scheduled four hours.

Pacific Gas and Electric originally proposed a 12-hour outage from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 11 to complete maintenance on a transmission switch at the Peachton substation north of town. That plan was deemed unfeasible because it overlapped with the annual Gridley Invitational Boys Basketball Tournament, held Dec. 11–13, which brings hundreds of visitors to the city. PG&E agreed to work with Gridley officials to break the job into four-hour blocks, and the city selected the 1–5 p.m. window on Dec. 18 to minimize disruption.

The transmission equipment delivers 60,000-volt power to Gridley, and utility officials said failure to replace the switch could result in a prolonged, unplanned outage requiring emergency repairs. PG&E noted that alternatives to the shutoff were not feasible because the city has only one transmission-level source.

Council members raised concerns about health clinics being left without electricity during the outage, but worked with PG&E to select a time frame that would best reduce disruption to schools. Superintendent Todd Kern said the afternoon window would have the least impact on food service programs, since students receive both breakfast and lunch earlier in the day.

The City Council’s emergency declaration, approved unanimously at a special meeting on Dec. 2, allows Gridley to coordinate more quickly with Butte County and state agencies, authorize emergency spending, and activate its emergency operations center if needed.

Officials are urging households and businesses to prepare in advance by charging phones and medical devices, keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed, unplugging sensitive electronics, and ensuring generators are operated outdoors with proper ventilation. Residents who rely on medical equipment are advised to secure alternate power sources, and businesses are encouraged to review backup systems and insurance coverage.

PG&E expects the work planned on Dec. 18 to be completed within the four-hour window. If complications arise, Gridley officials said they will notify residents through text alerts, social media and door-to-door outreach.