https://www.siliconvalley.com/2019/10/22/opinion-california-needs-a-power-company-ready-for-todays-challenges/

According to PG&E: “For public safety, it may be necessary for us to turn off electricity when gusty winds and dry conditions … are forecasted.”  And that’s exactly what the utility did on Oct. 9 to 800,000 customers in northern and central California.

Although there were gusty winds, they occurred in only a few areas.  Much of the huge, shutoff area was unaffected by adverse weather conditions and “far from the risk of fire.”