Northern California Begins "Unprecedented" Planned Rolling Blackouts

Whatever you do, don't permit tree-cutting and brush-clearing to reduce the risk of wildfires.

Just return people to a 17th century existence in rolling waves.

It's better for the tree frogs or something.

Oh, and apparently some power lines have snapped. Which could cause fires.

Power lines wouldn't be snapping if California bothered occasionally upgrading its degenerating power infrastructure. But, again -- not good for the tree frogs.

Thousands of Northern Californians lost power Wednesday morning as the embattled giant utility Pacific Gas & Electric began pulling the plug as a preventive measure against potential wildfires. In the biggest planned electric shutdown in state history, the utility, which is known as PG&E, started turning off the power that residents and businesses use for lights, television sets, computers, stoves and air conditioners in rolling blackouts planned for 30 counties with almost 800,000 paying accounts, affecting more than a million people. The shutdown was aimed at keeping power off live wires on a warm and windy day, ideal for the spread of wildfires, a state elected official slammed the rolling blackouts as "unacceptable." Schools around the region were closed in anticipation, and some morning commuters were slowed by non-functioning traffic signals, forcing police to direct drivers.