‘You can almost see the ground move’: Outages expand in California community as land movement threatens power lines

Pacific Gas and Electric continues to monitor situation and restore power

More than 5,000 Pacific Gas and Electric customers were without power Friday night and into Saturday morning following a power outage in Moraga, Calif., on Friday afternoon. The outage was caused by land movement that damaged power lines, according to PG&E.

PG&E crews are working to repair the damage and restore power to customers, but there is no estimated time of restoration. The outage is affecting customers in the Rheem Valley and Moraga Way areas.

"You can almost see the ground move," said Moraga resident Linda Hanson. "It's like the earth is alive."

What is causing the land movement?

The land movement is being caused by a combination of factors, including heavy rains, a geologic fault, and underground water. The heavy rains have saturated the soil, making it more susceptible to movement. The geologic fault is also contributing to the movement, as it is putting pressure on the soil. The underground water is also a factor, as it is eroding the soil and making it less stable.

What is PG&E doing to address the situation?

PG&E is taking several steps to address the situation, including:

• Monitoring the situation and assessing the damage.
• Repairing the damaged power lines.
• Working with local officials to ensure the safety of the community.
• Providing updates to customers on the situation.

What can customers do?

Customers who are affected by the outage can take the following steps:

• Check the PG&E website for updates on the outage.
• Call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 to report an outage.
• Follow PG&E on social media for updates.