Nation Blackouts return: PG&E begins to cut off power to 450,000 Californians to avoid igniting wildfires October 23, 2019October 24, 2019Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAYComments Off on Blackouts return: PG&E begins to cut off power to 450,000 Californians to avoid igniting wildfires In its second round of power outages, California utility PG&E will shut off electricity to nearly 180,000 customers, affecting about 450,000 people.