Feb. 23 Power outage update

Published on February 23, 2023

PG&E continues to make progress on restoring power

Yesterday afternoon PG&E reported that San Mateo County was the hardest hit county in the Bay Area from this windstorm with the resulting power outages affecting nearly 1 in 3 people in the county, over 60,000 customers. Systemwide on the PG&E network over 400,000 customers have been affected. More than half of those were restored by mid-afternoon Wednesday. By 10 p.m. Wednesday evening, they estimated about 34,000 customers remained without service.

In San Mateo County, PG&E has brought in outside crews to help expedite the remaining service restorations. In Menlo Park, at least one substation was severely affected with wires coming down across major travel lanes. Those and others require coordination with multiple agencies and restoration sometimes takes time. The City is working closely with PG&E to expedite repairs.

PG&E recommends customers track outages on their Outage Center map website. From that site, you can also enter your address to view an "outage status" page and get notifications. Please report any new outages that may occur by submitting them online to PG&E using your mobile device or calling 1-800-743-5002. 

Traffic signal outages and road closures

In the event of a power outage, only a few of the City’s traffic signals (at major intersections) have battery backups. Those signals with battery power backups will operate during an outage as normal until the battery runs out, when they will also go dark. When the power is off at a signaled intersection, it becomes a 4-way stop. Stop signs are not typically placed in intersections during unexpected power outages.

Police officers are responding to emergency dispatch calls and patrol duties and cannot be stationed at intersections to direct traffic. 

Remember, if a traffic signal is flashing red or out completely, take caution and treat the intersection as a 4-way stop. Plan ahead and allow extra time to reach your destination.

View current traffic signal outages and road closures

Downed trees and debris

Between 1 p.m., Tuesday, and 4 p.m., Wednesday, the City of Menlo Park received 27 calls for trees down and 46 calls for broken tree limbs down or other tree issues. This in addition to multiple small branches and leaves, means there is a lot of debris in the right of way and our public streets. Please help us keep this debris out of the storm drain as rain is forecast between now and Friday evening. While it will not be rain like we experienced in January, if storm drains become blocked, it could be enough to affect surface streets and traffic.

Reporting power outage and fallen tree issues

• For power outages, check PGE's outage map online and call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000
• For fallen trees, call Public Works at 650-330-6780 weekdays from 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. and at 1650-330-6300 after hours. 
  Note: For fallen trees tangled in electrical wires, PG&E must clear the wires before Public Works can remove the trees. 

Please do not call 9-1-1 unless there is an imminent threat to life or other serious emergency. For general questions consider texting the city at 650-679-7022.