As expected, Pacific Gas and Electric Company has announced it will institute another public safety power shutoff starting Wednesday afternoon and early Thursday morning. The shutoffs are expected to begin around 2PM in the Sierra Foothills, 3PM in the North Bay Counties, and around 1AM Thursday in affected areas of San Mateo and Kern Counties. The shutoff is expected to impact approximately 179,000 customers in parts of 17 counties: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Kern, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, San Mateo, Sierra, Sonoma, Tehama and Yuba. Shasta County is not included. On Monday, the utility announced the possibility of turning off electrical power due to the forecast of high winds and low humidity.