San Diego Gas & Electric officials have notified 24,700 customers living in backcountry areas that they may lose power in the coming days because Santa Ana winds are expected to blow through the area, which may result in elevated risk of fire. Moderate-strength Santa Ana winds are expected to arrive Tuesday night and last until Thursday evening, leading the National Weather Service to issue red flag warnings for San Diego County valleys and mountains through Friday morning. The red flag warning is also in effect for inland and coastal Orange County. SDG&E officials say that as early as Wednesday morning, backcountry areas may be subject to Public Safety Power Shutoffs — a practice in which investor-owned utilities in California cut off electricity from specific circuits as a precautionary measure to avoid the chance of power lines falling in high winds and igniting a wildfire. The utility started notifying customers most at risk of losing power on Monday via phone, text messages and email. SDG&E officials say those customers should be prepared to be without power through Friday and added that crews “will work to restore power as quickly as safety allows.” Since the potential shutoffs are not expected until Wednesday at the earliest, they are not expected to have any impact on customers in those areas casting their ballots on Election Day. Rural and backcountry areas are most prone to power shutoffs, called PSPS for short, because the canyons and more elevated terrain are susceptible to blustery conditions. Communities in what is called the High Fire Threat District are particularly affected because many homes rely on water from wells powered by electricity for their homes, horses and livestock. Five PSPS events occurred in SDG&E’s service territory in 2018 and five in 2020. But the numbers dropped to one in 2021 and none in 2022 and 2023. Two straight wet winters have helped reduce the risk of wildfires in the region. SDG&E said it has activated its Emergency Operations Center to monitor conditions 24/7 and has personnel and pre-staged materials and equipment ready for response. It’s still to be determined if Community Resource Centers will be opened. The centers are used for residents in areas affected by PSPS to get water, snacks, relief from harsh weather conditions, as well as charge their electronic devices and receive updates on when the shutoffs may be lifted. Real-time information about unplanned power outages can be found at sdge.com/outage. SDG&E said it’s important to remember that customers should never approach a downed line. They should report it by calling 911 or SGD&E’s call center at 800-411-7343.