Inmates at California State Prison, Solano, experienced a prolonged power outage as Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) crews worked tirelessly to restore electricity to the facility on Monday.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) reported that the outage followed a significant power failure in Vacaville on July 14. Although power was restored within Vacaville city limits by Monday afternoon, the prison remained without power.
“The health and safety of all individuals living and working within our institution and in our community are our top priorities,” CDCR officials stated. “This outage does not compromise security at SOL, and we are working to promptly address the needs of our population.”
Despite concerns from citizens about the well-being of inmates during the power outage, CDCR assured the public that the prison was operating on emergency generator power. Officials confirmed that measures were in place to maintain access to medical and mental health care.
“Medical staff are making regular rounds in all buildings to monitor the well-being of the incarcerated population,” CDCR officials said. “Running water and ice are available to help manage heat-related concerns, and cooling fans are operating in most areas.”
The power outage also led to the cancellation of in-person visits for Level 2 and Level 3 visitors on Sunday. The exact time of the outage on Sunday remains unclear, and both CDCR and PG&E have yet to provide a timeframe for when full power will be restored.
CDCR officials mentioned that SOL’s high-voltage contractor was on-site Monday afternoon, working to provide an estimated time for power restoration as more information becomes available.
California State Prison, Solano, a medium-security facility located south of Vacaville, houses approximately 3,300 inmates, according to the CDCR.
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