Upcoming PG&E Power Cuts Affect Thousands in SF
As San Francisco continues to grapple with power reliability issues, residents are bracing for another round of planned power cuts due to ongoing maintenance at PG&E facilities. Following a significant power outage on December 20, where approximately 130,000 customers were left without electricity because of a substation fire, the utility company has announced a new round of power interruptions planned for Monday and Tuesday.
Details of the Planned Interruptions
On Monday, starting at midnight, around 3,600 homes and businesses located near Civic Center will experience a power cut lasting until noon. The following day, at the same time, a larger segment of the population — roughly 14,000 homes and businesses in the Richmond District — will also be affected, but their outage is expected to last only until 2 AM. PG&E assures that these outages are necessary to safely complete the work needed to improve the electrical grid and restore full service capabilities.
Impact of Recent Outages on Residents
The December blackout has ignited frustrations among city leaders and residents about PG&E’s reliability. Many have shared untold stories of challenges faced during the outages, including lost goods for businesses and complications for residents with health needs reliant on electricity. Supervisor Alan Wong emphasized the urgency for accountability and improvements, highlighting that families and senior citizens, particularly those with health conditions, were put in precarious situations during the last outages.
Calls for Public Utility Alternatives
In their response to repeated outages, San Francisco supervisors have renewed calls to consider the city's potential acquisition of PG&E's assets. By moving toward a public utility system, there are hopes for better accountability and service reliability. Many advocates argue that with PG&E’s history of safety lapses and profit-driven approach, the establishment of a city-run utility could prove safer and more reliable for its residents.
What's Next for PG&E and San Francisco
As these discussions unfold, residents are left grappling with recurring outages and the implications for their daily lives. While PG&E maintains that significant investments have been made towards improving reliability, the perception of their service is dwindling as community leaders push for transparency and upgrades in the electrical system. For residents, the recent outages underline a growing sense of urgency for action and resolution within the city's utilities context, potentially leading to broader public discussions around energy sourcing in San Francisco.
Add Row
Add
Write A Comment