San Francisco residents and businesses affected by a December power outage express frustration with PG&E’s $2,500 compensation offer, citing losses exceeding the amount
San Francisco Residents React to December Power Outage
San Francisco residents are still dealing with the aftermath of a late December power outage. The outage left many in the dark and cost businesses money. PG&E has offered $2,500 to cover losses, which many say is not enough for the 10 hours the lights were out.
Customer Frustrations with PG&E
Pacific Gas & Electric customers in San Francisco had a chance to express their ongoing frustration after the holiday power outage. Customers say they are still struggling with the claims process and were eager to meet with PG&E to discuss their concerns.
Financial Compensation Offered
PG&E is offering financial compensation to those affected, but many believe it is insufficient. Joe’s Ice Cream lost business and product due to the outage. Owner Sean Kim said the outage left his ice cream unrefrigerated and inedible.
| Type | Compensation Amount |
|---|---|
| Residential Customers | $200 |
| Businesses | $2,500 |
“So that’s the problem,” Kim said. “We had to throw away 16 buckets of melted ice cream.”
PG&E’s Response to Claims
PG&E representatives met with customers in the Richmond and Sunset Districts, both affected by the outages. PG&E stated it is working to help customers navigate the claims process. The $200 for residential customers and $2,500 for businesses is just a starting point.
“A lot of customers may have lost more than that, and we encourage them to go through the claims process,” said Tamar Sarkissian from PG&E. “We will address each claim on a case-by-case basis.”
Challenges in the Claims Process
Customers expressed frustration with the claims process. Chinese language speakers complained about having to fill out paper forms instead of using an online process. PG&E explained that this is to avoid technical problems during translation.
Other customers found the process frustrating due to limited space to list their losses. They hope PG&E understands their concerns.
Local Leaders Demand Accountability
Sunset District Supervisor Alan Wong walked with PG&E representatives through business corridors. He said PG&E has been slow to respond to concerns from affected businesses.
“Today is a chance for them to meet merchants and talk to them directly,” Wong said. “They should’ve done this way sooner.”
PG&E stated it is meeting with customers throughout San Francisco with culturally competent representatives to address concerns and build trust.
“We want to meet that frustration by showing that we are here,” Sarkissian said. “We have customer service lines for various languages.”
City Leaders Call for Hearings
San Francisco city leaders are calling for hearings to investigate what went wrong and hold PG&E accountable. Meanwhile, state lawmakers are working on a plan to facilitate a takeover of the power grid by the city.
