SACRAMENTON, CA (KMJ) – PG&E Power shutoffs have impacted nearly two million Californians, and there’s another looming Wednesday.
Governor Gavin Newsom wrote a letter Tuesday to the utility, demanding PG&E do more to warn customers.
In the letter Gov. Newsom tells CEO William Johnson he wants to ensure that as few people as possible are impacted by future shutoffs.
“While the immediate goal should be to better manage the current anticipated PSPS event, PG&E’s short-term objectives should include steps to ensure that as few people as possible are impacted by any future PSPS decision,” wrote Governor Newsom.
Newsom urges the utility to adopt the directions of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and continued to extend the state’s technical and operational assistance use the state’s technology to reduce the impacts, including resources from Cal OES – the Office of Emergency Services, Cal Fire’s meteorological data, and the state’s aircraft with infra-red capabilities to help inspect and restore power lines.
“Cal OES will activate State and Regional Operations Centers to respond appropriately and ensure continuity of state agency operations that support California residents,” wrote the Governor.
The Governor continues to push for PG&E to rebate money to customers affected by the last shutoff – an automatic credit or rebate of $100 per residential customer and $250 per small business as some compensation for their hardships.
Click to hear the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
