UPDATE: Nearly a week after a catastrophic power outage left parts of San Francisco’s west side in darkness, residents are expressing frustration over PG&E’s response and the company’s meager $200 credit. Many, including vulnerable seniors and small business owners, are still reeling from the effects, particularly as they were gearing up for significant winter holidays.
Residents from the Sunset and Richmond Districts report ongoing challenges. Community leaders are sounding alarms about the toll on isolated individuals, especially seniors and immigrants. “A lot of them are isolated, many don’t speak English, and they didn’t know where to turn,” said David Lee, Executive Director of the Chinese American Voters Education Committee.
A family in the Richmond District faced a harrowing 50 hours without power. “My dad needs machines to clear his airways when he sleeps. He wasn’t sleeping at night,” shared resident Myron Lee. Residents struggled to check on neighbors due to security gates and poor communication networks, compounding their stress during the outage.
The timing of the outage was particularly devastating, coinciding with Dongzhi, the Winter Solstice, a holiday celebrated with family meals. “It was a total loss for the business owners,” Lee remarked, highlighting that many had stocked up on food and supplies for the holiday. Community advocates reported that small, family-run businesses had heavily invested in goods, only to see everything spoil.
In response to these hardships, PG&E announced a $200 bill credit for affected residents and up to $2,500 for businesses that lost inventory or revenue. However, many residents argue that this compensation is grossly inadequate. “Let’s start by increasing the credit that people are getting because $200 doesn’t cut it,” Lee urged.
PG&E stated that customers may pursue a separate claims process for further compensation. Yet, Lee fears that many in the elderly, immigrant Chinese community will struggle with the paperwork. He advocates for the city of San Francisco to establish a list of vulnerable residents to ensure they receive necessary services during emergencies. “I hope the city is preparing for the next blackout,” he said.
As of Friday, PG&E reported that the Mission Substation, where the outage began, is now stable. Several generators have been deployed at substations to provide temporary power to affected customers. “These units were put into service on Monday morning and will be turned off once repairs are complete,” stated Tamar Sarkissian, a PG&E spokesperson.
PG&E representatives have been present at the Richmond Center, providing information in Chinese to ensure better communication. Additional outreach efforts are planned, with dedicated customer service lines for Chinese (1-800-893-9555) and Spanish (1-800-660-6789) speakers.
Residents and community leaders are urging immediate action from PG&E and the city to address the ongoing impact of this outage. The emotional and financial toll on families and businesses remains a pressing concern as the community continues to recover from this unsettling event.
