Bill: PG&E would pay for lost food during shutdown
Residents would be compensated for food and medicine spoilage if a future power shutdown lasted more than eight hours with less than 24-hour notice, according to a new bill introduced this week by North Coast Assemblymember Jim Wood.
The bill arrives after a series of manual power shutdowns late last year that left most Humboldt County residents without electricity for extended period of time. The Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said it initiated the shutoffs to avoid wildfire potential in other parts of the state.
Wood said the bill’s specifics are not finished, but it’s aimed to compel PG&E to let residents know early and plan ahead of time for future shutoffs. Otherwise, he said, the corporation would wind up with more bills to pay.
“The goal is to get them to do reasonable notifications for people,” Wood said, pointing to an early October shutoff for which Humboldt County residents had just hours’ notice. “Give people a chance to protect their food.”
PG&E, which declared bankruptcy in early 2019, stated Friday it hasn’t yet adopted a position on the proposed legislation. The utility is currently reviewing the bill.
“We appreciate the feedback we’ve received from elected officials, our regulator, our customers and our communities throughout the historic weather events last fall that impacted California,” the utility said in an emailed statement.
Meanwhile, the California Public Utilities Commission has proposed guidelines for future PG&E shutdowns. The commission calls for power to be restored less than 24 hours after wildfire potential has ended.
It also calls on PG&E to strengthen its online information and conduct exercises with public safety agencies so local emergency response officials are on the same page.
Wood said he anticipates the legislative process for his bill to be finished by late August, so the bill becomes law before the unofficial 2020 wildfire season. By the end, he hopes it can be an effective incentive for the utility to communicate with residents.
“If you’re doing this responsibly as a utility and start (shutoffs) in a timely manner, you won’t be faced with these expenses,” Wood said. “There will be consequences.”