Frustrated Sunset District business owners have had enough of Pacific Gas and Electric's (PG&E) response to recent power outages and are gearing up to take legal action against the utility. After multiple blackouts hit the area last month, notably on December 20, and with at least seven outages reported by local residents, a group of nearly 50 businesses is preparing to file a lawsuit seeking greater reimbursement for their losses. Retired judge and former county supervisor Quentin Kopp is set to lead the claim, aiming to hold PG&E accountable for its perceived shortcomings in handling the aftermath.
According to reports from KRON4, Kopp highlighted the increasing cost to PG&E the longer it delays proper compensation for businesses suffering due to their actions; these delays could escalate the financial consequences for the utility. Among those affected, Sunset District homeowner David Lee expressed the dire situation for many local mom-and-pop shops, whose already slim margins have been ravaged by these outages, causing significant financial hardship as they step into the new year PG&E might be active in their support according to their claims, but the considered credits of $200 for residential customers and $2500 for businesses are alleged by the community to be insufficient.
Business owner Tina Zheng, whose two establishments incur losses exceeding $10,000, echoes the sentiment of insufficiency in PG&E's offer, as she and other entrepreneurs seek increased compensation. "Because I have two stores, I calculate more than $10,000," Zheng told KTVU. A petition is circulating among business owners calling for the utility to raise their credit offer to $5,000 for businesses and $500 for individual homes to better reflect the losses incurred.
While PG&E claims that a vast majority of the 2,439 filed claims have been settled quickly, approximately within 13 days for 70% of cases, the community's experience varies greatly—some residents and business owners continue to wait for payment, with minimal updates or contact from PG&E, casting doubt on the utility's depiction of swift resolutions. "And still have not received payment yet. PG&E is saying that they are resolving claims quickly. So that's not our definition of quick," David Lee stressed to KTVU. PG&E, which maintains a commitment to addressing customer issues and offering multilingual support, has been contacted by news outlets regarding the impending lawsuit but has not yet disclosed detailed information about the case beyond their ongoing claims process.
The legal push, directed by Kopp and supported by the affected business community, is scheduled to take official course next Monday.
