Utility Will Offer Hotel Discounts, Rebate for Generators, Transportation to Community Centers in Case of Planned Shut-offs

By B.N. Frank

Experts have warned that Americans should expect more rolling blackouts and that upgrading the U.S. power grid could cost trillions of dollars. Utility grid operators have warned that the rush to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources is threatening power grids as well. Additionally, experts have warned that charging electric vehicles (EVs) threatens power grids. In fact, last month, California residents were asked to NOT charge their EVs during a period of grid vulnerability. Fortunately, infamous California utility PG&E is offering consumers more resources during planned blackouts.

From Energy Central:

PG&E offers expanded resources in case of planned power shut-offs

By: Alana Minkler, The Press Democrat

Oct. 11—Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is offering new and expanded customer resources in case public safety power shut-offs are needed this fall, including hotel discounts.

The shut-offs are when PG&E cuts power to areas experiencing dry and windy weather to reduce wildfire risk, the San Francisco-based utility said in a news release.

New resources include a $300 rebate to qualifying customers for backup generators, hotel discounts and transportation to community resource centers for affected customers.

Also new this year, PG&E will send shut-off notifications both day and night in accordance with California Public Utilities Commission requirements. Previously the company had not sent notifications between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m.

The company said each year it fine tunes the ability to identify and mitigate wildfire risk, which has reduced the duration and impact of the shut-offs.

In 2021, there was an 88% drop in customers impacted by shut-offs compared to 2020, and a 43% reduction in the duration of outages during a shut-off in 2021 compared to 2019, according to PG&E.

The company is to blame for a number of deadly wildfires in Northern California in recent years, including the 2017 North Bay fires and the 2018 Camp Fire in Butte County, the deadliest and most destructive fire in state history.

Information on planned shut-offs can be found at bit.ly/3SU1gUG.

You can reach Staff Writer Alana Minkler at 707-526-8511 or alana.minkler@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @alana_minkler.

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Visit The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, Calif.) at www.pressdemocrat.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Let’s not forget that PG&E has also been taken to task for its hazardous electric and gas “Smart” Meters (see 1, 2, 3). Of course, most if not all utility “Smart” Meters – electric, gas, and water – have proven to be hazardous (see 1, 2) as well as a waste of money at least for consumers.