Small business owners and residents from San Francisco’s Sunset District on Monday said they plan to file a class action lawsuit against PG&E, alleging the utility’s failure to provide reliable electric service caused significant financial harm during a series of December power outages.
Retired Judge Quentin L. Kopp along with impacted businesses and residents will hold a press conference at 11 a.m. on the steps of San Francisco City Hall to announce the lawsuit. Other speakers include Sunset District homeowner David Lee, Far East Restaurant owner Bill Lee and Chino Yang Restaurant owner Chino Yang.
The business owners describe widespread disruptions, including the most severe outage on Dec. 20, when a fire at a PG&E substation knocked out power to roughly a third of the city.
According to a statement from the business owners on Monday, the outage forced hundreds of businesses to close during one of the busiest holiday shopping days of the year, resulting in thousands of dollars in lost inventory and revenue.
Merchants say PG&E has been slow to compensate affected customers, with many claims still unresolved months later. Business owners claim that PG&E is seeking rate increases despite reporting record profits, and are calling on state leaders and regulators to strengthen oversight and prevent future outages.