Santa Cruz group rallies against PG&E after multiple power shutoffs

Santa Cruz residents are coming to terms with what they call the “new normal.” “It could be the normal for every fire season, which keeps extending,” said resident Cori Strell.

Strell is talking about PG&E’s Public Safety Power Shutoffs. The company chose to cut power due to high fire danger. Parts of California, including Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito counties, were left in the dark this month.

“I came back down to school for my midterms and realizes that the power was off in my apartment. It was a pretty bad weekend,” said UCSC student, Grant Black.

PG&E currently serves 16 million customers over 70,000 square miles. Some residents said they want a new provider. “We are ready for a public utility to take over PG&E. PG&E’s rates are very high. They do a terrible job managing infrastructure. Because they do a bad job there, they have to shut our power off, inconveniencing our families and disrupting our lives,” said resident, Adam Bolanos Scow.

Governor Gavin Newsom shared his support for a Warren Buffet takeover of PG&E. Some said that isn’t the solution, and that a much bigger change is needed. “I think we need to reestablish a relationship to energy that’s not such a cheap, common use of energy. I think is important for us to reset our expectations,” said UCSC student, Chris Lang.