Lights Out Again: Richmond District Reels as PG&E Outages Return

A Neighborhood Left in the Dark

The sun hadn’t yet cleared the fog over 32nd Avenue when the power blinked out. Again. By 6:15 a.m., the Richmond District’s familiar morning soundtrack—espresso machines, Muni trains, children arguing over cereal—was replaced by the low hum of backup batteries and the collective groan of neighbors peering into darkened doorways.

For the third time in six weeks, Pacific Gas & Electric had cut electricity to roughly 7,800 homes and businesses, citing “equipment failure triggered by underground cable degradation.” Translation: aging infrastructure that PG&E has promised, and failed, to replace for more than a decade.

‘We’re Hostages in Our Own Homes’

“I’ve lost three refrigerators of groceries since August,” said Lourdes Chang, a retired bookkeeper who has lived on Balboa Street for 42 years. “Every time they say it’s the last time. We’re hostages in our own homes.”

Chang’s frustration is spreading faster than PG&E crews can roll trucks. On Wednesday, more than 300 residents packed the Richmond Senior Center, waving flashlights instead of placards and demanding a timeline for a permanent fix. Supervisors Connie Chan and Joel Engardjio, both staring at re-election races, promised “accountability sessions” with PG&E executives. The utility’s regional vice-president, Aaron Johnson, left after 20 minutes, citing “an escalating emergency in the East Bay.”

Outage by the Numbers

• 7,800 customers affected in Tuesday’s outage
• 14 hours average restoration time
• 3 major outages in Richmond District since Aug. 1
• 0 public maps showing which blocks will be shut off next

Why the Richmond Keeps Getting Hit

PG&E insists the district’s coastal microclimate—salt air, shifting sand, and century-old conduit—accelerates cable decay. Critics counter that the utility’s maintenance schedule, trimmed by $30 million in 2020 budget cuts, is the real culprit. Internal PG&E memos obtained by the Bay City Herald show cable replacement in the Richmond was postponed “until FY 2026–27,” two years later than originally planned.

“They’re playing roulette with our grid,” said state Assemblymember Mia Bonta, who represents the area. “Every deferred dollar of maintenance becomes a day without power for working families.”

Small Businesses Count the Losses

At Arsicault Bakery on Clement, co-owner Armel Jourdan-Fischer estimated $18,000 in lost revenue when refrigerators warmed and laminated croissants went unsold. “We can’t keep insurance claims open forever,” he said, wiping flour from his hands. “Eventually the deductible eats us alive.”

Down the street, Ewa’s Polish Market resorted to dry ice and desperation. “We paid $600 for ice that lasted six hours,” owner Ewa Biel noted. “PG&E reimburses 50 cents on the dollar—if you file three forms and wait 90 days.”

What Happens Next

PG&E has pledged to install 4.3 miles of new conduit along Geary Boulevard beginning “late fall,” but crews won’t break ground until after Thanksgiving. In the meantime, the utility is deploying diesel generators the size of shipping containers on Balboa and 43rd. Neighbors call them “the thunder boxes,” complaining of fumes that drift into bedroom windows at night.

The California Public Utilities Commission has opened a formal investigation, citing “potential violations of public safety standards.” If regulators find PG&E negligent, fines could reach $50 million—money that would flow into the state’s general fund, not local repair work.

‘We Just Want the Lights to Stay On’

Back on 32nd Avenue, Lourdes Chang keeps her flashlight on the nightstand. She’s taped PG&E’s outage hotline to the fridge beside her grandson’s crayon drawings. “I’m not asking for miracles,” she said, staring at a dark traffic signal outside her window. “I just want the lights to stay on long enough to finish one cup of tea while it’s still hot.”

Until then, the Richmond District survives on candlelight, canned food, and the fragile hope that the next shutdown won’t be the one that spoils more than just groceries.