Pg&E Defends Power Shutoff, Inspections Continue - SFGate

Pg&E Defends Power Shutoff, Inspections Continue - SFGate: PG&E officials defended their use of this week's public safety power shutoff and said that, as of Saturday afternoon, 99.5 percent of customers affected have had electricity restored.

During a briefing Saturday afternoon, PG&E President Bill Johnson addressed claims that the power shutoff was done to "save our own skins" and that PG&E's system was in shambles.

"It is simply not true that the condition of our system was the cause of this PSPS," Johnson said. "What is true is that the risk of wildfire has grown exponentially."

During the past week Gov. Gavin Newsom and others have criticized the utility for shutting down power, saying PG&E had neglected upgrades and maintenance.

On Saturday, Johnson thanked customers for their patience and described the shutoff as a "monumental undertaking."

As of 1 p.m., 2,500 remaining customers, mostly in hilly areas, remain without power, said Sumeet Singh, PG&E vice president for asset and risk management.

The utility is hoping to restore power to those customers by the end of the day, pending ongoing inspections. All Bay Area customers affected by the shutoff have seen power restored, he said.

Statewide, from the Sierra to