The recent storm and resulting power outages on the Central Coast have exposed critical vulnerabilities in our region's electrical infrastructure. Many residents, including those in Marina, Monterey, Seaside, Carmel, and surrounding areas, experienced a complete loss of power for over 36 hours, disrupting essential services, impacting businesses, and jeopardizing the safety and well-being of our communities.

This petition calls on PG&E to take immediate and comprehensive action to improve power reliability and storm preparedness on the Central Coast. We demand the following:

1. Enhanced Grid Resilience:

• Invest in grid modernization: Upgrade aging equipment, strengthen infrastructure, and increase capacity to withstand extreme weather events.
• Underground power lines: Prioritize undergrounding power lines in high-risk areas to reduce vulnerability to wind and falling trees.
• Improve grid redundancy: Ensure alternative power sources can be quickly brought online to minimize the scope and duration of outages.

2. Strengthened Storm Preparedness:

• Proactive vegetation management: Implement a robust tree trimming program to prevent vegetation from interfering with power lines.
• Improved communication: Provide timely and accurate information to customers before, during, and after storms, including estimated restoration times and resources for vulnerable populations.
• Community resilience programs: Partner with local communities to develop emergency preparedness plans and support vulnerable residents during outages.

3. Increased Investment in Renewable Energy:

• Expand renewable energy sources: Accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources like solar and wind power to reduce reliance on vulnerable transmission lines.
• Support community microgrids: Facilitate the development of community microgrids to provide localized power generation and resilience during outages.

4. Transparency and Accountability:

• Conduct a thorough investigation: Provide a detailed public report on the causes of the recent power outages and the specific steps being taken to prevent future disruptions.
• Increase transparency: Regularly report on progress made towards grid modernization, storm preparedness, and renewable energy integration.
• Engage with communities: Establish a platform for ongoing dialogue with residents and community leaders to address concerns and ensure accountability.

We, the undersigned, urge PG&E to prioritize the safety and well-being of Central Coast residents by taking swift and decisive action to improve power reliability and storm preparedness. We expect a prompt and comprehensive response to this petition, outlining the specific steps PG&E will take to address our concerns.