CALIFORNIA, USA — Thousands of PG&E customers across California are still without power after strong winds, rain and snow on Sunday disrupted service.
Customers who purchased groceries over the weekend may have to throw away some of the food due to the power outages. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, refrigerators keep food safe for up to four hours during a power outage. After that four hours, perishable items including meat poultry, fish, eggs and leftovers need to be thrown out, according to the USDA.
Does PG&E reimburse for spoiled food?
According to PG&E's website, there are two ways customers could get reimbursed for spoiled food: through the regular claims process or the Safety Net program.
PG&E Claims
PG&E said in many cases they aren't responsible for power outages, voltage fluctuations, food loss, or property damage due to outside forces including earthquakes and weather-related conditions including wind, rain, fog, lightning, or extreme heat.
Types of claims may include property damage, personal injury, lost wages, business losses, miscellaneous losses (car rental, hotel costs, restaurant costs) and food spoilage.
People who submit a claim will be contacted within three business days and PG&E says its goal is to decide within 30 days of its receipt.
People can submit a claim HERE. PG&E will ask customers for documentation including receipts for the food customers lost due to the outage.
PG&E's Safety Net program
Customers who have been without power for 48 consecutive hours or more because of storm conditions, may qualify for an automatic payment under PG&E's Safety Net program. Customers can get $25 to $100 paid automatically after the storm outage, according to PG&E.
Customers don't need to submit a claim form for a Safety Net payment.
"PG&E’s Safety Net Program will pay residential customers who go without power for 48 hours or longer due to severe events like storms may quality for $25 to $100 automatically within 60 to 120 days after the outage. The amount may depend on the outage length. This is an automatic credit; no action is required. Residential customers living in an area where access to PG&E’s electric facilities are blocked due to mudslides, road closures or other issues are not eligible for a Storm Inconvenience Payment," PG&E told ABC10 in a statement.
Qualifications
To be eligible for the Safety Net program, customers must meet these criteria. If they are eligible, they don't need to apply, PG&E will send payments directly to customers, according to its website:
- You are a PG&E electric residential customer. Enrollment in programs such as CARE or Medical Baseline Allowance does not impact eligibility.
- Your PG&E residential account is in good standing at the time of the outage and at the time PG&E issues payment (typically 45-60 days after the event).
- You experienced a power outage for 48 consecutive hours or longer during a major weather-related event.
- The extended outage is the result of a major weather-related event that caused significant damage to PG&E’s electric distribution system.
Some people who are not eligible are those whose account was inactive on the days they were impacted, the power outage was less than 48 consecutive hours, the power outage was due to a Public Safety Power Shutoff or a natural disaster, such as an earthquake or wildfire and more.
Payment Levels
Payments from PG&E depend on how long customers have been without power.
- 48 to 72 hours: $25
- 72 to 96 hours: $50
- 96 to 120 hours: $75
- 120 hours or more: $100
PG&E Outage Status
Here are the latest numbers for PG&E customers without power as of 7 a.m. Tuesday. Find PG&E power outages HERE.
Nevada County: 8,540
Placer County: 7,461
Sacramento County: 173
San Joaquin County: 1,233
Solano County: 3,457
Yolo County: 864
STORM RESOURCES:
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Watch more on ABC10 | Placer County power outages and Auburn flooding
