Supervisor Alan Wong Facilitates Merchant Walk with PG&E to Assist with Claims Following Multiple Power Outages in the Sunset District
SAN FRANCISCO, Ca (January 9, 2026) – Following six power outages in the Sunset District last month, Supervisor Alan Wong facilitated a merchant walk today with representatives from Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and merchants to address ongoing concerns, improve communication, and provide direct assistance with the claims process.
After repeated outreach and follow-up from the Supervisor’s Office, PG&E acknowledged that the recent outages in the Sunset District were unacceptable. In response, PG&E committed to improved coordination and deployed three staff members to the district today: Evy Sanchez, a customer service representative; Fiona Chan, a translator; and Julia Latimer, a Local Government Affairs Liaison. The team participated in the merchant walk and provided hands-on assistance to merchants and residents navigating the claims process.
During the walk, Supervisor Alan Wong led PG&E staff in meeting directly with affected merchants to answer questions, provide hands-on assistance with completing and submitting claims, and hear firsthand feedback about the challenges residents and small businesses have faced following the outages.
“I’m still extremely frustrated with PG&E. This is the bare minimum that they can do. I will continue to hold them accountable and demand more. Some small business owners have lost tens of thousands of dollars and deserve full compensation for their claims, not just a mere $2,500. I hope that this outreach by PG&E is not just limited to today when I’m around facilitating the connections,” said Supervisor Alan Wong. “Many merchants and residents have shared that the claims process is difficult to navigate, and too often they don’t receive timely follow-up. PG&E should have been on the ground directly outreaching to merchants, helping them fill out the forms and providing language support from the very beginning.”
Supervisor Alan Wong emphasized that the outages have had real impacts on small businesses, many of which rely on consistent power to operate safely and serve customers. He has called on PG&E to improve notification, responsiveness, and follow-through when outages occur.
Local merchants shared the financial and operational harm caused by the outages, especially during the holiday season, a critical period for small businesses.
“During the winter solstice and the holiday season, our shop was forced to shut down completely,” said Tony Lee, owner of Sun Maxim’s. “This is when families are celebrating and businesses depend on steady sales. Instead, we watched food spoil and customers walk away. For a small business, losing power during our busiest season is devastating.”
Other merchants described obstacles they’ve faced when trying to recover losses after outages.
“I’ve tried to submit claims in the past, and it’s been very hard,” said Luke Lei, owner of Smile House Cafe. “The forms are not easy to navigate, especially if English is not your first language, and often there’s no follow-up or the claim is not approved. Language assistance really matters.”
Luke added, “I pay about $5,000 a month for PG&E. A $2,500 reimbursement doesn’t even cover one month of losses. For small businesses, that gap makes a big difference.”
Smile House Cafe was among the local businesses affected by the December 7 and December 10 power outages on Taraval, which occurred during Supervisor Alan Wong’s first week in office. Hearing directly from merchants and residents, Supervisor Alan Wong sent a letter to PG&E calling for clearer communication and more timely outage notifications.
That outreach came before the December 20 citywide outage, which left nearly one-third of San Francisco without electricity. While some outages were brief, many Sunset District residents and businesses faced prolonged disruptions, with some without power for up to three days.
Supervisor Alan Wong is scheduled to meet with PG&E’s CEO next week and will bring forward the concerns and feedback raised directly by merchants and residents. His office will continue to demand accountability, fair financial relief, improved service, and reliable communication for the Sunset District.
Residents and merchants with ongoing concerns are encouraged to contact the Office of Supervisor Alan Wong at wongstaff@sfgov.org.
