Over the past several months, our district has faced repeated, unpredictable power outages. These disruptions are similar to those our region experienced a few years ago when Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) implemented “fast trip” devices on power lines in high fire-risk areas.

To reduce wildfire risk, PG&E enacted the Enhanced Powerline Safety Setting (EPSS) designed to instantly shut power off when the system detects a danger such as a tree branch or a vehicle hitting a power pole.

In theory, this can be a good thing — in practice, these settings appear to be overly sensitive. Small incidents like a bird or squirrel on the line can now trigger outages, sometimes multiple times a day. Although the power shuts off immediately, restoring it can take several hours to several days, as PG&E crews must manually inspect the lines to resolve the issue.

What makes these outages particularly frustrating is their unpredictability. They occur during calm weather, with no apparent external cause. Moreover, communication from PG&E leadership has been lacking. Our residents deserve clear answers about why these outages are happening, why restoration takes so long, and what steps are being taken to reduce their frequency. While we fully support efforts to improve safety, it seems the current system may be overcorrecting, forcing residents to choose between safety and reliable service. This should not be an either/or proposition.

The impacts of these outages on Santa Cruz County residents are profound. Those relying on wells are left without water, remote workers lose productivity and individuals with medical needs requiring electricity are put at serious risk. Reliable service from PG&E is a matter of public safety and we expect continuous improvements to ensure power remains on.

This issue speaks to a larger need for greater accountability and transparency in how utility companies operate, which is why at the local and state level, we have taken action. At the state level, Assemblymember Addis authored AB 2847, designed to give communities like ours the transparency they deserve. AB 2847 seeks to empower residents with information and gives them a stronger voice in demanding action from companies like PG&E when service failure occurs. At the county level, we have pushed for greater California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) involvement in these outages and better oversight into these system changes.

Let us be clear: we deeply appreciate the hard work of PG&E’s line workers, who demonstrate professionalism and dedication in maintaining our power infrastructure, often under difficult conditions. Our constituents always speak of the professionalism and understanding of those out doing the work day in and day out. However, the issue lies with PG&E leadership, where we see a lack of accountability and responsiveness.

At both the county and state levels, we are committed to amplifying the voices of our affected residents to the CPUC and to PG&E leadership. Our offices have made multiple requests for a community town hall with PG&E to provide direct answers on the causes of these outages and what is being done to prevent them.

As of today, our requests have gone unanswered. We will continue pressing for transparency and solutions because our community deserves both safety and reliable power.

Zach Friend is a Santa Cruz County Supervisor representing the 2nd District. Dawn Addis is a California State Assemblymember representing the 30th District.