Voices of the Valley
A forum for informed community dialogue
NAPA VALLEY, Calif. — Welcome to the inaugural edition of "Voices of the Valley: A forum for informed community dialogue," our new "Letters to the Editor" section in Napa Valley Features. This feature aims to be a space where readers can express well-reasoned views on local issues of importance, while also considering alternative perspectives to foster a more empathetic and informed discourse.
Our first letter in this new section comes from Cindy Kerson of Napa, who discusses her experiences and concerns with frequent power shutoffs in her rural Mount Veeder home. Kerson provides a comprehensive examination of the emotional and logistical toll these shutoffs take. She also offers a thoughtfully articulated alternative viewpoint, acknowledging the challenges faced by utility companies such as PG&E. By doing so, she sets a high standard for the type of nuanced, respectful conversation we aim to cultivate in this forum.
If you're interested in contributing to this important community dialogue, please fill out our online submission form to have your letter considered for publication.
Subject: Really, PG&E?
Last week we endured another PSPS (public safety power shutoff). We live on rural Mount Veeder and went 23 hours without power because a power line was breached — meaning a branch fell on it or some other natural event occurred — and the circuit shut off to prevent a disaster. While there are solid arguments that power should be relied upon for medical and work-related needs, I would like to discuss the underlying emotional and stressful experience when power is cut off. First, I had to cancel two work-related internet calls and a class I teach since my internet was unreliable. Second, we canceled a social event since we found it difficult to leave our property and dogs while the power was out. The entire event was unnerving and unsettled us. So many things can go wrong during a power shutoff, and should the power be returned while we're out, we worry that our fish tank could overflow, our winery air system could malfunction or a short could ignite a fire. We have timers on lights that fall off schedule, and resetting them occurs over days of annoyance. We worry that a scheduled event at our home will be disrupted if we lose power. I know these seem trivial compared to someone who can't sleep without a CPAP, for example, but these little frustrations build up to what I now call power insecurity. Yes, personally, the underlying stress this causes can equal water or food insecurity to me. I will spare my thoughts on the massive clear-cutting we endured these past few years so that we can now enjoy the power lines in our views, only to have that project recently aborted.
Additionally, we spent thousands of dollars on solar, battery backup and generators and still must pay PG&E an annual hookup fee. We also run these systems at our cost (for example, propane is expensive) while still having to pay PG&E for the time we are not receiving a service from them during a PSPS. I want to maintain a first-world mentality, but not knowing when (not if) I will not have power is a constant irritation and underlies my sense of safety and comfort.
Alternative perspective: I appreciate that PG&E is concerned for the safety of the communities in which they serve. I appreciate their need to maintain a fluid income stream to keep up with rising costs and recruit and maintain a solid employee base to align with the demands of the changing energy industry. I imagine maintaining the PSPS system is costly, and I applaud the helicopters overhead that are checking the lines, as this indicates our power should soon return. I hope the undergrounding project, which I'm sure costs millions, is completed and occurs on Mount Veeder soon!
Cindy Kerson, Napa.
Stunningly tone deaf.