PG&E is warning about 25,000 prospective customers that their new electric service could come as much as six months later than scheduled, as the utility defers about $2 billion in planned 2027 investment, NBC Bay Area reported.
Why it matters: New homes, housing developments, data centers and clean-energy projects that need a new hookup next year could be pushed back.
What PG&E says
In an Oct. 14 post, PG&E said deferring the work lets it borrow less and avoid interest costs that would be passed on to customers. It blamed California's wildfire liability laws for raising its borrowing costs and said it will keep meeting safety and compliance obligations.
Projects that could be delayed include connecting new clean-energy resources, expanding the system for new demand, city and county transportation and public works projects, and connecting new customers or upgrading service. PG&E said it expects to know more about which projects are affected in mid-December.
Customers who got a delay letter can call PG&E's project support office at 1-888-576-6250, weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The pushback
Consumer advocates told NBC Bay Area the utility is using hookups to pressure lawmakers for wildfire liability relief. "It's pure, pure blackmail. They have the money," said Jamie Court of Consumer Watchdog.
San Francisco has cited connection delays as one reason it wants to take over PG&E's grid in the city: read our story on the valuation fight.