A series of power outages along the Broadway corridor in Burlingame, California has left local businesses struggling, following the discovery of a leak involving an unknown petroleum product. Over the past week, stores faced multiple disruptions, prompting swift action from Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) crews, who identified the source of the issue on Wednesday, March 13, 2024.
The leak was found to be affecting PG&E’s underground electrical vaults, damaging essential equipment. Despite the utility company providing generators to affected businesses, the process to restore power has been complicated. Business owners are required to hire private electricians to conduct safety checks before PG&E can reconnect their services. This precaution aims to ensure that any potential hazards are addressed, as explained by John Kevranian of the Broadway Burlingame Business Improvement District, who emphasized the importance of safety: “To be able to certify that it’s okay to turn on the power and use the generators so we don’t have explosions.”
For many small business owners, the situation has been dire. Lucy Dul, owner of Burlingame LaGuna Florist, expressed concern as she prepared for a significant event despite the ongoing power issues. “It’s a mom and pop shop. We’re not a big corporation where we can find a way to support our staff and our overhead payment,” Dul stated, highlighting the financial strain on local businesses.
In response to the ongoing challenges, representatives from the Burlingame Business Improvement District plan to approach their board with a proposal to subsidize the costs associated with hiring electricians. This support would be crucial for local restaurateurs like Calvin Wang, who reported losses exceeding $12,000 due to employee salaries, spoiled food, and lost revenue over the past few days. “At least $12,000. With the employees’ salaries and the waste of the food and the revenue,” Wang noted.
As PG&E continues efforts to extract the petroleum product from the vaults and identify the leak’s origin, businesses are hopeful for a swift return to normalcy. “I just hope it won’t happen again,” Wang added, reflecting the sentiments of many local merchants eager to move past this challenging period.
The situation underscores the vulnerabilities of small businesses in times of unexpected crises, particularly as they navigate the complexities of safety regulations and financial pressures. Local leaders continue to advocate for support as they work to stabilize the Broadway area and ensure its resilience in the face of future challenges.
