PENINSULA POWER PROJECT BEGINS vs

PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY BEGINS A 4-MONTH PROJECT TODAY AT THEIR DEL MONTE SUBSTATION (IN NORTHEASTERN MONTEREY) TO UPGRADE OLD EQUIPMENT. THE PROJECT WILL LEAVE ABOUT 30 THOUSAND POWER CUSTOMERS WITHOUT THEIR USUAL BACK-UP POWER FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. THE POWER COMPANY SAYS CUSTOMERS FROM PACIFIC GROVE TO FORT ORD WON'T BE AWARE OF ANY CHANGES IF EVERYTHING GOES AS PLANNED, UNLESS THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS. IF EQUIPMENT BREAKS (OR A CAR HITS A POWER POLE), IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE A LITTLE LONGER TO RESTORE POWER. PG&E SUGGESTS THAT CUSTOMERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS (OR LIFE-SUPPORT DEVICES) SHOULD CHECK TO BE SURE THAT PG&E IS AWARE OF THEIR SITUATION. ONCE COMPLETED, THE UPGRADE WILL ENSURE THE MONTEREY PENINSULA HAS A MORE RELIABLE SYSTEM.