IBEW Local 1245 News

Posted: January 14, 2008

LETTER:

LINE WORKERS RISK THEIR LIVES FOR OUR CONVENIENCE

Editor’s note: The following letter got its start as an e-mail from Jan Homer, an Auburn resident, to IBEW Local 1245 Administrative Assistant Lita Clark. It is reprinted here with the author’s permission.

As one of those people that had been without power for more than five days, I was elated when the PG&E workers came into our neighborhood and restored power. They started their work at 5:00 p.m. and finished at 8:30 p.m. in the rain and the dark.

I went outside to offer my “thanks” but decided to not distract them because I could see the danger in their work. It really wasn’t until this storm that I realized the danger that they put themselves in so that they can fix our lines.

I found so many people here in Auburn that spent their time moaning about not having power and why didn’t PG&E do something faster. I came to realize that for those PG&E workers, there was no “win” because we are all so selfish that we think that we should be “first” to have our power restored. We forget that there are lots of other reasons why power is restored in other places first—hospitals, medical reasons for some persons, CalStar helicopter services, larger neighborhoods, elderly, and finally the smaller neighborhoods that can survive for those extra few days.

I would like to add that PG&E did not neglect our neighborhood, but came within hours to check as to what the problem was; removed the downed wires from our driveway as well as other areas on the street and cut the electrical power so the wires were no longer “hot,” in order to remove our immediate danger until they could return to restore power.

At any rate, there is a fund at Wells Fargo Bank here in Auburn that is being set up for the family of Felipe Chavez. I have not read yet what “his family” is comprised but can only pray for their comfort.

Thanks for the email. And, thanks for reminding each of us that PG&E line workers are out there risking their lives for our convenience!

Jan Homer

Auburn, CA