Fresno apartment tenants regain power after month-long outage

Tenants at an apartment complex in northwest Fresno, California, have regained access to electricity, water, and air conditioning after nearly a month of outages. The disruption began when a garbage truck struck and destroyed power equipment, ripping panels from the walls and cutting off essential services.

The outage occurred during a period of triple-digit temperatures, forcing residents to seek refuge in hotels or with relatives. Tenants reported significant financial strain due to the costs of displacement, including hotel stays and food. Some residents noted that the extreme heat posed health risks, particularly for those with respiratory conditions like asthma.

A spokesperson for PG&E, Paul Moreno, stated that power restoration was delayed because the damaged panels had to meet specific code requirements. He also noted that regional resources were being stretched by heat-related outages and the Gann Fire. Crews have since arrived to restore service to the affected units.