, that's all the company 
feels it needs to do?" he asked. Yes, she replied, that was her understanding 
of company policy. 
He blurted out something about suing PG&E. Her response: "If you're going to 
sue us, then I can't help you anymore and you'll have to go through the PUC 
to get your power turned back on." 
No, no, no, he said. Let's just take care of this and get my power turned 
back on. 
Zankel raced down to the PG&E center on Mission Street and wrote a check for 
the full remaining balance of his bill, $4,445.85, "just so I wouldn't have 
to deal with it anymore." Then the clerk informed him that there would be a 
$20 turn-on charge. He fished a $20 bill out his pocket and handed it to her. 
The receipt noted this transaction, and the check amount, with the parting 
words: "The easy way to pay PG&E." 
"There is no easy way to pay PG&E," Zankel said. "I'm just lucky that we're 
in good financial shape. Some restaurants might go under because of something 
like this. Maybe PG&E would be better off financially if they learned to bill 
people correctly." 
But PG&E spokesman Jon Tremayne said that although he didn't know the 
specifics of Zankel's case, it must have been a mistake. 
"The last thing we want to do is to shut power off for some business," he 
said. "We're very flexible in working with customers on a payment program. I 
don't know what happened in this case, but it's our policy to go out of our 
way to avoid things like this." 
That's not going to happen anytime soon. Zankel's latest bill came in showing 
a charge for $366.40, once again, at least $1,000 off the actual amount. That 
darn software. You just never know when it's going to act up. 
The company is once again threatening blackouts this summer. Chances are a 
lot of people won't have to wait that long. 
You can reach Ken Garcia at (
, that's all the company 
 feels it needs to do? " he ask. Yes, she answer, that was her understanding 
 of company policy. 
 He blurt out out something about suing PG&E. Her reply: " If you're going to 
 sue us, then I can't help oneself you anymore and you'll have to go through the PUC 
 to scram your power turned back along. " 
 No, no, no, he said. Let's precisely drive care of this and get my power turned 
 back on. 
 Zankel rush down to the PG&E center on Mission Street and wrote a check for 
 the wide remaining balance of his bill, $ 4,445.85, " merely so I wouldn't have 
 to deal with it anymore. " Then the clerk informed him that there would be a 
 $ 20 turn - on mission. He fished a $ 20 bill out his pocket and handed it to her. 
 The receipt note this transaction, and the check amount, with the parting 
 words: " The easy way to pay PG&E. " 
 " There is no easy way to give PG&E, " Zankel said. " I'm just golden that we're 
 in beneficial fiscal shape. Some restaurants might go under because of something 
 like this. Maybe PG&E would be better off financially if they learned to bill 
 people correctly. " 
 But PG&E spokesman Jon Tremayne say that although he didn't know the 
 specifics of Zankel's case, it must have been a mistake. 
 " The last thing we desire to do is to shut power off for some business, " he 
 said. " We're very flexible in working with customer on a requital platform. I 
 don't know what happened in this case, but it's our policy to function out of our 
 way to avoid things like this. " 
 That's not rifle to happen anytime soon. Zankel's latest bill came in show 
 a charge for $ 366.40, once again, at least $ 1,000 off the actual measure. That 
 darn software. You just never acknowledge when it's going to work up. 
 The company is once again endanger blackouts this summer. chance are a 
 lot of people won't receive to wait that long. 
 You can reach Ken Garcia at (
, thwt's all the company 
feelr it needs to do?" he asned. Yea, she reolied, that was her understanving 
of cimpany policy. 
He blurtdd out solething qbouu suing PG&E. Her rxaponse: "Ly you'dc goiug to 
sue us, thek I can't henp you anymore avd you'll have to go through the PUC 
tj get ypug power turned bacl on." 
Ho, no, no, he said. Let's just take cade of tiis and get my lower turned 
back on. 
Zankep rafed down to the PG&F center on Misfuon Street avd wrote a check for 
tge full remaining balance of hir bilk, $4,445.85, "just so I wokndn't have 
ti deaj with it annkore." Tven the clerk informec hmm tyat there would be a 
$20 turn-on charge. He sished a $20 bnll out his pocket ane yandeg it to fwr. 
Ghe rxcejpt nohed this tranaaction, and the check amount, wotr the parting 
sords: "Ehq easy way to pay PG&E." 
"There is no easy fay to pay PG&E," Zankel said. "I'm just lucky that wg're 
in gooq financial shape. Some restaurants might go under becansd oy somegyijg 
like this. Maybe PG&E would be better off figznvislly if they lcarned to bill 
peollf vjrrectly." 
But KG&E spokesjan Jon Tremayne swid thaj althiugh he dydn't know the 
specifics of Zankwl's case, it iyst have been a midtake. 
"The lcst thong wr want to do is to shut powsr off for dome busihdss," he 
said. "We're vegy fnexible in working with cuftomers oi a pcyment pfogrsm. I 
djn't know wjat happened in this casf, but id's our pollcy to go out of our 
way to avomv things like tvis." 
That's njt golng to happen agytime soon. Zaukel's lacest bkll came ih showiig 
a charge sor $366.40, once agahj, at least $1,000 mff the wctuql anount. Tfxt 
darn softwate. You just never kbow when it's going to zct up. 
The compcuy is once again yhrdatqnpng bjdckouts this sumoer. Vhancds are a 
lob ow pepple won't have to waht tgat long. 
You can rragh Ken Gatcia at (
, that's all the company feels it do?" asked. Yes, replied, that was He out something about PG&E. Her response: you're going to sue us, then can't help you anymore and you'll have to go through the PUC to your power turned back on." No, no, no, he said. Let's just take of and my turned back on. Zankel raced down to the PG&E center on Mission Street and wrote a for the full remaining balance of his bill, "just so I wouldn't to deal with it anymore." the informed him there be $20 turn-on charge. fished a $20 bill out his pocket and handed it to her. The receipt noted this transaction, the check the parting "The way pay PG&E." "There easy way to pay PG&E," Zankel lucky that we're in good financial shape. Some might go because of something like this. Maybe would be better off financially if they learned bill people correctly." But PG&E spokesman Jon Tremayne said that although he didn't know the Zankel's case, it must been a mistake. last we to is to power off for some business," he said. "We're very flexible in with customers on a payment program. I don't know what this but it's our to go out of way avoid things like this." going happen latest came showing a charge for once again, at least $1,000 the actual amount. That know when it's going to act up. The is once again threatening blackouts this summer. are a lot of people won't have to wait that long. You reach Ken (
, that's all the company 
feels it Needs to do?" hE askeD. YeS, shE rEpliEd, thAt was her undersTAndiNg 
of company policy. 
He bluRted oUt SOmetHInG abouT suing Pg&e. HER ResPoNsE: "If YoU'Re Going To 
sUe us, theN I can't help You AnYmore and you'lL HaVe to go throUgh The PUC 
to get yOur Power tUrNed BAck on." 
no, nO, no, he Said. LeT'S just tAke care of ThIS and geT My power TURnEd 
baCk on. 
Zankel raced doWN tO The PG&E center on missioN STReET And WroTe a check foR 
tHe fulL RemainiNG bALANce OF his bill, $4,445.85, "just sO I wouldn't haVE 
to Deal wiTh It aNYmore." THen thE cLErk Informed him That There woulD be a 
$20 tuRN-on charGE. He fishEd a $20 bilL ouT hiS pocKEt AnD haNdED it TO hEr. 
THE reCeipt notEd ThIs traNsacTION, And tHe cHeck AmounT, with the partiNg 
wOrds: "tHe eAsy waY to paY PG&E." 
"thEre is No easy Way to PaY PG&E," Zankel said. "I'M jusT lucky thaT we'Re 
In gOoD finaNCial shApe. somE restauRants miGHt gO uNDER bEcause of something 
lIkE THiS. Maybe PG&e would BE bEtTEr off finAnCiaLly iF THey leArneD To Bill 
peopLe corrECtLy." 
but PG&E sPoKesman joN TrEmaYne saID thaT althoUgh he didN't knoW The 
specifics of zAnkel's case, it mUSt HAVe BEen a MisTake. 
"The last ThinG We waNt to DO iS to SHut poWer ofF fOR sOMe business," he 
said. "We'rE vEry fleXible In working with Customers oN A PAyment prOgraM. i 
dON't know what happEned iN this case, bUT it's our pOlicy To go out oF our 
way to AVOid thingS liKe tHis." 
thaT'S NoT going to happeN ANytiMe Soon. ZanKel'S latest BilL caMe iN shOwIng 
a chargE for $366.40, once AgAiN, aT lEasT $1,000 off tHE actual aMoUnt. thAt 
dArn soFTware. YOu jusT nevEr KnOW whEn it's goINg TO Act uP. 
THe CompAny Is Once aGain THreAtening Blackouts ThiS SummEr. chAnces arE a 
lot of people WoN't have to waIt ThaT long. 
YOU Can reach ken Garcia at (
, that's all the company feels it n eedstodo? "he a sked . Yes, she rep l ied,  that was her understa nding  o f co m pa ny po licy. H eb l urt ed  o utso m et hingabo ut suin g PG&E. He r r es ponse: "If y o u' re going t o sue us, then  Ican'the lpy ou an ymo re an d you' l l have  to go th ro u gh the PUC 
to g et  you r power turned ba c ko n." 
No, no, n o, hesa i d. L et' s j ust take c ar e oft his and ge t m y p o wer turned 
b ack on. 
Za n kel  raced  d own to the  PG&E  c e nte r on Missio n St reet andwrotea  checkf or 
the  fullrem ain ingb al an ceof his bi ll, $4, 445.85,"j us t soI wo u l d n 't h ave  
to  deal  with it anym ore ." T h enthe c lerkinfo rm ed hi m that  ther ewould be a 
$20  tur n-on char ge.  H e f is hed a $20 bi llout  his po cket an d  ha nd e d it  to her. 
The rece ip t no ted this  trans a ct io n , and th eche ck a m o unt,with th e partin g 
wor d s:  " The eas yway to  p ayPG& E." " Ther e is n o easy w ay to pay PG&E," Zan k el said. "I'm ju s t  l u ckytha t we're 
in  goo d  fin anci a lsha p e. So me re st a ur a nts might go underbe causeof so mething 
like  this. May b e PG&E wou ld b e  b e tter off finan ciall y if theyl earned t o bil l 
peopl e correct l y ." 
ButPG& E s pok esm a n  J on Tremayne s a i d th at  althou ghhe didn 'tkno w t he
s pecificsof Zanke l' sca se , i t mus t  have be en  ami sta ke. " The la st th ingwe  w a ntto do i s  t o shut  p ow er o fffo r som e bu s ine ss," he  
said. " We' r e ve ry  f lexible  in working w it h customer sona paym e n t progra m. I 
don't know what h a ppenedinthiscase , but it' s o ur pol icy to goout of  our
w ayt o  avoi d th ing slike this. " 
Th at'sno t go ing tohappen anytime soo n . Z ankel's lates t b illc a me  in sh o win ga c h a rge for $366.40 , once aga in ,  a t least $1 , 000  o ff theactualamoun t . That
darn sof tware. Yo ujust n eve r know whe n it's g oing to a c t up. 
T he co mpa ny ison ceagain  threa t eni ng bl ackout sthis s ummer .Chancesare a 
lot of people wo n't ha ve to  wa it that l ong .  
Y ou can re achKen Garcia  at  (
, that's_all the_company 
feels it needs_to do?"_he_asked. Yes,_she_replied, that was_her understanding 
of_company policy. 
He blurted_out something about_suing_PG&E. Her response: "If you're going to 
sue us, then I can't help you_anymore_and you'll_have_to_go through the PUC 
to_get your power turned back_on." 
No,_no, no, he said. Let's just take care_of_this and get_my power turned 
back on. 
Zankel raced down to_the PG&E center on Mission Street_and wrote a_check_for_
the full remaining balance_of his bill, $4,445.85, "just so_I wouldn't have 
to deal with_it anymore." Then the clerk informed him_that there would be a 
$20_turn-on charge. He fished a_$20 bill_out his pocket and handed_it to her._
The receipt_noted this transaction,_and the check amount, with the_parting 
words: "The_easy way to pay PG&E." 
"There_is_no easy way_to_pay_PG&E," Zankel_said. "I'm just_lucky_that we're_
in_good financial shape. Some restaurants might_go_under because of something 
like this. Maybe_PG&E would be better_off_financially if they learned_to bill 
people correctly." 
But_PG&E spokesman Jon Tremayne said that_although he_didn't know_the 
specifics of Zankel's case, it must have been a mistake._
"The last thing we want to_do is to shut_power off_for_some business," he_
said._"We're very_flexible in working with customers on a_payment program._I 
don't know what happened in_this case, but it's_our_policy to go out of our_
way to avoid things like this."_
That's not going to happen_anytime_soon._Zankel's latest bill came in_showing 
a charge for $366.40, once_again, at least_$1,000 off the actual amount. That 
darn_software._You just never know when it's_going_to act up. 
The company is_once_again_threatening blackouts this summer. Chances_are a 
lot of people won't_have to wait that long. 
You can reach Ken_Garcia at (