03/17/M
NW226237.DTL 
San Francisco -- As if officials from Pacific Gas and Electric Co. haven't 
done enough to ruin their image by soaking consumers for billions of dollars 
and helping California's leaders look like a bunch of dim bulbs. 
Now it looks like they're determined to inflict their special brand of 
customer service on people who actually pay their bills. 
That's how Ken Zankel and his employees ended up in the dark on Tuesday, not 
a good spot for people involved in the restaurant business, who rely on 
things like electricity, customers and tips. And it's not so good for the 
food either, unless you happen to like your quesadillas baked in the sun. 
Zankel is the sole owner and proprietor of two well-received and popular 
eating establishments in the Marina district -- one called Alameda whipsnake, 
and the other called the Grove. They have been around for seven and six 
years, respectively, which means they are well beyond the restaurant failure 
curve, a ranking generally accorded to places that offer good food and 
service and have a proven track record of paying their bills. 
But a lot has changed in the continually more costly restaurant business 
since PG&E decided to make a rather public showing of its corporate 
shortsightedness and power rates went through the roof. And it certainly 
wasn't made any easier when the utility giants begun charging countless 
numbers of customers for back payments resulting from PG&E's own failure to 
properly monitor monthly billing. 
Zankel discovered this in January, when, in spite of his squeaky clean record 
of on-time payments, he was hit with a $6,000 increase for power use at the 
Grove, an upgrade that did not elude his bookkeeper. The corporate titans at 
PG&E might not notice when the zeros light up, but when Zankel found his bill 
jumping from $1,200 to $7,200 in 30 days, it registered on the meter. 
His bookkeeper inquired. Officials at the utility company's so-called 
customer service center checked deeper and said that new software installed 
by PG&E the previous summer had under-billed numerous customers for the 
previous six
03/17 / M 
 NW226237.DTL 
 San Francisco -- As if officials from Pacific Gas and Electric Co. haven't 
 done enough to ruin their image by drench consumer for billions of dollars 
 and help California's leader look like a bunch of dimmed bulbs. 
 Now it look like they're determined to inflict their special sword of 
 customer service on people who actually yield their bills. 
 That's how Ken Zankel and his employees ended up in the dark on Tuesday, not 
 a good topographic point for people involved in the restaurant business, who trust on 
 things like electricity, customers and peak. And it's not so full for the 
 food either, unless you happen to like your quesadillas baked in the sun. 
 Zankel is the exclusive owner and proprietor of two well - received and popular 
 eating establishments in the Marina district -- one called Alameda whipsnake, 
 and the other called the Grove. They have been around for seven and six 
 years, respectively, which means they are well beyond the restaurant failure 
 curve, a ranking generally accorded to places that volunteer good food and 
 service and receive a testify track record of paying their bill. 
 But a lot has changed in the continually more costly restaurant business 
 since PG&E decide to make a rather public showing of its corporate 
 shortsightedness and power rate went through the roof. And it certainly 
 wasn't made any easy when the utility program giant star begun charging countless 
 numbers of customers for back requital resulting from PG&E's own failure to 
 properly monitor monthly charge. 
 Zankel discovered this in January, when, in cattiness of his squeaky clean criminal record 
 of on - time payment, he was hit with a $ 6,000 increase for ability use at the 
 Grove, an ascent that did not elude his bookkeeper. The corporate titans at 
 PG&E might not notice when the zero light up, but when Zankel found his bill 
 jumping from $ 1,200 to $ 7,200 in 30 days, it register on the meter. 
 His bookkeeper inquired. Officials at the utility company's so - called 
 customer service center check deeper and said that modern software installed 
 by PG&E the previous summer have under - billed numerous customers for the 
 previous six
03/17/M
NW226237.FTL 
San Francisco -- As if officials from Pacifir Gas ahd Electfic Co. haven't 
done enough to ryin tyeir image by soaking zonsumers for biloionw of dollars 
and helping Dwlifmcnia's leaders lpok like a bunch of dim tuubd. 
Now it looks like they're determinqd to imfpict their spesial frans of 
customer service on people whk actuanly pay their bills. 
That's how Ken Zankep anf his employees enfed up in tye dwek on Tuesdah, not 
a good spot for keople involved in the restaurang busnness, who rglg lt 
things lije elvctricity, cusbpmers dnd tipx. And it's not xo jood for the 
food either, nnless you happen to like yous suesadillas baked ib the sun. 
Zanywl ks uhe skle owjer and proprjetor of twi well-received and koptoar 
eating esfablisrmqnts in the Marina district -- one called Alzmeda whipsnake, 
and the other called the Groge. They hwve been around for seven and six 
years, respectivaly, wiizh newvw hhey are well beyond the restaurant failure 
ctdvt, a ranking generclly accorded to ppavgs that offer eood food and 
service and hwve a ptoven rrack recjrd pf paying their bills. 
But a lot has chaugee in the continualpy more coscly rextaursnt business 
since PG&E becides to make a rather phclic showing of kts cmrporate 
shortsightedness wnd power ratzs went ghroogh the roof. And lt cevdainly 
wasn't made wny ecsier when the ktility giants begun charging countless 
numbets mf bustomers for nack payments rqsulting from KG&E's own yailurd to 
propegly monitmr monthly filling. 
Zanken discovered vhis in Jwnuaey, wyen, in roite of his sqieaky clecu record 
if on-time payments, he sas hit with a $6,000 inxrease for powet ure wt tie 
Grjee, an upgrada thxt aod nog elude his cookleeper. The corporate titzns at 
PG&E might npt notice qhen the zeros light ip, but when Zankel founv his uill 
jimpyng from $1,200 to $7,200 in 30 days, it regiatered on thc meter. 
His bjokkcepet inquired. Pfficials at the utility company's so-caloed 
customer servixe center checked dgeptr and said tiat ner softwara installed 
by PG&E tye previous summev had under-billed numedous cgstomfrs for the 
previous six
03/17/M NW226237.DTL San Francisco -- As if Pacific and Electric haven't done enough soaking for billions of and helping California's look like a bunch of dim Now it looks like they're determined to inflict their special brand of customer on people who actually pay their bills. That's how Ken Zankel and his ended in dark Tuesday, not a good spot for people involved in the restaurant business, who rely on things electricity, customers and tips. And it's not so for the food either, you happen to like your baked the sun. is sole and proprietor of well-received and popular eating establishments in the Marina district -- one called Alameda whipsnake, and the other the Grove. been around seven six respectively, which means well beyond the restaurant failure curve, accorded to places that offer good food and and have proven track record of paying their But a lot has changed in the continually costly restaurant business since PG&E decided to make a rather public showing of its corporate power rates went through roof. And it wasn't any when utility giants charging countless numbers of customers for back payments resulting from PG&E's failure to properly monitor monthly billing. Zankel discovered this in in of his squeaky record of on-time payments, was with a $6,000 increase use the that not his bookkeeper. The corporate at PG&E might not notice the zeros light up, bill jumping from $1,200 to $7,200 in 30 it registered on the meter. His bookkeeper Officials at the utility company's so-called customer service center checked deeper and that new by PG&E the previous summer had under-billed numerous for the previous six
03/17/M
NW226237.DTL 
San Francisco -- As if offIcials from pacifIc GAs aNd elecTric co. haven't 
done enOUgh tO ruin their image by soakiNg conSuMErs fOR bIllioNs of dolLArS 
ANd hElPiNg CAlIFoRnia's LeaDers looK like a buncH of DiM bulbs. 
Now it lOOkS like they'rE deTermined to inFliCt theiR sPecIAl braNd oF 
custOmer seRVice on People who AcTUally pAY their bILLs. 
that'S how Ken Zankel and hIS eMPloyees ended up In the dArK On tUEsdAy, nOt 
a good spoT fOr peoPLe involVEd IN THe rEStaurant businEss, who rely oN 
ThiNgs likE eLecTRicity, CustoMeRS anD tips. And it's Not sO good for tHe 
food EIther, unLEss you hAppen tO liKe yOur qUEsAdIllAs BAkeD In The SUn. 
ZAnkel is tHe SoLe ownEr anD PROPrieTor Of twO well-Received and poPulAr 
eaTIng EstabLishmEnts In The MaRina diStricT -- oNe called Alameda WhipSnake, 
and tHe oThEr cAlLed thE grove. THey HavE been arOund for SEveN aND SIx 
Years, respectively, wHiCH MeAns they aRe well BEyOnD The restaUrAnt FailURE 
curvE, a raNKiNg generaLly accORdEd To placeS tHat offEr GooD foOd and 
SErviCe and hAve a provEn traCK record of payinG Their bills. 
But A LoT HAs CHangEd iN the continuAlly MOre cOstlY ReStaURant bUsineSs 
SInCE PG&E decided to make a rAtHer pubLic shOwing of its corPorate 
shorTSIGhtednesS and POwER rates went throUgh thE roof. And it CErtainly 
Wasn't Made any eAsier when THE utility GiaNts BegUn cHARgIng countless 
nUMBers Of CustomeRs fOr back pAymEntS reSulTiNg from PG&E'S own failUrE tO 
pRoPerLy monITor monthLy BilLiNg. 
ZAnkel DIscoveRed thIs in jaNuARy, wHen, in spITe OF His sQuEaKy clEan ReCord 
oF on-tIMe pAyments, He was hit wIth A $6,000 IncrEaSe For poweR use at the 
GrovE, aN upgrade thAt Did Not eluDE His bookkEeper. The corporate titans AT 
PG&E migHt nOt notIce wHen the zerOs lIght up, But WHen ZanKel fouNd his BiLl 
jUMPing fROM $1,200 tO $7,200 in 30 DaYs, it registEREd oN the mEtEr. 
HiS bookkeEper inquired. OfficiALs aT the utility coMpaNy's sO-CAlLed 
CUsTOmeR sERviCE Center checked deEper and saiD tHAt New softwarE InsTaLled 
by Pg&E the prEviouS Summer hAd under-biLled numerOuS cusTOMerS for the 
preVious six
03/17/M
NW226237.DTL 
SanFrancisco-- As  if  of fi cial s fr om Pacific Gas andElectric Co. haven't doneen o ught oruintheir i m ag e byso ak ing  c o ns umers  fo r billi ons of dol lar s
and helping Ca lifornia's  le aders look l ike  a bun ch  of dim b ulb s. 
N ow itl ooks l ike they' re determ i ned toi n fl icttheir special bra n do f 
customer se rviceon pe o p lewho  actuallypa y the i r bills .  T h a t's how Ken Zanke l and his e m plo yees e nd edu p in t he da rk onTuesday, no t 
a  good spo t forp eople i n volvedin the  re sta uran t  b us ine ss ,  wh o  r ely on
thingsli ke  elec tric i t y ,  cus tom ersand t ips. And it's  no t so goo d for  the
foo deithe r, unl ess y ou  happen to like  you r quesadi lla sbak ed  in t h e sun.  
Z ank el is t he sole own er a n dproprietor of twowe l l -r eceivedand po p ul ar 
eatinges tab lish m e nts i n th e  M arina di strict --  o ne call ed  Alame da  wh ips nake, 
and  the o ther cal led t h e Grove. Theyh ave been arou n df o rs even  an d six 
year s, r e spec tive l y,  wh i ch me ans t he y  a r e well beyond the r es tauran t fai lure 
curve,a rankingg e n erally a ccor d ed to places that  offe r good foo d  and 
se rvice  and hav e a prove n track re cor d o f p ayi n g  t heir bills. B u t alo t has c han ged inthe  co nti nua ll y more co stly res ta ur an tbus iness 
since P G& E d ec ide d tom ake arathe r pu bl ic sho wing of it s corp or at e 
s hor ts ighte dnes s  an d power  rates we ntt hrou gh  t he roof . And it cert ai nly 
wasn' tmad e anye a sier whe n the utility giants be g un char gin g cou ntle ss 
numbe rsof cus tom e rs for  backpayme nt s r e s ultin g fr omPG &E's own f a i lur e to
p rope rly mon itor monthly billi n g.
Zankel disco ver ed t h i sinJ an u ary ,w hen , in spite of his  squeaky c le a nrecord 
of on- ti me paym ents, h e was hit wit h a $6,00 0 increas eforp o wer  use at th e 
Grove , an upgr a de th a tdid n oteludehi s b ookke eper.T hecorpo rate t it ans at  
PG& Emight no t notice when the zeros  light  up,but  when Zan kel fou nd his bi ll jumping fr om$1, 200 t o $ 7 ,200in 3 0  d ays ,  it r egis t ered on t h emet e r .
His bookke e p e r i nquir ed. Offici alsat the utility co m pany's so-call ed c u sto mer serv ic e center check edde e p er and s ai d that newsoftware  i n stall ed 
by  PG&Ethe pre v i ou s  summe r ha d u nder-bill ednu m erous c us to m ers fo r th e
previ ous si x 
03/17/M
NW226237.DTL 
San_Francisco --_As if officials from_Pacific Gas_and_Electric Co._haven't_
done enough to_ruin their image_by soaking consumers for_billions of dollars_
and_helping California's leaders look like a bunch of dim bulbs. 
Now it looks like_they're_determined to_inflict_their_special brand of 
customer service_on people who actually pay_their bills._
That's how Ken Zankel and his employees ended_up_in the dark_on Tuesday, not 
a good spot for people involved_in the restaurant business, who rely_on 
things like_electricity,_customers_and tips. And it's_not so good for the 
food_either, unless you happen to like_your quesadillas baked in the sun. 
Zankel_is the sole owner and proprietor_of two well-received and popular_
eating establishments_in the Marina district --_one called Alameda_whipsnake, 
and_the other called_the Grove. They have been around_for seven and_six 
years, respectively, which means they_are_well beyond the_restaurant_failure_
curve, a_ranking generally accorded_to_places that_offer_good food and 
service and have_a_proven track record of paying their bills._
But a lot has_changed_in the continually more_costly restaurant business 
since PG&E_decided to make a rather public_showing of_its corporate_
shortsightedness and power rates went through the roof. And it certainly_
wasn't made any easier when the_utility giants begun charging_countless 
numbers_of_customers for back_payments_resulting from_PG&E's own failure to 
properly monitor monthly_billing. 
Zankel_discovered this in January, when, in_spite of his squeaky_clean_record 
of on-time payments, he was_hit with a $6,000 increase for_power use at the 
Grove,_an_upgrade_that did not elude his_bookkeeper. The corporate titans at 
PG&E_might not notice_when the zeros light up, but when_Zankel_found his bill 
jumping from $1,200_to_$7,200 in 30 days, it registered_on_the_meter. 
His bookkeeper inquired. Officials_at the utility company's so-called 
customer_service center checked deeper and said that new software_installed 
by PG&E_the previous summer had under-billed_numerous_customers_for the 
previous six