http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/16919232.htm
PG&E begins work to restore power at Pinky's By Theresa Harrington CONTRA
COSTA TIMES

*WALNUT CREEK - *Temporarily setting aside a dispute over who owns failed
power equipment outside Pinky's Pizza and the Sunrise Cafe, PG&E is trying
to fix the problem today.

The company has faced mounting public pressure to restore power since the
businesses closed March 5. Pinky's had operated using generator power from a
month, while waiting for PG&E and the property owner to resolve a dispute
over who owned a power supply box and cable that failed Feb. 6.

The business owners had been planning a rally at 10 a.m. Saturday in front
of their shuttered businesses to beg PG&E to restore power to their
buildings. PG&E spokesman Paul Moreno said he was aware of the rally plans,
but the company began work today because the property owner agreed to
authorize it now and haggle over who should pay for it later.

"This is a case where we let legal differences get in the way of doing the
best thing for our customers," Moreno said. "We regret that and we're now
working to get power to the customers as soon as possible."

The rally may end up being a celebration if the power is restored, said
Pinky's Pizza owner Tom Beisheim.

"I'm pretty excited," Beisheim said, as he watched five PG&E trucks pull up
outside his vacant restaurant. "What I'm really disappointed about is that
it had to go this far. It's amazing that when we started arranging this
rally, the very next day, we've got PG&E ready to fix it."

Even if power is restored today, Beisheim said it isn't likely he could
reopen until Tuesday, because he'll need to rehire employees, wait for his
freezer to cool down, buy perishable food and make pizza dough and sauce.

"I just want to get back into business," he said.


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