Why the California Power Grid is Hurting Businesses and Consumers

 

California electricity provider PG&E has cut power to millions of state residents in an unprecedented maneuver to avoid another wildfire disaster. The company’s preventative power outage may save lives, but it will take a toll on the state’s economy.

Some estimates claim the blackout could have an economic impact of more than $2 billion. Cuts planned for Monday could leave approximately 800,000 PG&E clients, which totals 2.7 million people, in the dark.

Small businesses are particularly affected by this blackout because they do not typically have the infrastructure or budget to accommodate such a stark fall in business over what could be more than one full business week.

On Business Casual, hosts Tyler Kern and Geoffrey Short discussed the impact of this power outage on the California economy, and what industries will have the hardest time working through it.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Precision With Purpose: The Geospatial Advantage in Telecom Network Planning
February 7, 2026

Telecom networks are no longer planned or evaluated in isolation. As 5G, private LTE, fixed wireless, and mission-critical communications expand, operators are expected to deliver stronger coverage, higher reliability, and demonstrable performance—often while managing complex technologies and constrained resources. Regulators, customers, and public agencies are increasingly focused on outcomes that can be measured and validated,…

Read More
Leadership
Leading Change from Within: The Power of Transformational Leadership
February 7, 2026

Leadership is being tested in real time. As organizations navigate AI adoption, remote work, and constant structural change, many leaders are discovering that strategy alone isn’t enough. People are asking deeper questions about purpose, trust, and what it really means to show up for teams when uncertainty is the norm. In a world where burnout…

Read More
technology
Clarity Under Pressure: Technology, Trust, and the Future of Public Safety
February 7, 2026

When something goes wrong in a community—a major storm, a large-scale accident, a violent incident—there’s often a narrow window where clarity matters most. Leaders must make fast decisions, responders need to trust the information in front of them, and the systems supporting those choices have to work as intended. Public safety agencies now rely…

Read More
weather Intelligence
Clarity in the Storm: Weather Intelligence, GIS, and the Future of Operational Awareness
February 6, 2026

For many organizations today, weather has shifted from an occasional disruption to a constant planning factor. Scientific assessments show that extreme weather events—including heatwaves, heavy rainfall, and wildfires—are occurring more frequently and with greater intensity, placing growing strain on infrastructure, utilities, and public services. As weather-related disruptions become more costly and harder to manage,…

Read More