PG&E delays work on restoring electrical service to Fresno-area radio tower. Here’s why

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. will begin to work on restoring radio and communications towers in the mountains east of Fresno after making sure the area is safe for crews to work.

According to PG&E spokesman Denny Boyles, work on the towers at Eshom Point had been delayed due to structural damage in one tower that presented a safety issue for any workers attempting to restore service to the area.

Boyles said PG&E has been in contact with the owner of the tower and a structural engineer is expected to conduct an assessment on the site.

“Once we know that it is safe for our crews to work in that area, we will begin the repairs needed to restore electrical service,” Boyles wrote in an email.

PG&E’s announcement comes after a Facebook post from John Ostlund, the president of One-Putt Broadcasting, whose New Rock 104.1 FM went off the air late Saturday night.

In the post, Ostlund says that due to damage done by the KNP Complex Fire, PG&E has not been able to restore power to Eshom Point where the transmitter is located. According to Ostlund, four radio stations and two major tower structures were destroyed at Eshom Point and the remaining stations with transmitters there have been using generators to run.

“Late yesterday, the New Rock 104.1 generator after 42 days of brutal service, gave up the ghost and we are off the air,” Ostlund wrote Sunday.