PG&E Meets Customers Over Coffee in Pittsburg; Events Thursday in Vacaville, Salinas

PITTSBURG — “What’s going on here?”

That was the question Steve, a cowboy-hat wearing PG&E customer in the East Bay, directed to PG&E Bay Area Region media rep Tamar Sarkissian from inside Steeltown Coffee in downtown Pittsburg (Contra Costa County) on March 8.

Sarkissian was on hand at PG&E’s latest CoffeeConnect to talk to media about the weekend’s forecasted wild weather. She filled in our customer on how PG&E was simply there to meet customers over coffee where they are and answer any questions they might have. His response would be gratifying to any company coworker.

“That makes me proud to be a PG&E customer,” he said.

Steve was one of dozens of customers who stopped in during the PG&E “coffeeshop takeover.” As customers mingled with PG&E customer service reps and other coworkers, they enjoyed a variety of espresso-based beverages, all handcrafted with house-made ingredients and all courtesy of PG&E.

You get a sense of Pittsburg as a community right as you walk into Steeltown Coffee. And it’s not just a coffee shop, as it’s uniquely situated in the lobby of Mechanics Bank, near the teller windows. This is one place where you’ll find our customers on any given day, and why these events are proving so valuable as we look to meet our customers on their terms and amid their everyday routine.

What really makes these events meaningful is having our customer service reps there to answer customer questions, which can include everything from rate plans to solar hook-ups, and even specific account information. David Spencer, Jessica Robles and Amber Huynh did what they do best — they made a difference for a number of our customers that day, many of whom were just stopping by for coffee.

Marketing & Communications Director Matt Nauman was another member of the PG&E team on hand at Steeltown Coffee.  Matt shared his experience on LinkedIn. His post really captures the essence of how CoffeeConnects have become a valuable way to connect with customers since we launched them in 2022.

These events provide insightful windows into what’s on the minds of our customers and bring to life the context of their concerns in ways that few other outreach methods can. We talk about customer centricity, and there may be no better way than hearing directly from our neighbors in our communities to understand how customers see and understand the progress we’re so close to everyday.

Two more CoffeeConnects are scheduled for  Thursday (March 14) — at Journey Coffee in downtown Vacaville from 8-11 a.m. and in Salinas at the La Plaza Bakery from 9 a.m.-noon.  

Join us and our customers for coffee if you can. Cheers!