Public Power Week celebrates publicly owned utilities, like the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), and all the benefits they provide to customers such as affordable rates and reliable power. As an agency, the SFPUC is able to deliver for their customers everyday thanks to their dedicated workforce. SFPUC staff works around the clock to construct, maintain, and repair electrical infrastructure, keeping San Francisco safe, illuminated, and electrified.  

Meet Michael Kaster, one the SFPUC’s line workers. With a background in electrical work and a love for problem-solving, he has been proud to work for the Power Enterprise for the past year.  

A Go-Getter Attitude Goes a Long Way 

Michael loves all the variety and creativity that comes with the job – from responding to power outages, repairing downed poles, resetting poles, and many other projects. He even worked on the Path of Golden Light Standards LED conversion, which came with unique challenges from working at nights to rewiring century-old light poles to be LED-compatible.  

Despite his two-hour commute to the City, Michael is usually the first person in the Utility Field Services office by 5 am.  He wakes up at 1:50 am to make it possible - it’s a balancing act for him, but he makes it work for a job he loves.

Michael epitomizes the dedication and high level of service that public power is known for.  Here's what he has to say about the importance of public power. “Our self-sufficiency as a publicly owned utility, allows us to respond and serve all our customers quickly. From residential customers to hospitals, we do it all," he said.

For people interested in this line of work, Michael says the key is to be studious, learn from new situations, and “go get after it.”   

An Ideal Office: San Francisco Scenery 

As a Bay Area native, Michael has visited San Francisco since he was a kid. For him, one of the best parts of the job is working outside in all of the City’s scenic neighborhoods: “I am lucky enough to work in San Francisco every day, a place people from all around the world travel to,” he said with a smile. 

Recently, he has enjoyed working near Ocean Beach, his “zen spot,” outside of work. In his free time, he connects to his spirituality at Ocean Beach and hikes Land’s End.   

The SFPUC is proud to have Michael and countless other front-line public servants keeping San Francisco looking so bright.