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By Miriam RafteryNovember 14, 2019 (San Francisco) -- The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Wednesday opened an investigation to examine recent Public Safety Power Shut-off (PSPS) events and ensure utilities are held accountable for their actions.
The electric utilities under investigation are Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), Liberty Utilities/CalPeco Electric, Bear Valley Electric Service, and Pacific Power, a division of PacifiCorp. In September and October 2019, the state’s investor-owned electric utilities, notably PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E, proactively de-energized power lines during high wildfire danger weather conditions to reduce the risk of utility infrastructure starting wildfires.
The formal investigation (called an Order Instituting Investigation) will assess whether the state’s investor-owned electric utilities properly balanced the need to provide safe and reliable service when planning and executing their recent power shut-downs, which have prompted many complaints from ratepayers who suffered inconvenience, financial losses, and vulnerability to potential harm due to the power outages.
In the first phase of the proceeding, the CPUC’s Safety and Enforcement Division will oversee an evaluation of the utilities’ actions before, during, and after the shut-offs in late 2019. The results of the investigation will be presented in a public report. The proceeding will provide a comprehensive review of both the effectiveness and impacts of all phases of the recent PSPS events to determine whether further changes to existing de-energization regulations and requirements are necessary to ensure public safety.
An enforcement phase may be opened to address finding of non-compliance with CPUC rules and regulations.
Initiating this investigation is one of several actions the CPUC is taking in response to recent PSPS events. This proceeding may inform but will not duplicate the CPUC’s re-examination of current PSPS guidelines and protocols currently underway in Rulemaking 18-12-005. In addition, on 2 November 12, 2019, President Batjer ordered PG&E to demonstrate why it shouldn’t be sanctioned for its PSPS events implemented throughout October 2019.
“It is important for the CPUC to determine if the utilities complied with using Public Safety Power Shut-offs as a last resort, and to collect the knowledge gained towards any revisions needed for next year,” said Commissioner Genevieve Shiroma. “It is essential that our protocols and the utilities’ practices provide the best service and protections for customers in the face of wildfires.”
The proposal voted on to open the investigation is available at: http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Published/G000/M319/K527/319527577.PDF.
To learn about other actions the CPUC has taken regarding public safety power shut-offs, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov/PSPS.
The CPUC regulates services and utilities, safeguards the environment, and assures Californians’ access to safe and reliable utility infrastructure and services. For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.
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