Last Friday, RCRC sent a letter to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in response to Pacific Gas and Electric’s (PG&E) Public Safety Power Shutoff policies and procedures related to turning off power for safety due to extreme weather and wildfire danger.
During the week of October 14, 2018, a number of RCRC member counties and residents located in Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lake, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Sonoma, and Yuba Counties were advised they would likely experience power shutoffs due to severe winds that could trigger wildfires. Advance notice and preparation for such shutoffs is extremely important for communities, particularly in rural areas populated by a higher percentage of elderly persons that rely on electricity to sustain vital health care needs. Following the event, RCRC surveyed the affected RCRC member counties, and has learned that there is no universal procedure for PG&E power shutoffs. The letter can be accessed here.