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Supervisor Parlin recommending the Board authorize the Chair to sign a letter of support for the motion submitted by Pioneer Community Energy, Sonoma Clean Power, East Bay Community Energy, Marin Clean Energy, and Rural County Representatives of California (“Joint Parties”) requesting that the Commission open an expedited phase or track of the De-Energization Rulemaking to consider rules, expanded reporting requirements, and common program-related terms for all investor-owned utilities’ (“IOUs”) Fast-Trip Programs.
FUNDING: N/A
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On July 12, RCRC, Pioneer Community Energy, Sonoma Clean Power Authority, East Bay Community, and Marin Clean Energy asked the CPUC to develop rules governing the conduct, reporting, and oversight of utility Fast Trip electrical outages, including PG&E’s Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS) outages.
As utilities use fewer and fewer pre-planned Public Safety Power Shutoff (“PSPS”) events, there has been a tremendous increase in unplanned Fast Trip-related outages. While these outages generally impact fewer customers and may not last as long as PSPS events, their frequency and unplanned nature have had a debilitating impact on thousands of customers at a time. Last summer, PG&E’s EPSS program was used on a limited number of circuits and resulted in over 600 outages (with some circuits experiencing as many as 19 discrete outages over a period of just a few months). This year, PG&E has doubled the number of line-miles in the EPSS program from 11,500 miles to 25,500 miles, with 44 counties now being impacted by the EPSS program.
As with PSPS events, IOUs’ Fast Trip Programs impose significant potential risks to public health, safety, and welfare. Despite these risks, the Fast Trip Programs are generally not overseen or regulated by the Commission. RCRC believes this proposal will significantly increase CPUC oversight of Fast Trip electrical outages and improve utility accountability.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to authorize letter.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
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OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
N/A
FINANCIAL IMPACT
N/A
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk to have letter signed by the Chair and distribute.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Infrastructure, Economic Development, Public Safety
CONTACT
Shelley Wiley