California Fires: Senator Wants Public Utility To Replace PG&E

SAN MATEO, CA — It's an understatement to say that California state Sen. Jerry Hill, a San Mateo Democrat, is over with dealing with tragic, fiery explosions like that of the Camp Fire, the state's deadliest, most destructive wildfire that leveled the town of Paradise and killed 86 people.

The tragedy takes him back eight years ago to a locale within his 13th District, where eight people lost their lives in the streets of San Bruno's Crestmoor neighborhood because a 30-inch steel gas pipeline erupted into towering flames two miles west of San Francisco International Airport.

Last year, the Wine Country of Sonoma and Napa valleys was aflame from its own devastating wildfires, killing 29 along the way.

The incidents all have one thing in common relating to the speculated causes — with fingers pointed at Pacific Gas & Electric for failing to fix faulty, malfunctioning equipment or infrastructure.

That's why the senator is considering proposals that would end the privatization of utility services and place them in the hands of the public sector, thus eliminating the utility company as it is today.

Hill is not necessarily a fan of PG&E managing gas and electric right now and doesn't mind fanning the angry flames of suggestions to remove the company from its role in procuring those services.

With the Camp Fire, it is believed the hooks and insulators that keep the power lines in place seemingly fractured, sparking the deadly, wind-whipped fire that originated at Camp Creek and Pulga Roads at 6:29 a.m. on Nov. 8.

Paradise homeowner Carol Manzo told Patch that she received an annoying number of texts from the utility company saying it was planning to turn off power before the winds arrived. It never did, and the rest is history — including her home.

"What's striking to me and what's painful to me is what we've learned after San Bruno about PG&E's safety and approach to safety is a neglected infrastructure," Hill told Patch. The legislator who represents Santa Clara and San Mateo counties has gone as far as to accuse the utility company of taking shortcuts and diverting about $500 million from maintenance to appease investors with a more than 10.5 percent rate of return and give executive bonuses, both at the expense of crucial safety measures.

"The only way they can guarantee this rate of return is to cut safety," Hill said. He noted that just six years ago, five towers "collapsed in that same area," just north of Paradise. Moreover, the tower where equipment failed is almost 100 years old.

Hill calls into question the whole investment-owned model for a utility company that makes $1.5 billion a year.

"What I'd like to see us look at is what is the best, safest way to provide utility services in California," he said.

Hill is open to having utility services run by governments at either the state or local level.

The senator has worked to debunk several fallacies floating around regarding the reality of the Camp Fire's aftermath.

For one, the notion of having ratepayers foot the bill of PG&E's almost certain better-late-than-never investment in infrastructure is wrong and illegal, he said. Hill also scoffed at the other suggestion that the looming expenses PG&E will face will break the company.

"It's a false premise. What we're hearing from the (California Public Utility Commission) is bankruptcy or bailout. What we haven't seen is an alternative to bankruptcy," Hill said.

Hill is also impatient with the delay in bringing the California Attorney General's Office to the platform to speak on the utility's responsibilities. Between the AG's office, legislature and PUC monitoring investigations, no action comes soon enough.

It's government — so, actions "don't move very fast," Hill said

Sitting In The Hot Seat

Meanwhile, PG&E has waged an all-out assault on restoration efforts in Butte County, staging a massive compound on the Skyway — the major thoroughfare connecting Chico to the Paradise ridge.

It answered accusations leveled by the senator through prepared statements.

"The safety of our customers and the communities we serve is our highest priority. The cause of the Camp Fire is still under investigation. Our focus right now is on assessing infrastructure, safely restoring power where possible and helping our customers recover and rebuild," spokeswoman Andrea Menniti wrote in response to the stark allegations.

The utility company also laid out plans to respond to the devastation with enhanced wildfire prevention and safety efforts, which include expanded inspections and additional support for Camp Fire families.

The company announced Monday it would make precautionary measures intended to further decrease threats in communities that are deemed of high risk for wildfires, and has appointed an officer-level leader with the responsibility and accountability to oversee the Butte County restoration efforts.

“The families impacted by Camp Fire are our customers, our neighbors, and our friends, and our hearts go out to those who have lost so much. We are committed to supporting them through the recovery and rebuilding process and helping protect all of the customers we serve from the ever-increasing threat of wildfires,” Chief Executive Officer Geisha Williams said in a statement.

PG&E has appointed Aaron Johnson, currently vice president of electric operations, as the company’s rebuilding officer to lead local community restoration efforts. The rebuilding officer will be responsible for:

• Coordinating with state and local officials to determine how to best modernize and rebuild the energy infrastructure across the affected area;
• Partnering with the local community to provide additional resources such as housing and support services;
• Working with local leaders to identify and provide assistance to local philanthropic groups; and
• Being accountable to ensure customer questions and concerns are being effectively addressed

“Aaron has the expertise and experience to lead our on-the-ground response efforts as we continue our efforts to help our customers and their communities recover and start to rebuild,” Williams said.

PG&E also said it will expand and enhance its systemwide Community Wildfire Safety Program (CWSP), which was implemented after the 2017 wildfires as an additional set of precautionary measures intended to further reduce wildfire threats. These new safety and operational actions and enhancements are designed to enhance current safety measures, as well as further inspect and harden the electric system.

“As Californians, we are all faced with the devastating realities of extreme weather and the growing wildfire threat. In recent years, we’ve made significant changes and additions to our business to combat these weather events, but the climate is changing faster. All of us at PG&E are determined to enact additional safety measures and initiatives that will help further reduce the risk of wildfires and keep customers and communities safe,” Williams said. “We are acting decisively now to address these real and growing threats, and we are committed to working together with our regulators, state leaders and customers to consider what additional wildfire safety efforts we can all take to make our communities safer.”

Among the safety actions PG&E is taking to address the growing wildfire threat are detailed and enhanced inspections of its electric infrastructure. This means more than 5,500 miles of transmission lines consisting of about 50,000 transmission poles and towers in high fire-threat areas will be looked at.

PG&E went on to say it has already inspected about 350 miles of transmission lines in the past several weeks. This includes ground and climbing inspections as well as aerial imagery captured by drones and helicopters to further complement and enhance visual inspections. If any issues are identified as a potential risk to public safety, PG&E pledged to address them right away. PG&E also plans to begin similar inspections of its distribution lines in high fire-threat areas in early 2019.

The utility company said it would also monitor the ever-increasing number of dead and dying trees hanging above and around its transmission lines.

By 2022, PG&E expects to add approximately 1,300 new weather stations, a density of one station roughly every 20 miles in the high fire-risk areas. In addition, PG&E plans to install nearly 600 new, high-definition cameras in high fire-threat areas within four years.

More information on the Community Wildfire Safety Program is available here.

Images via Sue Wood, Patch; California Senator Jerry Hill's Sacramento Office