Utility Power Shutoff

Since our original involvement in defeating SDG&E’s proposed de-energization plan in 2008 we have provided technical support for MGRA's strong advocacy for requiring cost/benefit and risk/benefit analyses to determine thresholds for the risky wildfire prevention tool of utility power shutoff.
 
We remain involved at the California Public Utility Commission, advocating for the collection and analysis of customer harm data in order to properly determine utility “PSPS” thresholds.  We also advocate for aggressive remediation efforts to harden and protect utility infrastructure to reduce the need for power shutoff. 
 
2009 Whitepaper on De-Energization:
 
2019 CPUC Phase 2 Shutoff Proceeding
 
Include:
  • Quantification of customer and resident harm
  • Criteria for “reasonable” shutoff, including documented infrastructure damage
  • Requiring utilities to track predicted and measured wind speeds for all de-energized circuits