Agenda

Return

C. 82

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	John Kopchik, Director, Conservation & Development Department
Date:	April 28, 2020

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Letter to California Public Utilities Commission re Planning for Public Safety Power Shutoffs

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 04/28/2020

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Demian Hardman, 925-674-7826

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: April 28, 2020
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Board Chair to execute a comment letter to the California Public Utilities Commission regarding proposed guidelines for Public Safety Power Shutoffs.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is proposing additional and modified de-energization guidelines related to investor-owned utility public safety power shutoffs (PSPS). The guidelines include direction to PG&E and other investor-owned utilities to establish new planning and coordination protocols in which local governments would be expected to participate. This would increase costs for County staff.

FISCAL IMPACT: (CONT'D)

The proposed CPUC guidelines also call for investor-owned utilities to establish community resource centers during PSPS events at libraries, community centers, and similar local government facilities. These community resource centers would be expected to operate 24/7. The guidelines do not discuss who would bear the cost to operate and maintain these facilities.

BACKGROUND:

Due to the recent impacts of public safety power shutoff (PSPS) events in the fall of 2019, the CPUC is accepting public comment on proposed additional and modified de-energization guidelines for investor-owned utilities, including PG&E. The CPUC has invited the County and other local government agencies that may be affected by the proposed guidelines to provide comments.

The attached letter supports formal comments submitted by the Joint Local Governments (comments attached), on behalf of eight Counties (Kern, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Sonoma) and one City (Santa Rosa), and includes additional recommendations. Additional recommendations include: Updating the guidelines to reflect the changed circumstances resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic; Requiring investor-owned utilities to attend all existing local Emergency Operations Center and California Office of Emergency Services planning activities and participate in all proposed annual de-energization exercises; Requiring investor-owned utilities to provide up-to-date websites in other languages spoken throughout the utility’s service area during a de-energization event; Ensuring costs to operate and maintain proposed community resource centers are borne by the utilities, not local governments; and Imposing financial penalties on investor owned utilities if power is not restored within 24 hours following the conclusion of a de-energization event.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The County would not provide comments related to local interests affected by the proposed CPUC guidelines.