CONTACT: Terrie Prosper, CPUC 415.703.1366
news@cpuc.ca.gov

SAN FRANCISCO - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), in its ongoing actions to hold utilities accountable during Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS), said it will hold a hearing on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. on the operations and performance of Southern California Edison Company (SCE) during the 2020 PSPS events in California.

The CPUC oversees the utilities’ preparation for PSPS events and will be joined on the virtual dais by leaders from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the California Department of Fire and Forestry Protection (CAL FIRE).

Top SCE executives have been called upon by the CPUC to publicly address the mistakes and operational gaps identified in the utility’s execution of its 2020 PSPS events and to provide lessons learned to ensure they are not repeated. This meeting is intended to ensure CPUC Commissioners and staff have as much information as possible and can take additional actions as necessary to mitigate severe risks to public health and safety ahead of future PSPS events triggered by SCE. 

Further, CPUC President Marybel Batjer in a letter directed SCE to file with the CPUC by February 12, 2021 the utility’s plan for corrective actions based on the concerns identified in the letter. As President Batjer said to SCE in her letter, “Utilities should execute PSPS events in a manner that places the safety and wellbeing of the people and communities they serve first…SCE’s PSPS execution appeared tactless, and in many regards, seemed deficient in meeting the standard its customers deserve.”

PARTICIPATION INFORMATION:

• Live video broadcast with English captions via webcast: www.adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc.
  • Participants have audio and video but will not be able to submit written comments/questions.
  • After clicking on the name of the event, click the green button below the video for captions. Then select captions by clicking on the white icon next to the word “live” at the bottom of the video.
• Phone: Participants can hear the live event and make comment during the public comment portion of the event. 
  • Call-in number: 800-857-1917, passcode: 5180519#
  • Participants will be placed on mute in “listen-only” mode until the public comment portion of the meeting. Once the public comment portions of the meeting begin, participants may dial * 1 (star one) when they wish to speak to be placed in a queue by the operator.
• If you need an additional accommodation or modification to participate in the meeting, please contact the CPUC’s Public Advisor’s Office at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov or toll free at 866-849-8390 at least five days in advance of the meeting.

The most updated information related to the meeting will be posted on  www.cpuc.ca.gov/psps. The meeting will be recorded and posted to the CPUC’s website..

The CPUC regulates services and utilities, protects consumers, safeguards the environment, and assures Californians’ access to safe and reliable utility infrastructure and services. For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.