The California Public Utilities Commission is proposing that three utility companies be fined a total of $22 million for their 2020 violations of protocols created for power shutoffs meant to avoid the sparking of wildfires.
In an effort to hold utilities companies accountable for safely implementing power shutoffs, the commission has proposed that shareholders of PG&E Co. pay $10 million, Southern California Edison pay $12 million, and San Diego Gas & Electric pay $24,000.
The public safety power shutoffs have involved utility companies temporarily turning off power to specific areas when extreme weather is expected that could cause a fire. However, utilities must follow certain guidelines before a shutoff.
In proposed administrative enforcement orders issued Wednesday, the commission found multiple violations of power shutoff guidelines.
In PG&E’s case, the proposed order cites inadequate notification to customers ahead of the shutoffs and also says that the utility “did not provide a thorough and detailed description of the quantitative factors in calling a PSPS event and why the de-energization event was the last resort.”
Under the orders, the utility companies can pay the fine and make the corrective actions within 30 days or request a hearing.
15 comments
It’s about time stock holders pay there fair share.This money should be returned to the customers.One other thing that needs to end is discounts to employees on there utility bills.They should pay the same as the general public.
Old Timer: agree completely. Only PG&E will find some lame excuse to raise our rates to pay for it. Heaven forbid the shareholders actually take the hit.
Not that I disagree…. Stock holders have taken a huge hit was up over $70 a share for common stock; now is about $10… That’s tough for the big wigs with tons of preferred shares, but for everyday people I hope they got out long ago…
Didn’t know employees got discounted rates… Yeah.. that should go.
I also think there should be more clarity as to the specific person(s) who made the bad decisions at the top and ordered their decisions be carried out that is truly responsible…. Prison is needed, not hiding behind a cloak of a corporation is not a person.
Good Evening Mr. and Mrs. America and All the Ships at Sea…let’s go to press!: FLASH
About 40 years ago the PUC ended current employee power discounts in 1978 and retired employee discounts were completely eliminated in 1983.
This is Walter Winchell signing off.
@Janus,
Not completely true. Discounts are alive and well.
Rate increases on the way.
Soon enough we’ll all be back to using candles to read, washing clothes in a bucket and hanging them out to dry.
It feels like the goal is to completely bankrupt PG&E so that it can be “taken over and run by and for the people.” I hate PG&E as much as anyone but it sure seems like Kalifornistan is trying to nationalize (state) this public utility.
It will get passed on to us with Newsom’s and the CPUC blessing …. they’re all in each others back pocket & hve been for years (Brown before Newsom too)
But Wait. The customers who had their power cut off get nothing. Put that money into improvements not to the state.
Who gets the money from the fines?
Oh great. Now our rates will go even higher.
I think the morons that shout that corporations should be fined and need to pay more taxes need to take a basic economics class.
When you tax or fine a corporation it is the consumer that ultimately pays the price.
Come on, people, don’t fall for the shiny sparkley flashy headlines.
In the end, consumers will pay for it, and the government will pocket it.
So PG&E is sued if they shut off the power, and sued if they don’t shut off the power and fires start. Check.
And the state wants to take over the power game? Because the state has done so well with running so many other programs…SMH.
Employee rate discounts are alive and well
The waste and wage abuse at PG &E is next level. Review the salaries and annual incomes being paid and compare them to comparable industry companies and similar positions. Hours and overtime double time abuse and the entire system is in on it. No check and balance, just continual ripping off the system.
Just came back from Oregon visiting my daughter who runs her air and heat constantly. I asked her what her bill would be and she said it’s the least of her worries. Maybe at the max it would be over $100 by a little. Here I’m running around unplugging things, not turning on the air when it’s hot, trying to do laundry and run dishwasher late at night and still pay a small fortune. I just don’t get it!
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