California utilities urged to improve power lines to prevent wildfire risks

The recent government meeting in San Francisco focused on critical issues surrounding the state's electrical grid and its vulnerability to wildfires. Key discussions highlighted the alarming presence of bare power lines in high-risk wildfire areas and the need for improved utility accountability.

Officials revealed that investor-owned utilities have approximately 40,000 miles of bare power lines in regions deemed at greater risk for wildfires. From 2013 to 2021, these utilities implemented public safety power shutoffs 67 times, impacting over 3.6 million customers. The meeting underscored that current oversight processes do not adequately hold utilities accountable for their infrastructure and safety measures.

Aaron, the project team lead, presented detailed findings about California's electrical grid. He noted that around 75,000 miles of distribution lines are located in high fire threat areas, with more than half being bare lines. These bare lines pose a significant risk, as nearly half of the fire incidents reported in the last five years were linked to power lines coming into contact with vegetation.

To mitigate wildfire risks, the report suggested two main improvements: undergrounding power lines, which costs between $2.6 million and $3 million per mile, and installing covered power lines at about $700,000 per mile. However, utilities have been slow to implement these changes, having only hardened about 1,500 miles of power lines by 2020, which represents just 4% of the bare lines in high-risk areas.

The report also emphasized the need for legislative changes to require utilities to identify and address the improvements necessary to prevent power shutoffs in frequently de-energized circuits. While utilities have indicated plans to reduce power shutoffs, these changes may stem from adjustments to equipment settings rather than substantial upgrades to the power grid.

Additionally, the meeting addressed the issue of unplanned outages triggered by utilities adjusting equipment settings to prevent ignitions. In 2021, such adjustments led to over 600 outages affecting more than 650,000 people, often without prior notice. The report called for state law amendments to include these unplanned outages in accountability measures.

In conclusion, the meeting highlighted the urgent need for enhanced safety measures and accountability for utilities to protect communities from wildfire risks while ensuring reliable power supply. The recommendations aim to strengthen existing laws and improve the overall resilience of California's electrical infrastructure.