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Safety Certifications
Energy Safety reviews for issuance electrical corporations’ requests for safety certification.
On July 12, 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1054 (Holden). AB 1054 was enacted to reduce utility-ignited wildfires through investments in electrical grid resiliency and mandated utility safety reforms, and to protect electricity customers from rate increases through creation of the California Wildfire Fund (Fund). The Fund operates as an insurance fund for California’s three largest investor-owned electric corporations, reimbursing them after they pay damage claims of victims of utility-caused wildfires.
To encourage electrical corporations to invest in safety and make changes to limit wildfire risks and reduce costs, the statute also provides for electrical corporations to seek a “safety certification.” Having a safety certification affects the amount, if any, the electrical corporation must repay the Fund for costs and expenses associated with a covered wildfire. Electrical corporations that are found to have acted reasonably by the CPUC do not have to repay the Fund. In general, the electrical corporation must prove that its conduct was “reasonable.” However, an electrical corporation that received a safety certification for the period in which the covered wildfire ignited is presumed to have acted reasonably unless demonstrated otherwise. (Pub. Util. Code § 451.1(c).) A safety certification also may limit the amount the electrical corporation will be required to repay the fund if it is found to have acted unreasonably. (Pub. Util. Code § 3292(h).)
To obtain a safety certification, the electrical corporation must demonstrate that it satisfies the conditions of Public Utilities Code Section 8389 (e)(1-7).
2022
Utility Requests and Safety Certifications
- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)
2021
Energy Safety Documents and Docket Log
- Energy Safety’s Final 2021 Safety Certification Guidance (July 26, 2021)
- Energy Safety Letter on Submission of Safety Certification Request and Supporting Documents (September 8, 2021)
- 2021 Safety Certification Docket Log (2021-SCs)
Utility Requests and Safety Certifications
- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)
- San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)
- Southern California Edison (SCE)
- Bear Valley Electric Service (BVES)
Comments on the 2021 Safety Certification Guidelines and Safety Certification Requests
Comments on the Guidelines
Comments on Safety Certification Requests
- Request for Review by the Utility Reform Network (TURN) of the WSD Determination to Approve a Safety Certification for PG&E (January 25, 2021)
- Comments of the Public Advocates Office on the Safety Certification Request of SDG&E (October 7, 2021)
- Comments of the Public Advocates Office on the Safety Certification Request of SCE (October 13, 2021)
- SDG&E’s Reply Comments on Parties Comments to SDG&E’s Safety Certification Request (October 18, 2021)
- Coalition of California Utility Employees (CUE) Reply Comments on the Safety Certification Request of SDG&E (October 18, 2021)
- SCE’s Reply Comments Regarding SCE’s 2021 Safety Certification Request (October 25, 2021)
- Coalition of California Utility Employees (CUE) Reply Comments on the Safety Certification Request of SCE (October 25, 2021)
- Comments of the Public Advocates Office on the Safety Certification Request of PG&E (December 13, 2021)
- PG&E’s Reply Comments to Request for 2021 Safety Certification (December 23, 2021)
2020
WSD 2020 Safety Certification Process – Stakeholder Comments and Supplemental Guidance
- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)
- San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)
- Southern California Edison (SCE)
- Bear Valley Electric Service (BVES)
- Request for Safety Certification
- Safety Certification Supplements
- Safety Certification (Feb. 2020)
- Safety Certification (Aug. 2020)
Comments on the 2020 Safety Certification Requests
- Aug. 19, 2020:
- Aug. 12, 2020:
- Jul. 16, 2020:
- Jul. 9, 2020:
2019
- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)
- San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)
- Southern California Edison (SCE)