RCRC has lent its support to Senate Bill 378, authored by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). SB 378 would make a number of changes to increase disclosure of electrical system infrastructure needs and to improve the implementation of Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events, evaluate their impacts, and compensate individuals and local governments for associated losses. SB 378 also incentivizes well-constructed, surgical PSPS events that are no larger than necessary to avoid wildfire risk.
RCRC is supportive of SB 378’s requirement for the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to establish a procedure for the compensation of customers and local governments for costs accrued during PSPS events. In addition, RCRC appreciates that SB 378 would require the CPUC to evaluate the economic, environmental, public health, and public safety impacts of PSPS events so that local governments can better evaluate their role in wildfire avoidance.
RCRC’s support letter can be accessed here. SB 378 passed out of the Senate, and now awaits action in the Assembly. For more information, contact John Kennedy, Legislative Advocate, at (916) 447-4806 or jkennedy@rcrcnet.org.