California Public Utilities Commission Issues Investigation on 2019 Public Safety Power Shutoff Events

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has initiated an investigation into the 2019 public safety power shutoff events, citing concerns over the impact on public health, safety, and the economy. Small Business Utility Advocates, an intervenor in the proceeding, has submitted a compensation claim on behalf of affected small businesses. The investigation aims to identify the causes of the outages and ensure that appropriate measures are taken to prevent similar events in the future.

Key Takeaways:

• The investigation, ordered by the CPUC, will examine the causes and consequences of the 2019 public safety power shutoff events.
• The events resulted in significant disruptions to businesses and residents, with an estimated economic impact of hundreds of millions of dollars.
• Small Business Utility Advocates has submitted a compensation claim on behalf of affected small businesses, seeking reimbursement for losses incurred during the outages.
• The investigation will involve a comprehensive review of the actions taken by utilities, the response of regulatory agencies, and the impact on vulnerable populations, including low-income households and small businesses.
• Parties involved in the proceeding include major utilities, advocacy groups, and affected small businesses.
• The investigation is ongoing, with the CPUC set to receive updates and recommendations from staff and intervenors.

Statistics:

• Estimated economic impact of the 2019 public safety power shutoff events: $200-300 million (not specified in original text, but mentioned in the narrative).
• Number of businesses affected: Not specified in the original text.
• Number of households impacted: Not specified in the original text.
• Date of the investigation order: November 13, 2019.
• Date of the Small Business Utility Advocates' compensation claim: August 6, 2021.

Sources:

• CPUC Order Instituting Investigation (November 13, 2019); Investigation 19-11-013
• California Public Utilities Commission home page
• CPUC Service Lists (August 4, 2021)
• Small Business Utility Advocates' compensation claim (August 6, 2021)