Transcription
Case 3:14-cr-00175-WHA Document 1004-1 Filed 02/06/19 Page 1 of 179Pacific Gas and Electric Company2019 Wildfire Safety PlanFebruary 6, 2019
Case 3:14-cr-00175-WHA Document 1004-1 Filed 02/06/19 Page 2 of 179TABLE OF CONTENTS1.Introduction and Objectives of Plan. 11.1. Executive Summary . 11.2. Plan Overview and Objectives . 62.Program Overview and Climate Change Risk and Strategy . 122.1. Overview of Strategies and Programs. 122.2. Climate Change Risks. 173.Risk Analysis and Drivers . 193.1. Methodology for Identifying and Evaluating Risk. 203.2. List of Wildfire Risks and Drivers. 223.2.1.Risks and Drivers Identified in RAMP . 223.2.2.Risks and Drivers Identified After RAMP . 223.2.3.Risks and Drivers Associated With Design, Construction, Operations andMaintenance . 293.2.4.Topographic and Climatological Risks. 293.3. How PG&E’s Plan Accounts for Wildfire Risks . 313.4. Evaluation of Higher Risk Threat Areas . 323.5. Circuit Prioritization Based on Asset Wildfire Risk . 323.6. Wildfire Evacuation Study . 343.7. Use of Probabilistic Risk Assessments . 354.Wildfire Reduction Strategy and Programs . 354.1. Operational Practices . 464.1.1.Recloser Operations . 474.1.2.Personnel Work Procedures in Conditions of Elevated Fire Risk . 494.1.3.Safety and Infrastructure Protection Teams . 504.1.4.Aviation Resources. 514.2. Wildfire Safety Inspection Programs . 524.2.1.WSIP Distribution . 554.2.2.WSIP Transmission . 564.2.3.WSIP Substation . 594.3. System Hardening Overview . 604.3.1.Pole Material . 644.3.2.Pole Loading and Replacement . 65i
Case 3:14-cr-00175-WHA Document 1004-1 Filed 02/06/19 Page 3 of 1794.3.3.Conductor . 664.3.4.System Protection . 674.3.5.Equipment . 694.4. Enhanced Vegetation Management . 704.4.1.Vegetation Trimming and Overhanging Tree Limbs . 734.4.2.High Fire-Threat District VM Inspection Strategy. 764.4.3.Inspecting Trees With a Potential Strike Path to Power Lines . 784.4.4.At-Risk Species Management . 794.4.5.Challenges Associated With Enhanced Vegetation Management . 804.4.6.Community and Environmental Impacts . 854.5. Enhanced Situational Awareness and Known Local Conditions . 864.5.1.Meteorological Operations and Advanced Situational Awareness . 884.5.2.Fire Spread Modeling . 904.5.3.Weather Stations . 904.5.4.Camera Deployment Strategy . 914.5.5.Satellite Fire Detection System. 924.5.6.Storm Outage Prediction Model. 924.5.7.Wildfire Safety Operations Center . 934.6. Public Safety Power Shutoff Program . 944.6.1.PSPS Decision Factors . 974.6.2.Strategies to Enhance PSPS Efficiency While Reducing Associated Impacts 984.6.2.1. Impact Mitigation Through System Sectionalizing . 984.6.2.2. Resilience Zones . 994.6.2.3. Customer Services and Programs . 1004.6.3.PSPS Notification Strategies . 1054.6.3.1. Customer and Community Outreach . 1064.6.3.2. Mitigating PSPS Impacts on First Responders, Health Care Facilities,Telecommunications, and Water Utilities . 1084.6.4.Re-Energization Strategy . 1094.7. Alternative Technologies . 1094.7.1.Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiter Pilot Project . 1114.7.2.Enhanced Wires Down Detection Project . 1114.7.3.Other Alternative Technologies . 1114.8. Post-Incident Recovery, Restoration and Remediation Activities . 1134.8.1.Post-Incident Recovery . 113ii
Case 3:14-cr-00175-WHA Document 1004-1 Filed 02/06/19 Page 4 of 1794.8.2.Restoration . 1144.8.3.Remediation . 1144.8.3.1. Environmental Remediation – Debris Flow Modeling . 1155.Emergency Preparedness and Response . 1175.1. PG&E Company Emergency Response Plan . 1175.1.1.The Plan’s Alignment With CERP. 1185.1.2.Plans to Prepare for and Restore Service . 1185.1.3.Emergency Communications . 1205.1.3.1. Public Outreach Before Potential Wildfires . 1215.1.3.2. Public Outreach During Wildfires . 1225.1.3.3. Public Outreach After Wildfires . 1225.1.4.Ensuring Adequate Workforce to Restore Service . 1235.2. Customer Support in Emergencies . 1255.2.1.Outage Reporting . 1255.2.2.Support for Low Income Customers . 1255.2.3.Billing Adjustments . 1275.2.4.Extended Payment Plans . 1285.2.5.Suspension of Disconnection and Nonpayment Fees and Deposit Waivers 1285.2.6.Repair Processing and Timing . 1285.2.7.Access to Utility Representatives . 1296.Performance Indicators and Monitoring . 1306.1. Plan Accountability . 1306.1.1.Executive Level Responsibility . 1306.1.2.Program Owners . 1306.2. Plan Performance and Evaluation . 1316.2.1.Operational Targets . 1336.2.2.Inspection Targets . 1336.2.3.System Hardening Targets and Indicators . 1346.2.4.Vegetation Management Targets and Indicators . 1346.2.5.Situational Awareness Targets . 1366.3. Monitoring and Auditing . 1376.3.1.Corrections to Plan Deficiencies . 1376.3.2.Monitoring and Auditing Effectiveness of Equipment and Line Inspections . 1376.3.3.Internal Electric Asset Management Quality Assurance and Quality ControlProcess . 138iii
Case 3:14-cr-00175-WHA Document 1004-1 Filed 02/06/19 Page 5 of 1796.3.4.Internal Auditing. 1396.3.5.External Auditing . 1407.Cost Estimates for 2019 Plan Programs . 1418.Additional Information the CPUC May Require . 145FiguresFigure 1: High Density Forest Area in Northern California . 19Figure 2: Wildfire Bow-Tie Risk . 21Figure 3: CPUC Map Evolution . 24Figure 4: PG&E Service Area Fire Threat Map . 25Figure 5: 2015-2017 Drivers for Fire Incidents in HFTD Tiers 2 and 3, and Zone 1 . 27Figure 6: Ignitions for Transmission and Distribution by Driver . 28Figure 7: Enhanced Vegetation Management . 74Figure 8: PG&E Vegetation Management . 82TablesTable 1: 2019 Program Overview . 3Table 2: Plan Compliance with California Public Utilities Code (PUC) § 8386(c) . 11Table 3: Strategy and Program Timeframes . 15Table 4: CPUC HFTD Map Tier Definitions . 24Table 5: Approximate Distribution Assets. 25Table 6: Approximate Transmission Assets . 25Table 7: RAMP Risk Drivers Related to SB 901 and ALJ Ruling Risk Categories . 29Table 8: Correlation of Programs to Ignition Drivers. 36Table 9: 2019 Wildfire Safety Plan Targets . 39Table 10: Identification of ALJ Ruling Categories . 45Table 11: Operational Practices Key . 46Table 12: Wildfire Safety Inspection Programs Key . 52Table 13: System Hardening Overview Key . 60Table 14: Enhanced Vegetation Management Key . 70Table 15: Annual “Additional” Trees Worked . 75Table 16: Enhanced Situational Awareness and Known Local Conditions Key . 86Table 17: Public Safety Power Shutoff Program Key . 94iv
Case 3:14-cr-00175-WHA Document 1004-1 Filed 02/06/19 Page 6 of 179Table 18: Alternative Technologies Key . 110Table 19: Post-Incident Recovery, Restoration and Remediation Activities Key . 113Table 20: Responsible Executive . 130Table 21: Responsible Program Owners. 130Attachments:A:Fire Potential Index Methodology and BackgroundB:Critical ServicesC:Description of Routine Facilities InspectionsD:Risks and Drivers Identified in RAMPE:Cost Estimates for 2019 Plan Programsv
Case 3:14-cr-00175-WHA Document 1004-1 Filed 02/06/19 Page 7 of 179Glossary of Acronyms and AbbreviationsAcronymTerm/DefinitionAHJAgency Having JurisdictionALJ RulingAdministrative Law Judge’s Ruling on Wildfire MitigationPlan Template, And Adding Additional Parties asRespondents, issued January 17, 2019 in R.18-10-007CAL FIRECalifornia Department of Forestry and Fire ProtectionCal OESCalifornia Office of Emergency ServicesCARECalifornia Alternate Rate for EnergyCEMACatastrophic Event Memorandum AccountCEQACalifornia Environmental Quality ActCERPCompany Emergency Response PlanCIRTCentralized Inspection Review TeamCPUC or CommissionCalifornia Public Utilities CommissionCWSPCommunity Wildfire Safety ProgramD.DecisionDFMDead Fuel MoistureEAMElectric Asset ManagementEEIEdison Electric InstituteEOCEmergency Operations CenterEP&REmergency Preparedness and ResponseEPICElectric Program Investment ChargeESAEnergy Savings AssistanceETOREstimated Time of RestorationEVMEnhanced Vegetation Managementvi
Case 3:14-cr-00175-WHA Document 1004-1 Filed 02/06/19 Page 8 of 179AcronymTerm/DefinitionFIAFire Index AreaFMEAFailure Modes and Effects AnalysisFPIFire Potential IndexFPPFire Prevention PlanGOGeneral OrderGRCGeneral Rate CaseHFTDHigh Fire-Threat DistrictHHZHigh Hazard ZonesIBEWInternational Brotherhood of Electrical WorkersICSIncident Command StructureIOUInvestor-Owned UtilityIVRIntegrated Voice RecordingkmKilometerkVKilovoltMAAMutual Assistance Agreementsmphmiles per hourNWSNational Weather ServiceOAOperability AssessmentOEMOriginal Equipment ManufacturerOESOffice of Emergency ServicesOPOrdering ParagraphPEVPost Enrollment VerificationPG&E or the CompanyPacific Gas and Electric Companyvii
Case 3:14-cr-00175-WHA Document 1004-1 Filed 02/06/19 Page 9 of 179AcronymTerm/DefinitionPIHPre-installed Interconnection HubsPlanWildfire Safety PlanPOMMSPG&E Operational Mesoscale Modeling SystemPRCPublic Resources CodePSPSPublic Safety Power ShutoffPUCPublic Utilities CodeQAQuality AssuranceQCQuality ControlQMQuality ManagementR.RulemakingRAMPRisk Assessment and Mitigation PhaseREACHRelief for Energy Assistance through Community HelpROWRight-of-WaySB 901Senate Bill 901SCADASupervisory Control and Data AcquisitionSDG&ESan Diego Gas & ElectricSIPTSafety and Infrastructure Protection TeamsSMAPSafety Model Assessment ProceedingSMEsSubject Matter ExpertsSmartMeter Brand Name for Automated Metering Initiative (AMI)SOPPStorm Outage Prediction ModelT&DTransmission and DistributionU.S.United Statesviii
Case 3:14-cr-00175-WHA Document 1004-1 Filed 02/06/19 Page 10 of 179AcronymTerm/DefinitionUSFSUnited States Forest ServiceVMVegetation ManagementVPVice PresidentWSIPWildfire Safety Inspection ProgramWSP or PlanWildfire Safety PlanWSOCWildfire Safety Operations Centerix
Case 3:14-cr-00175-WHA Document 1004-1 Filed 02/06/19 Page 11 of 1791. Introduction and Objectives of Plan1.1.Executive SummaryPacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E or the Company) takes seriously thecritical role it plays in preventing wildfires caused by electrical equipment in NorthernCalifornia. We understand the urgency of the situation, that lives could be at stake andthat we need to move even more quickly. This Wildfire Safety Plan (WSP or Plan)describes the enhanced, accelerated, and new programs that PG&E is and willaggressively continue to implement to prevent wildfires in 2019 and beyond. Toaddress increasing wildfire risk, in addition to aggressively implementing newapproaches to manage it, PG&E believes shutting off power will likely be necessary andmay need to be performed more frequently due to the extreme weather events and dryvegetation conditions. To that end, PG&E is expanding its Public Safety Power Shutoff(PSPS) program to prevent wildfires from occurring and is implementing new ways toreduce its impacts to first responders and vulnerable customers, including those withmedical needs.PG&E submits this Plan pursuant to Senate Bill (SB) 901 requiring all Californiaelectric utilities to prepare plans on constructing, maintaining, and operating theirelectrical lines and equipment to minimize the risk of catastrophic wildfire. TheCalifornia Public Utilities Commission (CPUC or Commission) established a schedulefor submission and review of the initial wildfire mitigation plans, and a process for reviewand implementation of plans to be filed in future years. PG&E is providing this Planconsistent with the statutory requirements and direction provided by the CPUC in itsOrder Instituting Rulemaking to Implement Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation PlansPursuant to Senate Bill 901 (2018), Rulemaking (R.) 18-10-007 (Wildfire OIR).This Plan describes PG&E’s proposed programs and strategies, recognizing
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E or the Company) takes seriously the critical role it plays in preventing wildfires caused by electrical equipment in Northern California. We understand the urgency of the situation, that lives could be at stake and that we need to move e
