The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCA Public Utilities Commission Monthly Newsletter for October 2018 Menchaca, Clarissa From: California Public Utilities Commission <news@cpuc.ca.gov> Sent: Tuesday, October 9, 2018 8:23 AM To: Clerk of the Board Subject: A Monthly Newsletter From the CPUC Working for California I October 2018 Edition M1, ' c rays`" f /! ✓� Gy �'°„_�I��i i i.+�'S �E ay Y yr 8 Ensuring Proper Planning for De-Energization m arts energization may be necessary to prevent an 'um"'` "'' fw '� �' "'"mac' incident that threatens public safety, loss of ASERIES ON SAFETYelectric power can have particularly serious impacts on the elderly and those dependent on 311161.55F ' electricity for medical reasons. In addition,it can make evacuations and the work of first responders more difficult. There are many safety initiatives underway at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)as it works to assure Californians'access to safe and 11111r=>=' ' reliable utility infrastructure and services. Safety ``. related articles will be featured again in future 9' issues By Elizaveta Malashenko, CPUC Safety and Enforcement Division Director z As Director of the Safety and Enforcement Division at the CPUC, I understand that power outages of any period of time can be very disruptive to the local economy, impair access to ` essential services,and pose health and safety • risks. As such, state law allows utilities to shut off power Larkfield Wikiup neighborhood devastation from the October to customers (called de-energizing) only when a 2017 Santa Rosa Tubbs Firestorm utility reasonably believes that there is an "imminent and significant risk"to safety, such as 1 when strong winds may topple power lines or At the CPUC,this is an issue we take extremely cause major vegetation-related damage to power seriously.That's why this past July, as our state lines and lead to increased risk of fires. Proactive was dealing with a seemingly endless string of de-energization is a drastic step, but in certain highly destructive wildfires, the CPUC put in place conditions, it is also a step that can save lives, additional consumer protections for when utilities protect property, and prevent fires.While de- de-energize. More Providing Safe, Clean, Reliable Water for Monterey Peninsula By Commissioner Liane Randolph and private interests have a long and contentious history of trying to find a viable solution to this Few issues confronting California are more problem. Conflicting community values have complex and contentious than water. Our job at rendered other proposals unworkable and the CPUC is to ensure that we have the safe, unachievable.We have been addressing these clean, and reliable water supply we need in a state concerns at this CPUC alone since 1997--well that is home to approximately 40 million people. over a decade. It is evident and timely that we The difficulty of that task was driven home yet must arrive at a supply-based solution and again by the lengthy CPUC proceeding that approve a project." culminated last month with a unanimous vote clearing the way for a much-needed desalination After our Sept. 13, 2018, vote on the desalination plan on the Monterey Peninsula. plant,which also certifies the environmental work both on a state and federal level, one local newspaper called our action a"decision for the history books."That's because it takes so many turns and accomplishes so much. r t 1€l .117 ^° The Monterey Peninsula is a beautiful and special place, but its longstanding water problems a ` became particularly acute in 2009.That's when the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) issued a cease and desist order against • the local water provider, California-American Water Co., because Cal-Am had spent years diverting about four times the amount of water to " ;• it was entitled from the Carmel River. Since -_._ that time,the communities on the Peninsula have worked hard to try to resolve this issue that is so Old Fisherman's Wharf waterfront in Monterey Bay, critical to their quality of life. In September 2016, California the CPUC approved Cal-Am's purchase agreement with the Pure Water Monterey recycled "Monterey Peninsula residents and businesses water project,which will provide additional supply have been struggling with water constraints since once operational. But even that innovative project the 1940s,"an earlier CPUC ruling noted..."Public was not sufficient t meet demand and more supply is needed. More Addressing Biomass in California 2 By Michael Picker, CPUC President ` z With California's commitment to renewable energy ; V, and the growing concern about wildfires, biomass i :" .: electrical generation has received a lot of attention ! I4• , .r recently as a tool for addressing both challenges, i I 1 ! but for a number of reasons this approach still has a lotto overcome. ,` G�" Both Senate Bill (SB)901, signed recently by r E Governor Jerry Brown,and the May 2018 4 "California Forest Carbon Plan,"put forward by the California Natural Resources Agency, CAL FIRE, '� and the California Environmental Protection Agency, call for increased state support for biomass, but the Carbon Plan also articulates part Biomass timber removal down a forest footpath of the challenge. Additionally, a clean energy policy has a different "The costs of transporting forest biomass are set of concerns than the issue of safety from significant relative to the material's value, so wildfires. For clean energy, policymakers focus on distance from source to processing site will emissions, price,and the ability of new resources determine commercial feasibility,"the Plan states. to work together in ways that keep the lights on. "Regional and local approaches will also be better suited to discussions related to facility siting, Fire safety revolves around reducing fuel, economic development strategies, local impacts of hardening communities to withstand ferocious forestry operations, and climate resilience of both fires, and clearing vegetation from near electric natural resources and the human populations that lines.While these policies are not contradictory, depend on them. there are obstacles to making them work in harmony. More Docket: Proceedings Filed at the CPUC in Sept. 2018 Proceeding Number•Filed Date•Filer Proceeding Number•Filed Date•Filer A1611002•020-Aug-2018(reopened)• A1809005.05-Sept-2018•Hearsay Social,Inc. ORAIMILEYICPUC Application of Hearsay Social, Inc.for Registration as Application of Southern California Edison Company an Interexchange Carrier Telephone Corporation (U338E)for Approval of the Results of its Second pursuant to the Provisions of Public Utilities Code Preferred Resources Pilot Request for Offers. Section 1013. More Application for rehearing of decision 18-07-023. More A1712002&A1712003.07-Sept-2018• A1504012•04-Sept-2018•ALJ/COOKEICPUC ALJ/STEVENS/CPUC Decision on intervenor compensation claim of center Decision approving energy storage agreements and for accessible technology. More associated cost recovery mechanisms. More P1809001 •04-Sept-2018•Direct Access A1701013,A170'1014,A1701015,A1701016, Customer Coalition A1701017.07-Sept-2018•ALJIFITCHICPUC Petition to adopt, amend, or repeal a regulation Proposed Decision addressing workforce pursuant to Pub. Util. Code Section 1708.5. More requirements and third-party contract terms and conditions. More A1608006.05-Sept-2018•ALJ/ALLEN/CPUC Decision granting compensation to Californians for R1407002.07-Sept-2018•ALJIKAOICPUC Green Nuclear Power, Inc. For substantial Proposed decision correcting and clarifying decision contribution to decision 18-01-022. More 18-06-027. More VIEW MORE FILINGS 3 About this Publication This monthly newsletter is to keep you informed of proposals by the CPUC's Commissioners and Administrative Law Judges,as well as utility applications,and other issues and work of note.We also include a list summarizing the filings at the.CPUC in the previous month. We want to hear from you! If you have topics you'd like us to cover or if you'd like to make comment on our proceedings or work, please contact us at outreachacpuc.ca.gov or call (855)421-0400.You can find information about events we are having at www.cpuc.ca.gov/Events. Prior editions of this newsletter are available on the CPUC's website at www.cpuc.ca.gov/newsletter. California Public Utilities Commission i www.cpuc.ca.gov I Contact us STAY CONNECTED 70 in o Having trouble viewing this email?View in browser. California Public Utilities Commission I 505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102 Unsubscribe clerkoftheboardCa buttecounty.net Update Profile f About our service provider Sent by news@cpuc.ca.gov in collaboration with Constant Contact , �. Try it free today 4