On Monday, the California Public Utilities Commission announced it would begin an investigation into how privately owned power companies such as Pacific Gas and Electric have used Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPSs) this year. The question under investigation is whether companies such as PG&E are adhering to the laws in place when using widespread blackouts as a measure to prevent wildfires. CNN reported, "The state cannot continue to experience PSPS events on the scope and scale Californians have experienced this month, nor should Californians be subject to the poor execution that PG&E in particular has exhibited," said commission President Marybel Batjer. "The CPUC will demand that utilities prepare for and execute PSPS events in a way that greatly reduces impacts on Californians."
California Gov. Gavin Newsom released a statement supporting the CPUC’s decision to investigate,
saying that “I want to see the CPUC launch a total reform of power shutoff rules and regulations. Utilities must be held accountable and be aggressively penalized for their over reliance on PSPS, and the product of this investigation must be new rules and regulations to do that. I also want to see customers not charged for PSPS. It seems obvious, but under the current rules, utilities can do just that. It’s unacceptable and must be remedied.”
The latter part of that statement is important, as right now, as long as utilities can plead public safety, they can continue to charge customers “delivery and generation” fees accrued without having to prorate it. They are also off the hook for reimbursements such as spoiled food from refrigerators unable to work properly and other financial fallout customers might otherwise be eligible for.