California Public Utilities Commission adopts new utility safety rules

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on Dec. 13 adopted new rules to improve utility risk mitigation efforts.

The decision, issued in the Safety Model Assessment Proceeding (SMAP), requires utilities to follow more uniform and quantitative procedures in assessing risks to their systems, identifying mitigation measures and evaluating the cost-effectiveness of their measures.

The decision follows up on a 2016 CPUC decision that established an interim risk-based decision-making framework and directed utilities to develop a more uniform approach to risk management.

Utilities will also be required to publicly present their analysis identifying their top risks, seek input from interested parties and CPUC staff and perform quantitative analysis to determine the risk reduction benefits of mitigation measures.

The CPUC noted that safety risks occur throughout a utility’s operations, and can include gas pipeline outages, fallen electrical lines, employee accidents, and damage to facilities resulting from wildfires.

“This proceeding highlights the range of safety risks facing our energy system today, and the need for continuous improvement and innovation to address those risks transparently and cost-effectively,” CPUC Commissioner Clifford Rechtschaffen, the assigned commissioner to the SMAP Proceeding, said. “Today’s decision will improve the ways in which we are addressing safety risks, but much more remains to be done. My colleagues and I will continue to work with stakeholders to advance the safety of our state’s energy system.”