California’s investor-owned utilities (IOU), whose infrastructure has caused numerous major wildfires in recent years, are prepared for this year’s fire season, including how planned power outages should limit customer impact, executives told regulators.

California Public Utilities Commission Fire Threat Map

As two fires were raging in Southern California, utility executives in separate hearings over the past week said infrastructure had been hardened and planned outages refined to impact precise areas and fewer customers. Zones also have been established for backup power to essential service providers, with protections for Covid-19 related facilities.

During the virtual California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) hearing, President Marybel Batjer noted that the public service power shutoffs (PSPS) should be “last resort”...