Wildfires

California Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled his proposed 2022-2023 budget proposal to continue confronting the state’s “greatest existential threats” – the pandemic and climate change – while bolstering economic growth. Specifically for energy, Newsom’s ambition under his California Blueprint is to create “an oil-free future” for California by reducing the state’s reliance on fossil fuels while…

CenterPoint Energy said mutual assistance crews and support personnel from Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas were helping Xcel Energy to restore natural gas service in Boulder, CO, which sustained extensive damage from recent wildfires. “Our natural gas technicians are skilled to perform in any type of conditions, just like they do for our customers at home,”…

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has proposed regulations to strengthen oversight of the state’s investor-owned utilities. The proposal, which would need to be approved by CPUC commissioners, would establish specific metrics to evaluate Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) operational safety performance. It would also adopt 10 safety performance metrics, building on those previously…

To strengthen its oversight of Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) safety performance, California regulators have established an independent safety monitor to help shape daily operations. PG&E is under scrutiny for its potential role in causing several North California wildfires, including the Dixie fire, considered the second largest in state history.  “We welcome the additional…

After another run toward $4.200/MMBtu last week, natural gas futures took a nosedive on Monday as long-range weather forecasts continued to cool while liquefied natural gas (LNG) demand remained well off recent highs. The September Nymex gas futures contract settled at $4.060, off 8.0 cents from Friday’s close. October dropped 7.9 cents to $4.075. Spot…

Facing new criminal charges for its alleged involvement in a massive 2020 wildfire, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) CEO Patti Poppe said the combination utility is making “profound changes,” such as burying its power lines to significantly lower the risks of future fires for both California and the company. Speaking on a 2Q2021 earnings…

The size of California’s wildfires doubled year/year in 2020, so state officials are throwing technology enhancements at the seasonal challenge through the utilities, grid operators and energy planners. “One of the biggest lessons we have learned is how unpredictable fire dangers and climate both are, and we’re still grappling somewhat with how to prepare for…

California regulators on Thursday ordered financial penalties and corrective actions against the state’s major investor-owned electric utilities for failing to meet guidelines in 2019 when using planned power outages as a means of reducing the risk of wildfires caused by utility equipment. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E), Southern California Edison Co. (SCE), and San…

Acknowledging the risk for another above-average wildfire season, Edison International CEO Pablo Pizarro said recently he was confident the Southern California Edison Co. (SCE) utility was prepared. California avoided the “catastrophic widespread damage” of the 2017 and 2018 fire seasons even with last year’s all-time record acreage scorched, he said during the first quarter conference…