WEBVTT 00:00:04.960 --> 00:00:06.770 The feed for this streaming event 00:00:06.770 --> 00:00:09.150 brought to you by adminmonitor.com 00:00:09.150 --> 00:00:10.680 will begin momentarily. 00:00:10.680 --> 00:00:12.080 Thank you for your patience. 00:00:19.570 --> 00:00:21.290 This is the electric investor owned 00:00:21.290 --> 00:00:22.950 utility safety briefing 00:00:22.950 --> 00:00:25.080 to the California Public Utilities Commission 00:00:25.080 --> 00:00:28.900 and the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety meeting. 00:00:28.900 --> 00:00:31.313 Thank you, Carolina Contreras, you may begin. 00:00:32.930 --> 00:00:33.800 Hello everyone, 00:00:33.800 --> 00:00:36.520 and welcome to Bear Valley Electric Service 00:00:36.520 --> 00:00:39.080 and Pacific Gas and Electric Safety update briefing 00:00:39.080 --> 00:00:42.070 to the California Public Utilities Commission 00:00:42.070 --> 00:00:44.880 and the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety. 00:00:44.880 --> 00:00:46.660 My name is Carolina Contreras, 00:00:46.660 --> 00:00:48.850 I staff at the safety policy division, 00:00:48.850 --> 00:00:51.620 and I will be your facilitator today. 00:00:51.620 --> 00:00:52.580 At today's briefing, 00:00:52.580 --> 00:00:54.780 members of the board of directors of Bear Valley 00:00:54.780 --> 00:00:57.340 and PG&E will present and answer questions 00:00:57.340 --> 00:01:00.840 from the CPUC and Energy Safety regarding updates 00:01:00.840 --> 00:01:02.943 on their electric safety related efforts. 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:05.680 Due to the coronavirus pandemic 00:01:05.680 --> 00:01:07.630 and the shelter in place order, 00:01:07.630 --> 00:01:10.300 we are conducting today's meeting online 00:01:10.300 --> 00:01:12.203 and by remote participation. 00:01:13.420 --> 00:01:17.150 The meeting is live-streamed on the CPUC's website. 00:01:17.150 --> 00:01:22.150 You can view the meeting at www.adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc/. 00:01:28.690 --> 00:01:31.790 Closed captioning is available in English and Spanish 00:01:31.790 --> 00:01:33.210 through the webcast. 00:01:33.210 --> 00:01:35.480 You can click on the green button to select 00:01:35.480 --> 00:01:36.993 your language of choice. 00:01:37.910 --> 00:01:40.030 Joining us on the virtual dais today 00:01:40.030 --> 00:01:43.500 are CPUC President Batjer and her fellow Commissioners, 00:01:43.500 --> 00:01:45.520 Shiroma and Houck, 00:01:45.520 --> 00:01:47.150 as well as the Director of the Office 00:01:47.150 --> 00:01:51.350 of Energy Infrastructure Safety, Caroline Thomas Jacob. 00:01:51.350 --> 00:01:54.612 Unfortunately, Commissioner Recshouen 00:01:54.612 --> 00:01:57.563 and Commissioner Gusmanasevas are unable to join us today. 00:01:58.860 --> 00:02:01.600 In terms of a format for today's briefing, 00:02:01.600 --> 00:02:04.890 we will hold a morning session for Bear Valley Electric 00:02:04.890 --> 00:02:07.260 and an afternoon session for PG&E, 00:02:07.260 --> 00:02:10.070 which is scheduled to start at 1:00 PM. 00:02:10.070 --> 00:02:12.690 After opening remarks from the dais this morning, 00:02:12.690 --> 00:02:16.140 we will begin Bear Valley's session with public comments. 00:02:16.140 --> 00:02:19.370 We will then move on to a 25 minute presentation 00:02:19.370 --> 00:02:21.700 by Bear Valley Electric representatives 00:02:21.700 --> 00:02:25.063 on their safety update, followed by a discussion and Q&A 00:02:25.063 --> 00:02:28.660 from the Commissioners and Energy Safety director. 00:02:28.660 --> 00:02:31.710 We are scheduled to break for lunch at 12:00 PM 00:02:31.710 --> 00:02:35.660 and we'll reconvene at 1:00 PM for PG&E's portion. 00:02:35.660 --> 00:02:38.080 The afternoon will commence with public comments 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:39.683 for PG&E's session. 00:02:40.590 --> 00:02:43.220 We will then move on to a 45 minute presentation 00:02:43.220 --> 00:02:45.120 by PG&E representatives, 00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:46.820 followed by discussion and Q&A 00:02:46.820 --> 00:02:49.900 from the Commissioners and Energy Safety director. 00:02:49.900 --> 00:02:53.093 We are scheduled to conclude today at 3:00 PM. 00:02:54.120 --> 00:02:56.740 We will have an opportunity for public comment 00:02:56.740 --> 00:02:59.680 at the beginning of each of today's two sessions. 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:02.590 Bear Valley's public comment session will come first 00:03:02.590 --> 00:03:05.340 and will begin around 10:15 AM. 00:03:05.340 --> 00:03:07.850 PG&E's public comment session will take place 00:03:07.850 --> 00:03:12.240 in the afternoon, and is estimated to begin at 1:00 PM. 00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:14.630 If you wish to make a public comment, 00:03:14.630 --> 00:03:19.630 dial 800-857-1917 and enter passcode 1767567 00:03:27.720 --> 00:03:30.000 and press *1. 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:32.250 You will be placed into a queue 00:03:32.250 --> 00:03:35.590 and the operator will take your name and information. 00:03:35.590 --> 00:03:37.280 You will be called upon to speak 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:40.530 when we get to the public comment period in today's agenda. 00:03:40.530 --> 00:03:43.340 We will provide two minutes to each speaker, 00:03:43.340 --> 00:03:46.280 so please be mindful of the time. 00:03:46.280 --> 00:03:49.720 You will hear a bell sound when your time is up. 00:03:49.720 --> 00:03:52.230 Please be mindful to other callers in the queue 00:03:52.230 --> 00:03:54.710 and stay within your allotted time. 00:03:54.710 --> 00:03:58.194 We also have Spanish interpretation available. 00:03:58.194 --> 00:04:03.194 Dial 800-857-1917 and enter passcode 3799627# 00:04:11.580 --> 00:04:13.900 to be connected to the Spanish line. 00:04:13.900 --> 00:04:16.380 I ask that today's speakers remain mindful 00:04:16.380 --> 00:04:17.933 and speak clearly. 00:04:18.930 --> 00:04:21.630 We will now repeat public comment information 00:04:21.630 --> 00:04:23.451 in Spanish. 00:04:23.451 --> 00:04:26.618 (speaking in Spanish) 00:05:50.300 --> 00:05:52.900 I will now turn it over to President Batjer 00:05:52.900 --> 00:05:54.143 for opening remarks. 00:05:56.070 --> 00:05:58.250 Thank you so much, Carolina. 00:05:58.250 --> 00:06:00.380 And I want to say good morning to everyone. 00:06:00.380 --> 00:06:03.130 I'd like to, of course, welcome my fellow Commissioners 00:06:03.130 --> 00:06:04.910 and Director Thomas Jacob 00:06:04.910 --> 00:06:08.150 from the Office of Energy Infrastructure and Safety. 00:06:08.150 --> 00:06:10.670 Today's meeting with Bear Valley and PG&E 00:06:10.670 --> 00:06:13.140 is the second in a series of meetings 00:06:13.140 --> 00:06:16.600 we have put in place to hear annually 00:06:16.600 --> 00:06:20.900 from representatives of the utilities boards of directors 00:06:20.900 --> 00:06:25.330 on a comprehensive set of electric safety related issues. 00:06:25.330 --> 00:06:27.920 The first meeting in this series was held in August 00:06:27.920 --> 00:06:31.980 with SCE Edison and SDG&E. 00:06:31.980 --> 00:06:34.510 While this meeting is a new initiative, 00:06:34.510 --> 00:06:37.430 it is part of the CPUC and Energy Safety's 00:06:37.430 --> 00:06:40.310 ongoing effort to hold public meetings 00:06:40.310 --> 00:06:44.130 with utility leadership across a range of safety issues 00:06:44.130 --> 00:06:48.520 including wildfire mitigation, public safety power shutoff, 00:06:48.520 --> 00:06:51.520 and represents our continued commitment 00:06:51.520 --> 00:06:53.960 to transparency and accountability 00:06:53.960 --> 00:06:56.373 around important public safety issues. 00:06:57.417 --> 00:07:01.080 Presentations like the ones we will hear today 00:07:01.080 --> 00:07:05.100 are critical to ensuring we are kept informed 00:07:05.100 --> 00:07:07.630 by the utilities around their responsibility 00:07:07.630 --> 00:07:11.070 for continuing to improve their safety performance 00:07:11.070 --> 00:07:14.240 including the development and maturation 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:17.800 of their organizational safety cultures. 00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:21.570 A stern safety culture is essential for strong 00:07:21.570 --> 00:07:25.190 and effective safety performance, and that culture 00:07:25.190 --> 00:07:27.880 is set by utility leadership. 00:07:27.880 --> 00:07:31.790 So a venue such as this, 00:07:31.790 --> 00:07:34.470 where utility leadership can present their view 00:07:34.470 --> 00:07:37.910 of their own company's safety performance 00:07:37.910 --> 00:07:40.610 and hear from the public and regulators, 00:07:40.610 --> 00:07:43.633 is a very valuable feedback loop. 00:07:44.740 --> 00:07:47.470 We also believe that a public meeting 00:07:47.470 --> 00:07:51.217 with board members is a reasonable and effective way 00:07:51.217 --> 00:07:54.590 for the utilities to demonstrate they have met one 00:07:54.590 --> 00:07:59.370 of the statutory criteria for obtaining safety certificates 00:07:59.370 --> 00:08:01.800 which requires the electrical corporation 00:08:01.800 --> 00:08:05.840 to establish board of directors-level reporting 00:08:05.840 --> 00:08:08.530 to this Commission on safety issues. 00:08:08.530 --> 00:08:11.720 While public briefings enhance transparency, 00:08:11.720 --> 00:08:15.130 I also want to recognize that we have many staff 00:08:15.130 --> 00:08:20.000 at the CPUC who focus exclusively on safety oversight 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:23.550 and enforcement work which happens outside 00:08:23.550 --> 00:08:25.573 of the public view. 00:08:26.540 --> 00:08:29.350 Also we have been working for years 00:08:29.350 --> 00:08:33.410 to enhance the level of engagement in assessing the risk 00:08:33.410 --> 00:08:38.410 the utilities face and determine a more quantifiable basis 00:08:39.150 --> 00:08:41.390 for assessing safety performance 00:08:41.390 --> 00:08:44.210 in our safety model assessment proceedings, 00:08:44.210 --> 00:08:47.283 and our risk assessment and mitigation proceedings. 00:08:48.797 --> 00:08:53.797 Today's meetings further enhance our oversight work 00:08:54.060 --> 00:08:56.580 by providing the public a venue to hear 00:08:56.580 --> 00:08:58.313 the presentation of the board, 00:08:59.374 --> 00:09:02.310 and for getting a better public understanding 00:09:02.310 --> 00:09:05.074 of the priorities and actions of the board 00:09:05.074 --> 00:09:07.413 and the executive leadership. 00:09:08.360 --> 00:09:12.270 Monday marked three years since PG&E infrastructure 00:09:12.270 --> 00:09:14.970 ignited the deadly campfire. 00:09:14.970 --> 00:09:17.470 I wanted to recognize this occurrence 00:09:17.470 --> 00:09:21.170 and that of the 84 lives that were lost. 00:09:21.170 --> 00:09:25.060 This anniversary is a grim and anguishing reminder 00:09:25.060 --> 00:09:28.600 of the need for sustained and ongoing actions 00:09:28.600 --> 00:09:33.600 by PG&E and other utilities to operate their systems safely, 00:09:33.760 --> 00:09:37.510 and to put the care and wellbeing of their customers 00:09:37.510 --> 00:09:40.253 in every business choice they make. 00:09:41.220 --> 00:09:43.550 Oftentimes in regulation, 00:09:43.550 --> 00:09:47.610 one can get consumed in statistics and metrics. 00:09:47.610 --> 00:09:50.670 How is a utility doing this year compared to last year? 00:09:50.670 --> 00:09:51.823 And month over month? 00:09:53.080 --> 00:09:58.080 But in this work and in today's meeting, 00:09:58.240 --> 00:10:01.930 I want to hold center that it is real people 00:10:01.930 --> 00:10:03.550 we are talking about. 00:10:03.550 --> 00:10:06.370 Real people's lives who were lost 00:10:06.370 --> 00:10:10.280 because of a neglect to uphold the responsibility 00:10:10.280 --> 00:10:13.410 to operate safely, 00:10:13.410 --> 00:10:16.373 and real people whose lives were upended. 00:10:19.030 --> 00:10:21.170 It is the real people that guide my 00:10:21.170 --> 00:10:24.600 and my fellow Commissioner's unwavering commitment 00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:27.440 to exercising every level we have 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:31.860 to continue to push utilities to forefront the customer 00:10:31.860 --> 00:10:33.993 and forefront their safety. 00:10:34.935 --> 00:10:38.580 With that in mind, I am very much looking forward 00:10:38.580 --> 00:10:42.100 to hearing from Bear Valley and PG&E leadership 00:10:42.100 --> 00:10:46.290 on their key priorities and efforts to improve safety, 00:10:46.290 --> 00:10:49.680 and to hear about the board-level accountability 00:10:49.680 --> 00:10:51.980 for the utility leadership related 00:10:51.980 --> 00:10:54.520 to the company's safety performance. 00:10:54.520 --> 00:10:56.620 So I want to thank very much 00:10:56.620 --> 00:10:58.910 the Safety Policy Division, 00:10:58.910 --> 00:11:00.930 the Office of the Commission, 00:11:00.930 --> 00:11:03.770 and the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety 00:11:03.770 --> 00:11:06.660 for organizing this very important briefing today. 00:11:06.660 --> 00:11:09.230 With that, Carolina, I will turn it back to you. 00:11:09.230 --> 00:11:10.063 Thank you. 00:11:11.290 --> 00:11:12.797 Thank you, President Batjer. 00:11:12.797 --> 00:11:14.533 Commissioner Shiroma? 00:11:17.720 --> 00:11:21.060 Ah yes, thank you, Carolina. 00:11:21.060 --> 00:11:25.640 I very much appreciate the efforts today 00:11:25.640 --> 00:11:28.380 to provide the updates. 00:11:28.380 --> 00:11:30.590 These are of the highest importance 00:11:30.590 --> 00:11:34.830 in establishing accountability at the highest levels 00:11:34.830 --> 00:11:36.740 of the organizations. 00:11:36.740 --> 00:11:40.670 The governing boards set the tone. 00:11:40.670 --> 00:11:42.963 They set the expectations. 00:11:43.873 --> 00:11:44.706 And we will learn today 00:11:44.706 --> 00:11:48.840 about the board of director's efforts in development 00:11:48.840 --> 00:11:51.327 of governance structures to ensure that both 00:11:51.327 --> 00:11:56.327 the Bear Valley and PG&E teams are effective and efficient 00:11:56.770 --> 00:11:59.560 in implementing safety efforts. 00:11:59.560 --> 00:12:04.010 The commemoration of the campfire and those lives lost 00:12:04.010 --> 00:12:06.450 are an important reminder 00:12:06.450 --> 00:12:10.400 of the governing board's responsibilities 00:12:10.400 --> 00:12:12.040 and the influence that they have 00:12:12.040 --> 00:12:14.880 on the entire organization. 00:12:14.880 --> 00:12:18.410 And though the two utilities are different in size 00:12:18.410 --> 00:12:20.890 and geography and customer base, 00:12:20.890 --> 00:12:25.590 the principles apply the same, again, 00:12:25.590 --> 00:12:28.480 in terms of the accountability of the governing boards, 00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:31.590 the accountability that they hold over their teams, 00:12:31.590 --> 00:12:34.910 and I look forward to a robust and detailed discussion. 00:12:34.910 --> 00:12:35.743 Thank you. 00:12:38.370 --> 00:12:40.070 Thank you, Commissioner Shiroma. 00:12:41.090 --> 00:12:42.743 Director Thomas Jacob. 00:12:44.260 --> 00:12:46.750 Good morning, and thank you, President Batjer 00:12:46.750 --> 00:12:48.110 and Commissioner Shiroma. 00:12:49.213 --> 00:12:50.620 I just want to say I definitely concur 00:12:50.620 --> 00:12:52.120 with all of what you guys just said. 00:12:52.120 --> 00:12:55.070 President Batjer, very eloquently described 00:12:55.070 --> 00:12:57.803 the severity and importance of this effort. 00:12:59.260 --> 00:13:01.480 I think it's important to root today's discussion 00:13:01.480 --> 00:13:03.320 in the fact that the landscape 00:13:03.320 --> 00:13:05.880 in which each of the utilities build, operate, 00:13:05.880 --> 00:13:08.430 and maintain their grid, and the risk calculus 00:13:08.430 --> 00:13:10.860 for doing so, has fundamentally changed. 00:13:10.860 --> 00:13:13.720 As the impact of climate change continues to worsen 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:16.321 and California experiences (indistinct) 00:13:16.321 --> 00:13:17.630 that increase the risk of wildfire, 00:13:17.630 --> 00:13:19.330 the importance of building and maintaining 00:13:19.330 --> 00:13:21.450 a culture of safety and wildfire resilience 00:13:21.450 --> 00:13:24.410 for employees, customers, and the general public 00:13:24.410 --> 00:13:26.410 becomes ever more critical. 00:13:26.410 --> 00:13:28.450 With over 8,300 fires 00:13:28.450 --> 00:13:29.810 and more than 3 million acres 00:13:29.810 --> 00:13:31.993 burned this year in California, 00:13:31.993 --> 00:13:35.436 the numbers, more importantly the impact of those fires 00:13:35.436 --> 00:13:37.600 on the residents, communities, and our environment 00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:39.152 are staggering. 00:13:39.152 --> 00:13:42.030 Year over year, the threat is only continuing to escalate. 00:13:42.030 --> 00:13:44.810 Safety and climate resilience must be considered 00:13:44.810 --> 00:13:47.830 and prioritized in every decision that utility makes 00:13:47.830 --> 00:13:50.730 to ensure every opportunity is maximized 00:13:50.730 --> 00:13:53.740 to improve worker safety and reduce or eliminate 00:13:53.740 --> 00:13:56.610 the likelihood of an ignition from an electrical line. 00:13:56.610 --> 00:13:58.480 Building a culture of safety, 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:00.220 where safety's not just what you do, 00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:02.410 but it's who you are, is not easy, 00:14:02.410 --> 00:14:03.690 nor does it happen overnight. 00:14:03.690 --> 00:14:05.930 It takes hard work, universal buy in, 00:14:05.930 --> 00:14:08.090 and a strong commitment to leadership. 00:14:08.090 --> 00:14:09.977 It means developing a culture based on safety 00:14:09.977 --> 00:14:12.220 and risk management, not just focused solely 00:14:12.220 --> 00:14:15.040 on compliance, but a culture that reduces risk 00:14:15.040 --> 00:14:16.910 across how you build, operate, 00:14:16.910 --> 00:14:19.110 and maintain your infrastructure. 00:14:19.110 --> 00:14:20.520 Through the safety culture assessments 00:14:20.520 --> 00:14:22.470 our team conducted this year, 00:14:22.470 --> 00:14:24.970 I know PG&E and Bear Valley's governance work, 00:14:24.970 --> 00:14:27.360 I also know that there's still much you need to do 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:29.750 to ensure that the entire organization, 00:14:29.750 --> 00:14:32.020 from the board down to the frontline worker 00:14:32.020 --> 00:14:34.420 including employees and contractors, 00:14:34.420 --> 00:14:37.930 prioritize safety in every decision, in every action, 00:14:37.930 --> 00:14:40.280 to improve safety outcomes for your workforce, 00:14:40.280 --> 00:14:41.113 for your customers, 00:14:41.113 --> 00:14:43.410 and the communities in which you operate. 00:14:43.410 --> 00:14:45.270 As we're coming to the end of the calendar year 00:14:45.270 --> 00:14:46.390 and the compliance period 00:14:46.390 --> 00:14:49.270 for the 2021 wildfire mitigation plan, 00:14:49.270 --> 00:14:50.820 I'm particularly interested in hearing 00:14:50.820 --> 00:14:52.670 from both PG&E and Bear Valley 00:14:52.670 --> 00:14:54.580 about the specific safety improvements 00:14:54.580 --> 00:14:55.800 implemented this year, 00:14:55.800 --> 00:14:57.210 and how each of you plan to address 00:14:57.210 --> 00:14:58.490 the commitments you've made 00:14:58.490 --> 00:15:00.840 for which you're currently behind schedule. 00:15:00.840 --> 00:15:01.960 I'll leave it at that for now 00:15:01.960 --> 00:15:05.000 as I'm sure I'll have questions after the presentations. 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:06.972 With that again, thank you for the opportunity 00:15:06.972 --> 00:15:09.940 here today and I appreciate the Commission 00:15:09.940 --> 00:15:11.740 organizing the briefing. 00:15:11.740 --> 00:15:12.853 Back to you, Carolina. 00:15:14.090 --> 00:15:16.470 Thank you, Director Thomas Jacob. 00:15:16.470 --> 00:15:17.420 Commissioner Houck? 00:15:19.810 --> 00:15:20.960 Thank you, Carolina. 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:22.290 I want to thank you 00:15:22.290 --> 00:15:24.630 and all of the Safety Policy Division staff 00:15:24.630 --> 00:15:26.970 for organizing today's public meeting, 00:15:26.970 --> 00:15:29.960 as well as Energy Safety for their continued partnership 00:15:29.960 --> 00:15:33.470 with the CPUC on wildfire safety matters. 00:15:33.470 --> 00:15:35.960 I concur with the comments that were made 00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:37.890 by my fellow Commissioners, 00:15:37.890 --> 00:15:41.310 particularly President Batjer's comments 00:15:41.310 --> 00:15:43.470 regarding the need to prioritize safety 00:15:43.470 --> 00:15:48.260 and how what the utilities are doing impact people's lives. 00:15:48.260 --> 00:15:50.870 I'm looking forward to learning more about the progress 00:15:50.870 --> 00:15:53.230 that both Bear Valley and PG&E have made 00:15:53.230 --> 00:15:55.270 in improving the safety of their systems 00:15:55.270 --> 00:15:57.310 and their goals for future implementation 00:15:57.310 --> 00:15:59.290 of safety measures. 00:15:59.290 --> 00:16:00.950 I had the opportunity last week, 00:16:00.950 --> 00:16:03.390 along with Turn, SCD, and Energy Safety, 00:16:03.390 --> 00:16:04.620 to visit some of the sites 00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:06.500 where PG&E is currently conducting 00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:08.530 it's wildfire mitigation work. 00:16:08.530 --> 00:16:10.900 This provided an opportunity for all of us to see 00:16:10.900 --> 00:16:12.750 what was happening on the ground, 00:16:12.750 --> 00:16:15.300 and have PG&E address some of the questions raised 00:16:15.300 --> 00:16:17.420 by the public including implementation 00:16:17.420 --> 00:16:18.570 of fast trip settings, 00:16:18.570 --> 00:16:20.080 which I believe they'll be talking about 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:21.673 in today's presentation. 00:16:22.680 --> 00:16:25.160 So I appreciate PG&E engaging in dialogue 00:16:25.160 --> 00:16:27.460 with all of us regarding its recent safety work 00:16:27.460 --> 00:16:30.020 and the progress they've made to date. 00:16:30.020 --> 00:16:31.880 There's still a lot of work to be done 00:16:31.880 --> 00:16:34.750 and I just want to reiterate what's been said already 00:16:34.750 --> 00:16:37.120 that we intend to hold the utilities accountable 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:39.840 for providing safe and reliable electricity 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:42.350 to their customers, and I'm looking forward 00:16:42.350 --> 00:16:44.380 to hearing more from both utilities today 00:16:44.380 --> 00:16:46.750 in their briefings on how they're going to be implementing 00:16:46.750 --> 00:16:49.080 safety measure and what they've done to date. 00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:50.023 So thank you. 00:16:52.310 --> 00:16:55.770 Thank you, Commissioners and director Thomas Jacobs. 00:16:55.770 --> 00:16:58.430 We will now turn to the public comments portion 00:16:58.430 --> 00:17:00.860 of Bear Valley's session in today's agenda. 00:17:00.860 --> 00:17:02.980 We want to make a clarification, 00:17:02.980 --> 00:17:07.390 the passcode that we let you know about earlier 00:17:08.670 --> 00:17:09.560 needs to be corrected. 00:17:09.560 --> 00:17:12.210 So I will correct it in my following statement. 00:17:12.210 --> 00:17:14.800 As a reminder, if you wish to make a public comment, 00:17:14.800 --> 00:17:19.800 dial into 800-857-1917 and enter passcode 5180519 00:17:25.833 --> 00:17:26.960 for the English line. 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:29.270 Again, that has been corrected 00:17:29.270 --> 00:17:31.951 and I'll repeat the corrected passcode. 00:17:31.951 --> 00:17:36.860 5180519 for the English line. 00:17:36.860 --> 00:17:40.077 And the passcode for the Spanish line is 379929627. 00:17:45.449 --> 00:17:46.880 Excuse me, I'll repeat the passcode for the Spanish line. 00:17:46.880 --> 00:17:51.880 That is 3799627 for the Spanish line. 00:17:53.192 --> 00:17:56.010 Unmute your phone and press *1, 00:17:56.010 --> 00:17:57.970 you will be placed into a queue 00:17:57.970 --> 00:18:01.000 and the operator will take your name and information. 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:03.360 You will be called upon to speak in the order 00:18:03.360 --> 00:18:05.103 your call was received. 00:18:06.190 --> 00:18:08.870 You will have two minutes to speak. 00:18:08.870 --> 00:18:12.540 You will hear a bell sound when your time is up. 00:18:12.540 --> 00:18:14.908 Please be mindful of other speakers in the queue 00:18:14.908 --> 00:18:17.400 and keep to your allotted time. 00:18:17.400 --> 00:18:19.240 I will now turn it to the operator 00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:21.513 to open the public comment telephone line. 00:18:25.120 --> 00:18:26.573 Thank you. 00:18:26.573 --> 00:18:28.500 The public comment telephone line is now open. 00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:30.000 Again, if you wish to speak 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:32.970 during the public comment period please press *1, 00:18:32.970 --> 00:18:34.190 unmute your phone, 00:18:34.190 --> 00:18:36.960 and clearly record your name when prompted 00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:38.330 so I may introduce you. 00:18:38.330 --> 00:18:41.370 Again, that is *1 to ask us questions. 00:18:41.370 --> 00:18:44.240 It may take a few moments for comments to come though, 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:45.153 please stand by. 00:19:06.401 --> 00:19:09.330 So it sounds like we have no current speakers 00:19:09.330 --> 00:19:10.283 on the queue. 00:19:11.300 --> 00:19:16.300 We will then move on with no more comments on the line. 00:19:17.100 --> 00:19:21.730 The public comment period for Bear Valley is now closed. 00:19:21.730 --> 00:19:26.590 Thank you to all who would like to call later. 00:19:26.590 --> 00:19:30.080 There will be another public comment session for PG&E. 00:19:32.004 --> 00:19:33.570 To provide written comments, 00:19:33.570 --> 00:19:37.863 please send them to carolina.contreras@cpuc.ca.gov. 00:19:41.060 --> 00:19:44.130 We will now hear from Bear Valley Electric Services 00:19:44.130 --> 00:19:46.370 representative, Paul Marconi 00:19:47.380 --> 00:19:50.262 Paul Marconi is president, treasurer, 00:19:50.262 --> 00:19:53.590 secretary, and safety and operations committee chairman 00:19:53.590 --> 00:19:55.610 for Bear Valley Services. 00:19:55.610 --> 00:19:56.670 Welcome, Mr. Marconi, 00:19:56.670 --> 00:19:59.357 you are scheduled for 30 minutes. 00:19:59.357 --> 00:20:00.553 I am turning it over to you now. 00:20:03.570 --> 00:20:04.976 Thank you. 00:20:04.976 --> 00:20:05.809 Are you gonna display the slides? 00:20:05.809 --> 00:20:07.320 Yes, okay. 00:20:07.320 --> 00:20:11.160 Good morning, President Batjer, Commissioner Shiroma, 00:20:11.160 --> 00:20:13.820 Commissioner Houck, Director Thomas Jacobs, 00:20:13.820 --> 00:20:16.483 staff, and members of the public. 00:20:18.490 --> 00:20:20.590 Thank you for inviting me to provide 00:20:20.590 --> 00:20:22.830 Bear Valley Electric Service Inc.'s 00:20:22.830 --> 00:20:24.453 board-level update. 00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:30.010 Bear Valley is committed to ensure safety of the public, 00:20:30.010 --> 00:20:33.300 our customers, and stakeholders that are exposed 00:20:33.300 --> 00:20:36.000 to our facilities and operations. 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:38.530 We are committed to continually implementing 00:20:38.530 --> 00:20:43.010 and executing initiatives to reduce the risk of wildfire, 00:20:43.010 --> 00:20:45.950 and we are also committed to providing a safe, 00:20:45.950 --> 00:20:49.640 healthful workplace for all of our employees, 00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:53.300 on-site contractors, vendors, and other visitors 00:20:53.300 --> 00:20:55.180 to our facilities. 00:20:55.180 --> 00:20:57.280 We can go onto the next slide, please. 00:21:02.033 --> 00:21:03.830 During this briefing, I'll brief the topics 00:21:03.830 --> 00:21:08.546 that were requested in that order. 00:21:08.546 --> 00:21:09.963 So we can go to the next slide. 00:21:13.670 --> 00:21:15.760 Bear Valley is small. 00:21:15.760 --> 00:21:19.710 32 square miles, if you want to subtract the lake, 00:21:19.710 --> 00:21:21.330 you can take another four and a half 00:21:21.330 --> 00:21:23.913 to five square miles out depending on lake level. 00:21:25.381 --> 00:21:29.270 Most of our facilities are at 7,000 feet. 00:21:29.270 --> 00:21:31.120 We're in the San Bernardino Mountains 00:21:32.020 --> 00:21:34.840 where you have an alpine environment. 00:21:34.840 --> 00:21:39.690 That means heavy tree, pine-type vegetation. 00:21:39.690 --> 00:21:43.083 Mostly dry environment, about 8% a year. 00:21:44.806 --> 00:21:48.380 Entire service area is in the high fire threat district. 00:21:48.380 --> 00:21:52.050 90% is tier 2, about 10% is tier 3, 00:21:52.050 --> 00:21:56.213 that Southern red area is our tier 3 area. 00:21:57.060 --> 00:21:59.520 Our jurisdiction's pretty simple. 00:21:59.520 --> 00:22:01.850 County of San Bernardino, City of Big Bear Lake, 00:22:01.850 --> 00:22:03.123 US Forest Service. 00:22:05.370 --> 00:22:09.640 We have 24,623 customers. 00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:12.190 We have a permanent resident population 00:22:12.190 --> 00:22:14.663 of about 22,000 residents. 00:22:16.590 --> 00:22:21.590 About 30% permanent residents and 70% second home owners 00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:26.970 in Bear Valley. 00:22:26.970 --> 00:22:30.490 Our population can swell to over 200,000 00:22:30.490 --> 00:22:32.683 generally between Christmas and New Years, 00:22:33.730 --> 00:22:35.360 and just as a data point, 00:22:35.360 --> 00:22:38.563 last year, we had over six million visitors to Bear Valley. 00:22:40.886 --> 00:22:41.720 So our normal power supplies 00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:44.869 comes from Southern California Edison lines. 00:22:44.869 --> 00:22:45.702 Next slide, please. 00:22:50.410 --> 00:22:53.140 The framework of our key priorities and efforts 00:22:53.140 --> 00:22:57.970 are organized along the guidelines provided 00:22:57.970 --> 00:23:00.063 in the wildfire mitigation planning, 00:23:01.360 --> 00:23:06.360 and while some of these categories of initiatives 00:23:06.950 --> 00:23:10.730 are mostly on a tactical level, they spill into both, 00:23:10.730 --> 00:23:15.730 but I would say the board and senior management 00:23:16.180 --> 00:23:18.810 operate mostly in the strategic level, 00:23:18.810 --> 00:23:21.480 reaching out to the tactical to inspect 00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:23.220 and see how we're doing. 00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:26.040 And the frontline managers and supervisors operate 00:23:26.040 --> 00:23:28.083 more in the tactical level. 00:23:30.430 --> 00:23:31.830 We can go to the next slide. 00:23:36.670 --> 00:23:39.720 So we've got 86 initiatives in progress. 00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:41.010 I'm just gonna highlight some 00:23:41.010 --> 00:23:45.330 of what I think are the more compelling 00:23:45.330 --> 00:23:48.970 towards achieving a safe grid. 00:23:48.970 --> 00:23:51.283 One is a covered wire project. 00:23:54.047 --> 00:23:55.670 We did some pilot testing 00:23:55.670 --> 00:23:57.790 and also worked with the other utilities 00:23:57.790 --> 00:24:02.113 and we selected the priority wires as our primary product. 00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:06.623 It has a fire retardant in its insulation layers, 00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:11.530 and we have a program to replace 00:24:11.530 --> 00:24:13.710 approximately 4.3 circuit miles 00:24:13.710 --> 00:24:16.310 on the sub-transmission system, 00:24:16.310 --> 00:24:21.083 and 8.6 miles on the distribution system per year. 00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:24.810 To date, we've replaced approximately 00:24:24.810 --> 00:24:27.640 9 circuit miles on sub-transmission 00:24:27.640 --> 00:24:30.563 and 10 circuit miles on the distribution. 00:24:32.530 --> 00:24:37.530 When we replace the bare wire with covered wire, 00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:42.350 those poles are completely hardened, 00:24:42.350 --> 00:24:46.830 they're wind loaded, tested with spider calc, 00:24:46.830 --> 00:24:51.063 they're tested for their structural integrity, 00:24:52.780 --> 00:24:55.690 the hardware on the pole is changed out 00:24:55.690 --> 00:24:58.180 so that we have a completely hardened system 00:24:58.180 --> 00:25:00.563 when we're done with that. 00:25:04.580 --> 00:25:08.450 The risk assessment and mapping is a project 00:25:08.450 --> 00:25:11.020 that we focused on this year. 00:25:11.020 --> 00:25:15.060 In the past, Bear Valley follows what the small, 00:25:15.060 --> 00:25:17.240 multi-jurisdictional utilities used 00:25:17.240 --> 00:25:19.633 for risk-based decision making, 00:25:21.950 --> 00:25:24.240 but this is going beyond that. 00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:26.700 We hired a consultant to develop 00:25:26.700 --> 00:25:29.130 specific risk modeling to include risk maps 00:25:29.130 --> 00:25:32.700 that show the overall ignition probability, 00:25:32.700 --> 00:25:36.540 and then the estimated wildfire consequence 00:25:36.540 --> 00:25:38.543 along our electric lines. 00:25:40.360 --> 00:25:43.943 And this project, we've had previews of the results, 00:25:44.900 --> 00:25:47.143 this project will be completed by December. 00:25:49.080 --> 00:25:51.860 The results of this project will be included 00:25:51.860 --> 00:25:56.860 in our 2022 WNP update, 00:25:58.950 --> 00:26:00.853 as well as in our next rate case. 00:26:02.860 --> 00:26:07.860 And honestly, most of the results are consistent 00:26:08.060 --> 00:26:13.060 with what we had discovered with our own internal models. 00:26:13.110 --> 00:26:15.310 The biggest thing that this project does 00:26:15.310 --> 00:26:20.040 is it uses much more sophisticated weather 00:26:20.040 --> 00:26:24.090 and wildfire spread databases. 00:26:24.090 --> 00:26:28.510 It also uses ignition probability databases 00:26:29.820 --> 00:26:32.520 that we didn't have access to. 00:26:32.520 --> 00:26:34.970 So I'm pretty excited about this project 00:26:34.970 --> 00:26:36.963 being completed this year. 00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:40.360 This year, we also implemented drones 00:26:40.360 --> 00:26:44.120 to conduct imaging and thermography inspections 00:26:44.120 --> 00:26:46.280 on our facilities, and we just completed 00:26:46.280 --> 00:26:48.313 our first one in September. 00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:54.590 And we also have a project that's ongoing 00:26:54.590 --> 00:26:57.250 to go and assess the structural integrity 00:26:57.250 --> 00:26:59.203 of about 8,000 poles. 00:27:00.620 --> 00:27:05.620 To date, we've tested 3,024 poles. 00:27:05.930 --> 00:27:10.930 We've replaced 773 poles as a result of that, 00:27:11.260 --> 00:27:13.693 and we remediated 110 poles. 00:27:15.370 --> 00:27:16.740 When we do the load assessments, 00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:19.873 we do a 3D stress analysis using spider calc. 00:27:23.370 --> 00:27:25.650 Some of the other utilities use ohcount, 00:27:25.650 --> 00:27:27.550 those are all acceptable. 00:27:27.550 --> 00:27:32.550 We also check for the internal deterioration 00:27:33.140 --> 00:27:36.590 of the poles, and we also look for uncorrectable 00:27:36.590 --> 00:27:40.873 geo95 deficiencies when we do these assessments. 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:44.600 We can go to the next slide. 00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:50.560 Another initiative that we have ongoing now 00:27:50.560 --> 00:27:54.793 is the evacuation hardening route project. 00:27:56.020 --> 00:27:58.763 We did a pilot to look at different solutions. 00:27:59.850 --> 00:28:03.620 We evaluated our evacuation routes with the sheriff 00:28:03.620 --> 00:28:04.993 and local fire departments, 00:28:06.150 --> 00:28:09.880 and we have three main evacuation routes. 00:28:09.880 --> 00:28:14.030 Some of the facilities along those evacuation routes 00:28:14.030 --> 00:28:15.250 are already underground 00:28:15.250 --> 00:28:18.610 or were fire resistant composite poles. 00:28:18.610 --> 00:28:23.400 We identified 812 poles with holds along those routes, 00:28:23.400 --> 00:28:26.430 and so we targeted them for hardening. 00:28:26.430 --> 00:28:30.970 The method that we chose was to install a wire mesh wrap 00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:33.573 on those poles. 00:28:34.664 --> 00:28:37.467 400 this year have been installed, 00:28:37.467 --> 00:28:40.010 and 412 next year. 00:28:40.010 --> 00:28:43.720 That was, by far, the most effective, rapid, 00:28:46.940 --> 00:28:49.960 and economical approach to achieve 100% hardening 00:28:49.960 --> 00:28:52.633 along our evacuation routes in a two year period. 00:28:55.660 --> 00:28:57.750 We also have implemented a policy 00:28:57.750 --> 00:29:00.650 that any time we replace a wood pole 00:29:00.650 --> 00:29:04.060 on the evacuation route, we will replace it with steel 00:29:04.060 --> 00:29:07.593 or fire resistant composite poles. 00:29:12.010 --> 00:29:13.650 We have a grid automation project 00:29:13.650 --> 00:29:16.140 and installed a fiber network in our service area. 00:29:16.140 --> 00:29:19.220 Basically mimics our sub-transmission system 00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:22.323 and connects all of our substations. 00:29:22.323 --> 00:29:24.893 The fiber network is about 90% complete. 00:29:25.990 --> 00:29:29.300 We also developed a SCADA software system, 00:29:29.300 --> 00:29:31.520 and next year we will actually begin 00:29:31.520 --> 00:29:33.903 connecting substations and field devices. 00:29:34.780 --> 00:29:38.280 And this will set the backbone for newer technologies 00:29:40.010 --> 00:29:41.430 in years to come. 00:29:41.430 --> 00:29:45.253 For example, fast acting switches connected to sensors. 00:29:46.830 --> 00:29:50.030 We also have a project that installs, 00:29:50.030 --> 00:29:52.070 it's called the fault localization 00:29:52.070 --> 00:29:54.720 isolation system restoration, 00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:57.383 or as in the business, FLISR, 00:29:58.470 --> 00:30:02.300 and basically, if you think of our sub-transmission system, 00:30:02.300 --> 00:30:06.290 it's a circle that connects all of our substations 00:30:06.290 --> 00:30:07.693 and our power supplies. 00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:13.980 By installing nine IntelliRuptor pulse closers, 00:30:15.510 --> 00:30:18.100 these devices talk to each other 00:30:18.100 --> 00:30:20.980 and whenever a fault occurs on a 34 KB system, 00:30:20.980 --> 00:30:23.920 it's immediately isolated by two of the switches 00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:25.750 and the rest of the system is restored. 00:30:25.750 --> 00:30:30.750 So it enhances our fire safety by quickly isolating faults, 00:30:32.380 --> 00:30:35.480 minimizes the number of customers to no more than 2,000 00:30:35.480 --> 00:30:40.010 can be out of power, and it allows the crews 00:30:40.010 --> 00:30:43.760 to know exactly between which switches the fault is 00:30:43.760 --> 00:30:45.150 so they can get there quickly 00:30:45.150 --> 00:30:49.123 and quickly assess what's going on. 00:30:51.550 --> 00:30:53.280 Probably our most ambitious project 00:30:53.280 --> 00:30:55.910 is the Radford line replacement. 00:30:55.910 --> 00:31:00.335 If you recall on the map that was on the third slide, 00:31:00.335 --> 00:31:01.670 there was a line coming up from the South, 00:31:01.670 --> 00:31:04.183 that goes right through the forest service area. 00:31:05.240 --> 00:31:08.600 It's the high fire threat tier 3 district. 00:31:08.600 --> 00:31:13.350 It replaces the 34,000 volt line and all the poles, 00:31:13.350 --> 00:31:17.867 about 67, with covered wire and fire resistant poles 00:31:17.867 --> 00:31:21.023 using a distressed iron product. 00:31:22.630 --> 00:31:26.650 Right now, that project is in full evaluation 00:31:26.650 --> 00:31:29.530 by the US Forestry Service for permitting 00:31:29.530 --> 00:31:31.920 and we expect to begin construction 00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:36.850 at the end of the Winter weather in April of 2022, 00:31:36.850 --> 00:31:40.543 and should be completed before October 2022. 00:31:41.570 --> 00:31:43.950 Most of those poles will have to be replaced 00:31:43.950 --> 00:31:48.220 using helicopters due to the steepness of the slope 00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:49.523 and lack of roads. 00:31:51.290 --> 00:31:53.750 The final project that I wanted to mention 00:31:54.830 --> 00:31:56.770 of the initiatives in progress 00:31:56.770 --> 00:31:59.690 is the tree attachment removal project. 00:31:59.690 --> 00:32:01.479 When we started this project, 00:32:01.479 --> 00:32:06.479 there was 1,207 tree attachments. 00:32:06.935 --> 00:32:08.673 To date, we've removed 493 00:32:10.820 --> 00:32:15.190 and we have installed 286 new poles. 00:32:15.190 --> 00:32:17.300 As you can imagine, when you use tree attachments, 00:32:17.300 --> 00:32:19.070 you have to follow the trees. 00:32:19.070 --> 00:32:23.960 When you use poles, you can use a more economical 00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:26.860 and effective geometry that uses less poles. 00:32:26.860 --> 00:32:30.220 And yes, the tree attachment in that picture is gone, 00:32:30.220 --> 00:32:31.713 it was the first one gone. 00:32:33.840 --> 00:32:34.673 Next. 00:32:42.930 --> 00:32:46.000 We've enjoyed a pretty good safety record. 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:50.927 In fact today, this brief was as of 29 October, 00:32:50.927 --> 00:32:55.480 we were at 904 days accident free 00:32:55.480 --> 00:32:59.523 and very thankful for that. 00:33:00.700 --> 00:33:04.780 However, I fear complacency and so we have to work every day 00:33:04.780 --> 00:33:09.666 to ensure complacency doesn't set in, 00:33:09.666 --> 00:33:14.363 especially when the record is so strong. 00:33:15.860 --> 00:33:18.890 Every day without incident is a win to us, 00:33:18.890 --> 00:33:21.523 but the next day is a completely new play, 00:33:22.400 --> 00:33:26.540 and so we're pushing our managers, supervisors, 00:33:26.540 --> 00:33:28.110 to be engaged in the field 00:33:29.230 --> 00:33:32.080 'cause in my mind that's where the rubber meets the road, 00:33:33.050 --> 00:33:36.170 and that's where we have to maintain our high standards, 00:33:36.170 --> 00:33:37.133 out in the field. 00:33:40.280 --> 00:33:41.680 We can go to the next slide. 00:33:46.684 --> 00:33:51.684 The table on the right shows the risk reduction to date 00:33:52.083 --> 00:33:54.863 based on our fire safety matrix. 00:33:55.804 --> 00:33:59.143 It's about a 14% reduction in risk. 00:34:00.250 --> 00:34:03.130 It's based on a model that's not perfect, 00:34:03.130 --> 00:34:05.943 but it does allow us to track the relative progress 00:34:05.943 --> 00:34:09.050 over time, and I would love to a risk reduction meter 00:34:09.050 --> 00:34:11.940 in my office that was updated every hour, 00:34:11.940 --> 00:34:14.713 but short of that, I get this. 00:34:17.180 --> 00:34:20.640 And the nice thing about the model is one, 00:34:20.640 --> 00:34:22.200 whenever we make changes to the model, 00:34:22.200 --> 00:34:25.050 we go back and plug in the original data 00:34:25.050 --> 00:34:28.033 so that we have apples to apples comparisons, 00:34:28.950 --> 00:34:31.610 and it allows us to evaluate each circuit 00:34:31.610 --> 00:34:33.730 and then the totality of circuits. 00:34:33.730 --> 00:34:38.540 It also allows us to say hey, if I do 2.5 circuit miles 00:34:38.540 --> 00:34:40.950 of covered wire on the bulbon circuits, 00:34:40.950 --> 00:34:43.110 what's the impact on risk reduction? 00:34:43.110 --> 00:34:45.760 So we're able to put our detailed work plans for 2022 00:34:47.210 --> 00:34:49.550 and estimate what we think we're gonna achieve 00:34:49.550 --> 00:34:50.993 that year in risk reduction. 00:34:53.010 --> 00:34:56.513 And I think what we're seeing is we are improving risk, 00:34:57.540 --> 00:35:01.210 and our goal is to get rid of our high risk circuits, 00:35:01.210 --> 00:35:05.320 and then once we are in the medium risk field, 00:35:05.320 --> 00:35:06.843 bring us down to low risk. 00:35:09.530 --> 00:35:13.180 This algorithm that we use takes about 20 inputs 00:35:15.718 --> 00:35:18.218 and it includes everything, even just for example, 00:35:19.195 --> 00:35:20.410 if we complete our ground patrol 00:35:20.410 --> 00:35:24.290 and find a number of deficiencies, risk will go up 00:35:24.290 --> 00:35:26.150 when we plug that in the model. 00:35:26.150 --> 00:35:27.520 So it's dynamic as well, 00:35:27.520 --> 00:35:30.563 it's not just looking at hardening issues. 00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:33.370 You can go to the next slide. 00:35:39.030 --> 00:35:41.680 We did implement enhanced vegetation management 00:35:43.350 --> 00:35:46.050 back in the Spring of 2018. 00:35:46.050 --> 00:35:48.060 I was following the Commission's decision 00:35:48.060 --> 00:35:52.710 in 2017, in December, which introduced 00:35:54.790 --> 00:35:58.660 more vegetation requirements, 00:35:58.660 --> 00:36:02.680 and we took that on and we also increased 00:36:02.680 --> 00:36:03.890 some of our standards. 00:36:03.890 --> 00:36:05.960 For example, a little bit of the sub-transmission 00:36:05.960 --> 00:36:08.433 we have a blue sky requirement. 00:36:10.020 --> 00:36:11.870 We increased our minimum line clearance 00:36:11.870 --> 00:36:15.250 from 48 inches to 72 inches. 00:36:15.250 --> 00:36:18.560 So by geo95, you have to start trimming 00:36:18.560 --> 00:36:20.780 when it gets to 48 inches, 00:36:20.780 --> 00:36:23.169 we start trimming at 72 inches 00:36:23.169 --> 00:36:25.853 and then we trim out 12 feet minimum. 00:36:27.350 --> 00:36:30.480 We also have a program to eliminate trees 00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:32.993 that pose a risk to our lines, 00:36:35.650 --> 00:36:38.380 and that's not just trees that are in the clearance zone, 00:36:38.380 --> 00:36:41.260 it could be a tree across the street that is dead 00:36:41.260 --> 00:36:44.123 or diseased and could fall into our lines. 00:36:45.580 --> 00:36:50.310 So that's another key element of our vegetation program. 00:36:50.310 --> 00:36:54.780 We have a contracted forester on staff who's not associated 00:36:54.780 --> 00:36:56.933 with our vegetation clearance contractor, 00:36:57.770 --> 00:37:01.350 who advises us out in the field on how we're doing. 00:37:01.350 --> 00:37:05.420 And then finally, all the managers and supervisors 00:37:05.420 --> 00:37:09.340 and certain subject matter experts including myself, 00:37:09.340 --> 00:37:14.220 we go out and we do vegetation management QCs. 00:37:14.220 --> 00:37:16.920 In the last three months, we were all doing it weekly, 00:37:18.094 --> 00:37:21.300 and we divide the work by the contractor. 00:37:21.300 --> 00:37:24.040 As you can see by the numbers of vegetation contact 00:37:24.040 --> 00:37:27.650 on lines has gone down significantly since we implemented 00:37:27.650 --> 00:37:31.983 these enhanced vegetation management measures. 00:37:34.760 --> 00:37:37.380 And the other benefit of this, honestly, 00:37:37.380 --> 00:37:39.690 is improved reliability in the Winter 00:37:39.690 --> 00:37:41.980 when we have a lot of snow storms 00:37:41.980 --> 00:37:44.910 where vegetation will hit the lines. 00:37:44.910 --> 00:37:47.020 May not be a fire threat at that point 00:37:47.020 --> 00:37:49.210 because of all the snow, a wildfire threat, 00:37:49.210 --> 00:37:52.530 but it's a reliability issue, 00:37:52.530 --> 00:37:56.970 we don't get as many outages now due to vegetation, 00:37:56.970 --> 00:37:59.913 and so people don't lose their heat in the cold weather. 00:38:01.560 --> 00:38:02.960 We can go to the next slide. 00:38:07.480 --> 00:38:09.980 These are some of the initiatives we've completed. 00:38:10.840 --> 00:38:13.140 Similar to what San Diego Gas Electric did, 00:38:13.140 --> 00:38:16.560 we installed the Pulse Conditioned IntelliRupters 00:38:16.560 --> 00:38:18.615 on our re-closers. 00:38:18.615 --> 00:38:22.100 Those are the ones that when they automatically cycle 00:38:22.100 --> 00:38:27.100 on a fault, they only test with 10% of the previous power. 00:38:28.200 --> 00:38:31.550 So the amount of energy sent down the line to test 00:38:31.550 --> 00:38:35.080 is reduced, reducing the likelihood of putting high energy 00:38:35.080 --> 00:38:38.370 into a fault that may still exist, 00:38:38.370 --> 00:38:41.093 thereby reducing the likelihood of a fire. 00:38:41.940 --> 00:38:45.790 However, on these high risk states, 00:38:45.790 --> 00:38:48.533 we put our re-closers set to manual anyways. 00:38:50.870 --> 00:38:54.743 We've partnered with UCSD, Dr. Neil Driscoll, 00:38:58.090 --> 00:39:03.090 and the ski resort, and Big Bear Fire Department, 00:39:03.970 --> 00:39:08.970 Cal Fire, and San Bernardino Fire Department, 00:39:09.390 --> 00:39:14.390 and we installed 15 cameras at seven sites 00:39:16.700 --> 00:39:20.710 and we have excellent coverage of our service area 00:39:20.710 --> 00:39:22.793 with the ALERTWildfire cameras. 00:39:24.479 --> 00:39:27.200 In fact, two of the cameras are on one of our poles 00:39:27.200 --> 00:39:31.520 at Dead Man's Ridge, and I think I talked about Cal Fire 00:39:31.520 --> 00:39:32.890 and Big Bear Fire Department, 00:39:32.890 --> 00:39:35.710 they were very satisfied with the coverage 00:39:35.710 --> 00:39:36.773 that we've achieved. 00:39:38.910 --> 00:39:41.113 I'm not sure if the brief is still visible. 00:39:46.990 --> 00:39:48.110 This is Brendan with IT. 00:39:48.110 --> 00:39:49.783 It should be still visible. 00:39:51.730 --> 00:39:52.563 Okay. 00:39:53.780 --> 00:39:55.785 It disappeared from my screen, 00:39:55.785 --> 00:39:57.853 but if everyone can see it, fine. 00:39:59.530 --> 00:40:03.580 We also sectionalized our system 00:40:03.580 --> 00:40:05.503 the high risk areas that, 00:40:06.814 --> 00:40:08.310 if we were to have a PSPS, 00:40:08.310 --> 00:40:09.720 these could be the most likely areas, 00:40:09.720 --> 00:40:13.110 such that we wouldn't affect customers 00:40:13.110 --> 00:40:16.283 that weren't at risk in a PSPS scenario. 00:40:18.190 --> 00:40:20.290 We also have been doing LIDAR. 00:40:20.290 --> 00:40:23.083 The Light Detection and Ranging surveys, 00:40:24.570 --> 00:40:27.200 and this year we completed our third one. 00:40:27.200 --> 00:40:29.560 This has become an annual routine for us, 00:40:29.560 --> 00:40:33.763 and a very useful tool. 00:40:35.100 --> 00:40:36.950 The other thing we've completed 00:40:36.950 --> 00:40:39.630 is our third party ground patrol. 00:40:39.630 --> 00:40:43.650 So this is the third year that we've completed this. 00:40:43.650 --> 00:40:47.770 In addition to us conducting geo165 ground patrols 00:40:47.770 --> 00:40:51.510 each year, we have an independent, third party contractor 00:40:51.510 --> 00:40:55.780 come in who doesn't do any construction work for us, 00:40:55.780 --> 00:41:00.727 do a QC on our system. 00:41:03.330 --> 00:41:05.560 Another project we've completed is weather stations. 00:41:05.560 --> 00:41:07.580 We've installed 20 weather stations 00:41:07.580 --> 00:41:08.980 throughout the service area. 00:41:11.250 --> 00:41:14.830 Divide 20 by 32, we probably have the highest density 00:41:14.830 --> 00:41:17.170 per square mile of weather stations, 00:41:17.170 --> 00:41:19.120 but we do have some micro-climates here 00:41:19.120 --> 00:41:23.260 and these provide us excellent weather data 00:41:23.260 --> 00:41:27.210 especially on wind, wind gust data, average gust data, 00:41:27.210 --> 00:41:30.400 and also there's a historian that collects weather 00:41:30.400 --> 00:41:32.530 at each of these stations, 00:41:32.530 --> 00:41:35.310 so as we go forward in the future, 00:41:35.310 --> 00:41:38.290 we'll have better forecasting capabilities. 00:41:38.290 --> 00:41:43.090 And the final one, which I think was our early win, 00:41:43.090 --> 00:41:45.750 was we had the fuse upgrade program 00:41:45.750 --> 00:41:48.470 where we eliminated all expulsion (conventional) fuses 00:41:49.630 --> 00:41:50.653 from the system. 00:41:51.786 --> 00:41:54.850 3,114 expulsion fuses were replaced 00:41:54.850 --> 00:41:59.850 by 2,578 current limiting fuses 00:42:00.180 --> 00:42:04.083 and 536 electronic fuses. 00:42:06.217 --> 00:42:07.430 And you can see in the picture, 00:42:07.430 --> 00:42:10.500 what an expulsion fuse does when it blows, 00:42:10.500 --> 00:42:14.100 it shoots out metal slag which has the potential 00:42:14.100 --> 00:42:18.280 to cause sparks, which could cause ignitions, fire, 00:42:18.280 --> 00:42:20.743 and therefore, potentially wildfire. 00:42:24.230 --> 00:42:25.430 We could go to the next. 00:42:28.890 --> 00:42:32.003 I don't think our challenges are unlike the other utilities. 00:42:33.000 --> 00:42:38.000 I will say though, staff is a challenge here in Bear Valley. 00:42:39.490 --> 00:42:41.290 We're kind of like an island, 00:42:41.290 --> 00:42:45.470 it's about 50 minutes to an hour to get off 00:42:45.470 --> 00:42:47.160 or up the mountain. 00:42:47.160 --> 00:42:49.203 Even longer in bad weather, 00:42:50.410 --> 00:42:53.523 and we require our staff to live in the service area. 00:42:54.660 --> 00:42:56.760 We do have a turnover rate 00:42:56.760 --> 00:43:00.573 of somewhere around 20-25% per year. 00:43:02.000 --> 00:43:07.000 So it's like starting a football season. 00:43:08.020 --> 00:43:11.520 Having a fairly new members of the team every year, 00:43:11.520 --> 00:43:13.400 and having to get them trained up 00:43:13.400 --> 00:43:15.720 and get them into our safety culture 00:43:15.720 --> 00:43:18.213 and get them up to speed on our standards. 00:43:20.260 --> 00:43:24.420 But Big Bear Lake does have some very positive attributes, 00:43:24.420 --> 00:43:27.740 so our challenge is to find staff that's aligned 00:43:27.740 --> 00:43:32.740 with those attributes and I think as we focus on that 00:43:32.943 --> 00:43:37.943 when we make our hires, we should be able to retain staff 00:43:37.971 --> 00:43:39.303 at a higher rate. 00:43:41.330 --> 00:43:44.080 Same issue with power line construction, 00:43:44.080 --> 00:43:47.150 contractors is a high (indistinct) in the state. 00:43:47.150 --> 00:43:49.660 The big utilities have big projects, 00:43:49.660 --> 00:43:54.290 Bear Valley has relatively small projects for them, 00:43:54.290 --> 00:43:56.880 and they also have to mobilize their crews up here 00:43:56.880 --> 00:43:59.960 because there are no power line companies 00:43:59.960 --> 00:44:01.990 in Big Bear Lake. 00:44:01.990 --> 00:44:04.790 However, we've been successful at finding 00:44:06.456 --> 00:44:10.190 a number of contractors that are willing to come up here. 00:44:10.190 --> 00:44:14.356 In fact at this point, we have three major 00:44:14.356 --> 00:44:16.730 power line construction contractors 00:44:16.730 --> 00:44:18.350 that are engaged in work with us, 00:44:18.350 --> 00:44:20.640 and three different, so that's good news 00:44:20.640 --> 00:44:22.900 so that we're able to go out to the market 00:44:22.900 --> 00:44:24.493 and get competitive bids. 00:44:27.860 --> 00:44:29.923 Supply chain is a challenge, obviously. 00:44:30.950 --> 00:44:35.330 I think initially when we started implementing 00:44:35.330 --> 00:44:40.100 wildfire mitigation efforts in 2018 and 2019 00:44:40.100 --> 00:44:43.740 there were some significant supply challenges 00:44:43.740 --> 00:44:47.680 in getting covered wire, the fire-resistant poles, 00:44:47.680 --> 00:44:51.680 and those materials, but we've done a couple of things. 00:44:51.680 --> 00:44:55.110 One, we've built up a supply on the mountain 00:44:56.470 --> 00:45:01.280 to meet our future project needs. 00:45:01.280 --> 00:45:03.480 We also established a vendor alliance 00:45:03.480 --> 00:45:07.600 with the main vendor for Southern California Edison, 00:45:07.600 --> 00:45:10.580 and we looked at what Southern California Edison uses 00:45:10.580 --> 00:45:14.320 in its grid hardening and tried to align where possible 00:45:14.320 --> 00:45:19.320 our specs to theirs so that those items are in stock locally 00:45:21.610 --> 00:45:22.903 in the same area. 00:45:25.038 --> 00:45:26.300 So we have enough material now in the market 00:45:26.300 --> 00:45:29.120 so that if we were to have a wildfire up here 00:45:29.120 --> 00:45:31.950 for any reason and we had to rebuild a circuit, 00:45:31.950 --> 00:45:36.170 we don't have to build that circuit in like time. 00:45:36.170 --> 00:45:39.610 For example, if it was a whip pole circuit with bare wire, 00:45:39.610 --> 00:45:43.783 we would rebuild it with steel poles and covered wire, 00:45:44.960 --> 00:45:46.900 and then we just have to get more materials 00:45:46.900 --> 00:45:49.133 for the mitigation projects. 00:45:51.010 --> 00:45:52.800 So it's important to keep material on the mountain, 00:45:52.800 --> 00:45:54.380 especially when you have storms 00:45:54.380 --> 00:45:56.280 that shut down the roads and so forth. 00:45:57.490 --> 00:46:01.593 And then the other challenge is permitting. 00:46:05.370 --> 00:46:08.330 With forestry services is a lengthy process, 00:46:08.330 --> 00:46:12.500 and we also have challenges getting permits 00:46:12.500 --> 00:46:15.703 to clear vegetation in the Caltran right of ways, 00:46:16.670 --> 00:46:19.580 but when we do see some stuff 00:46:19.580 --> 00:46:21.970 that we really need to get to now, 00:46:21.970 --> 00:46:26.693 we find them to be responsive and so we work through those. 00:46:27.740 --> 00:46:30.050 The final challenge is COVID-19, 00:46:30.050 --> 00:46:32.450 I think it's a challenge to everybody, obviously, 00:46:32.450 --> 00:46:34.800 but there's less person to person engagement 00:46:34.800 --> 00:46:37.370 and that challenges work site leadership, 00:46:37.370 --> 00:46:40.073 monitoring, mentoring, and teaching staff, 00:46:41.848 --> 00:46:44.160 and so that's always been a big challenge. 00:46:44.160 --> 00:46:47.570 It's important to me to be out 00:46:47.570 --> 00:46:49.553 and engaged with our staff, 00:46:50.970 --> 00:46:53.270 that's the way you teach them and mentor them. 00:46:54.450 --> 00:46:56.150 If we could go to the next slides. 00:46:59.757 --> 00:47:03.683 We have established a three year safety culture plan. 00:47:05.640 --> 00:47:08.349 We're working on all of these initiatives, 00:47:08.349 --> 00:47:10.250 although some are due later 00:47:10.250 --> 00:47:13.170 that we want to be at the maturity level. 00:47:13.170 --> 00:47:18.170 We also engage the EHS consulting firm, BSI America, 00:47:18.280 --> 00:47:21.180 to perform a gap analysis and assist us 00:47:21.180 --> 00:47:23.730 with resolving gaps in implementing 00:47:23.730 --> 00:47:25.910 our safety culture plans. 00:47:25.910 --> 00:47:28.060 This will be a three year effort. 00:47:28.060 --> 00:47:30.692 Additionally, we're using the results 00:47:30.692 --> 00:47:32.411 of our safety culture assessments 00:47:32.411 --> 00:47:34.580 at the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety 00:47:34.580 --> 00:47:37.320 conducted through it's contractor NECRA 00:47:37.320 --> 00:47:40.320 to guide us and make course corrections. 00:47:40.320 --> 00:47:41.870 You could go to the next slide. 00:47:43.840 --> 00:47:47.000 We did receive our safety culture assessment report 00:47:47.000 --> 00:47:48.313 for 2021. 00:47:50.500 --> 00:47:53.563 We found it to be a very useful tool. 00:47:54.890 --> 00:47:57.180 The report provided an excellent description 00:47:57.180 --> 00:47:58.760 on opportunity for improvement. 00:47:58.760 --> 00:48:03.090 It also provided results of the employee surveys 00:48:03.090 --> 00:48:07.917 in several formats that really allowed Bear Valley 00:48:09.860 --> 00:48:12.720 to analyze the various worker demographics 00:48:12.720 --> 00:48:14.970 and see where additional improvement and work 00:48:16.430 --> 00:48:17.523 should be directed. 00:48:18.770 --> 00:48:20.743 The assessment noted the following: 00:48:22.680 --> 00:48:27.380 One, embedded leadership skills into engaged management, 00:48:27.380 --> 00:48:30.417 12 month objective to improve the Bear Valley 00:48:30.417 --> 00:48:31.800 safety culture. 00:48:31.800 --> 00:48:34.940 That is we need to give the leadership skills 00:48:34.940 --> 00:48:36.850 to be engaged. 00:48:36.850 --> 00:48:41.190 Get out how to do a job hazard analysis, 00:48:41.190 --> 00:48:42.200 when you go out in the field, 00:48:42.200 --> 00:48:44.810 what are you looking at when you see a line crew 00:48:44.810 --> 00:48:46.253 up on a pole or something? 00:48:47.735 --> 00:48:49.290 And then in collaboration 00:48:49.290 --> 00:48:52.160 with our vegetation management contractor, 00:48:52.160 --> 00:48:54.070 develop and implement an action plan 00:48:54.070 --> 00:48:55.470 to address safety culture issues, 00:48:55.470 --> 00:48:58.410 in particular, regarding the flow of information 00:48:58.410 --> 00:49:00.800 about wildfire hazard mitigation. 00:49:00.800 --> 00:49:05.623 This is our contractors did the survey as well, 00:49:06.580 --> 00:49:10.874 and they had some issues with employees do not feel 00:49:10.874 --> 00:49:13.690 that they are empowered to bring issues up 00:49:13.690 --> 00:49:16.993 with their supervisors, and so that's something 00:49:16.993 --> 00:49:18.603 that we need to take on. 00:49:19.930 --> 00:49:23.450 And we did formally agree to implement 00:49:23.450 --> 00:49:26.190 all of the findings and recommendations for improvement 00:49:26.190 --> 00:49:30.050 in our 2021 safety culture assessment. 00:49:30.050 --> 00:49:31.333 We could go to the next. 00:49:35.200 --> 00:49:37.800 I think we skipped one, just go back one. 00:49:37.800 --> 00:49:38.633 Yeah. 00:49:38.633 --> 00:49:41.722 So there's two areas which we can capitalize on 00:49:41.722 --> 00:49:42.722 that were good news. 00:49:43.660 --> 00:49:45.230 Bear Valley's safety culture 00:49:45.230 --> 00:49:48.340 emphasizes identifying wildfire hazards 00:49:48.340 --> 00:49:49.930 and protecting the community. 00:49:49.930 --> 00:49:52.080 Employees feel a strong personal responsibility 00:49:52.080 --> 00:49:53.860 for their own and other's safety. 00:49:53.860 --> 00:49:55.640 However, we have a high turnover rate, 00:49:55.640 --> 00:49:59.373 so I have to keep that going. 00:50:00.790 --> 00:50:02.220 That's a great snapshot for then, 00:50:02.220 --> 00:50:05.364 but we get new employees 00:50:05.364 --> 00:50:08.673 and we need to get them up to the team's standards. 00:50:09.600 --> 00:50:13.937 The were gaps, and while in the safety 00:50:13.937 --> 00:50:18.630 and wildfire categories, the average scores were good, 00:50:18.630 --> 00:50:21.260 in the culture categories they were a little lower, 00:50:21.260 --> 00:50:23.250 and that was mainly in the customer service 00:50:23.250 --> 00:50:24.920 and accounting areas. 00:50:24.920 --> 00:50:27.540 So we need to take a look at what issues 00:50:27.540 --> 00:50:29.083 are going on there. 00:50:32.120 --> 00:50:33.810 I already talked to you about 00:50:33.810 --> 00:50:37.743 the vegetation management contractor has some issues 00:50:37.743 --> 00:50:40.890 with field employees that we need to work with them 00:50:40.890 --> 00:50:41.723 to resolve. 00:50:42.910 --> 00:50:45.983 And I think that I accurately pointed out 00:50:45.983 --> 00:50:48.220 that we have these objectives, 00:50:48.220 --> 00:50:49.650 there needs to be a little more detail 00:50:49.650 --> 00:50:52.890 on how the progress can be monitored and sustained, 00:50:52.890 --> 00:50:54.140 so we take that on board. 00:50:57.100 --> 00:50:58.493 We could go to the next. 00:51:01.580 --> 00:51:04.560 The safety and operations committee 00:51:04.560 --> 00:51:06.303 reports to the board of directors. 00:51:07.608 --> 00:51:11.677 It is responsible for overseeing 00:51:13.750 --> 00:51:15.550 the wildfire mitigation plan 00:51:16.870 --> 00:51:19.023 and assessment of compliance with the plan. 00:51:21.758 --> 00:51:24.420 It is responsible for other activities 00:51:24.420 --> 00:51:26.200 including identify wildfire risks 00:51:26.200 --> 00:51:30.803 and other safety risks, steps taken to reduce such risks, 00:51:32.080 --> 00:51:35.140 and then other matters directed by the board. 00:51:35.140 --> 00:51:39.040 The committee shall and does have unrestricted access 00:51:39.040 --> 00:51:42.772 to members of management and all information relevant 00:51:42.772 --> 00:51:44.643 to its responsibilities. 00:51:50.640 --> 00:51:54.210 I would say that when we meet as a board, 00:51:54.210 --> 00:51:56.190 the safety committee meets first, 00:51:56.190 --> 00:51:59.680 and the safety committee meetings are generally longer 00:51:59.680 --> 00:52:00.880 than the board meetings. 00:52:04.728 --> 00:52:06.970 There's a lot of detail that's placed there. 00:52:07.900 --> 00:52:09.400 We could go to the next slide. 00:52:14.700 --> 00:52:17.650 Bear Valley Electric's executive officers performance 00:52:17.650 --> 00:52:22.293 is accountable to and subject to control of the board, 00:52:23.690 --> 00:52:27.940 and the executive officer is given not only responsibility 00:52:27.940 --> 00:52:31.360 but the authority to execute those responsibilities 00:52:32.290 --> 00:52:37.123 and therefore, should be held accountable in totality. 00:52:39.830 --> 00:52:43.820 The executive compensation plan is designed 00:52:43.820 --> 00:52:46.503 to promote public safety and financial stability. 00:52:47.580 --> 00:52:51.110 Safety is a priority, ensuring public safety, 00:52:51.110 --> 00:52:54.170 it ensures financial stability of the utility, 00:52:54.170 --> 00:52:58.040 it utilizes performance metrics that are measurable 00:52:58.040 --> 00:52:59.940 and enforceable. 00:52:59.940 --> 00:53:03.600 There's no discretionary component 00:53:05.150 --> 00:53:09.940 so that, let's say, safety metrics aren't met, 00:53:09.940 --> 00:53:11.663 the board can't say well, 00:53:14.264 --> 00:53:15.310 you didn't meet your safety metrics, 00:53:15.310 --> 00:53:20.310 but we're still gonna give you a discretionary bonus. 00:53:21.100 --> 00:53:22.463 Not in our plan. 00:53:24.266 --> 00:53:26.300 And the plan allocates the primary portion 00:53:26.300 --> 00:53:28.490 of the compensation based on achievement 00:53:28.490 --> 00:53:31.440 of performance metrics that are measurable and enforceable. 00:53:36.210 --> 00:53:38.623 That concludes my brief, next slide. 00:53:44.130 --> 00:53:46.630 Thank you, Mr. Marconi. 00:53:46.630 --> 00:53:49.843 I will open it now to questions from the virtual dais. 00:53:51.760 --> 00:53:53.427 Go ahead, President Batjer. 00:53:54.550 --> 00:53:56.090 Thank you very much, Carolina, 00:53:56.090 --> 00:54:01.020 and thank you Mr. Marconi for your presentation, 00:54:01.020 --> 00:54:02.673 it was extremely helpful. 00:54:03.540 --> 00:54:05.970 How long have you been chair 00:54:05.970 --> 00:54:08.573 of the safety and operations committee? 00:54:12.113 --> 00:54:14.260 I was chair in this Summer 00:54:16.350 --> 00:54:18.170 when we did our annual reappointing 00:54:18.170 --> 00:54:23.170 of the safety and operations committee. 00:54:24.440 --> 00:54:28.080 So for history, Bear Valley Inc. was formed 00:54:28.080 --> 00:54:30.823 in July 1st of 2020, 00:54:32.590 --> 00:54:34.770 and so our board of directors formed then 00:54:34.770 --> 00:54:38.160 and also our safety and operations committee formed then. 00:54:38.160 --> 00:54:39.840 And then each year, 00:54:39.840 --> 00:54:43.163 we reappoint members of the safety committee and the chair. 00:54:44.500 --> 00:54:48.260 And how many members of the board of directors 00:54:48.260 --> 00:54:49.660 are on the safety committee? 00:54:50.700 --> 00:54:51.800 There's three total. 00:54:54.373 --> 00:54:57.067 And you said that you meet on the same time 00:54:58.640 --> 00:55:02.220 in conjunction with the board meeting. 00:55:02.220 --> 00:55:05.480 Does the safety and operations committee 00:55:05.480 --> 00:55:07.993 ever meet additionally from that? 00:55:10.000 --> 00:55:12.110 We haven't had occasion to do that. 00:55:12.110 --> 00:55:15.480 We have had occasions to meet in special session 00:55:15.480 --> 00:55:17.360 for a safety committee. 00:55:17.360 --> 00:55:20.700 For example, to pass a resolution 00:55:20.700 --> 00:55:22.690 that then needed board approval. 00:55:22.690 --> 00:55:25.310 So the driver for the board meeting 00:55:25.310 --> 00:55:29.350 was also a safety committee meeting, a safety issue, 00:55:29.350 --> 00:55:33.510 and so the safety committee met, discussed the issue, 00:55:33.510 --> 00:55:37.250 approved the resolution, and then turned around 00:55:37.250 --> 00:55:41.260 and then the board met and the board had to approve 00:55:41.260 --> 00:55:43.200 the recommendation of the safety committee, 00:55:43.200 --> 00:55:45.290 or had to discuss it 00:55:45.290 --> 00:55:47.413 and decide whether or not to approve it. 00:55:48.470 --> 00:55:50.320 So we've done that a couple of times. 00:55:52.060 --> 00:55:53.010 Okay. 00:55:53.010 --> 00:55:56.080 Has the safety committee been involved 00:55:56.080 --> 00:55:57.963 in some of the recommendations? 00:55:58.900 --> 00:56:01.580 For example, sorry if you're hearing 00:56:01.580 --> 00:56:05.453 a bunch of blowing going on (laughs) bad timing on my part. 00:56:07.740 --> 00:56:10.350 A little concerned about how it would sound 00:56:10.350 --> 00:56:15.350 that you all needed to further empower your line people 00:56:16.810 --> 00:56:20.930 to feel empowered to raise safety issues 00:56:20.930 --> 00:56:23.100 up the chain of command, 00:56:23.100 --> 00:56:26.180 and just wondering, you talked about how important it is 00:56:26.180 --> 00:56:28.410 to get out in the field. 00:56:28.410 --> 00:56:30.860 First of all, I think you use the words 00:56:30.860 --> 00:56:33.403 we're going to take that up. 00:56:33.403 --> 00:56:34.820 I'd like to know how active you are 00:56:34.820 --> 00:56:36.350 in correcting that right now, 00:56:36.350 --> 00:56:39.230 and how active is the safety and operations 00:56:39.230 --> 00:56:44.030 committee members in making sure that those line people 00:56:45.680 --> 00:56:47.073 are indeed empowered? 00:56:48.983 --> 00:56:52.800 Okay, just to make sure for accuracy, 00:56:52.800 --> 00:56:55.216 the line people that we're talking about 00:56:55.216 --> 00:56:57.980 is the vegetation management contractor, 00:56:57.980 --> 00:57:00.990 not the Bear Valley line crews. 00:57:00.990 --> 00:57:02.470 In fact, the Bear Valley line crews 00:57:02.470 --> 00:57:05.670 do feel very empowered to stop work 00:57:05.670 --> 00:57:08.830 according to the safety culture assessment, 00:57:08.830 --> 00:57:12.020 and we are engaging with our contractor- 00:57:12.020 --> 00:57:12.930 That was my error. 00:57:12.930 --> 00:57:14.717 So thank you for correcting that. 00:57:14.717 --> 00:57:17.191 But we are engaging with our contractor 00:57:17.191 --> 00:57:22.191 to address this issue and make sure that we resolve it. 00:57:24.230 --> 00:57:25.980 As far as getting out in the field, 00:57:27.340 --> 00:57:29.740 I'm obviously out in the field quite a bit 00:57:29.740 --> 00:57:31.410 at least weekly. 00:57:31.410 --> 00:57:33.730 I've had one of the other board members now, 00:57:33.730 --> 00:57:37.350 he's been up here in the last four months 00:57:37.350 --> 00:57:41.360 or five months twice, out in the field, 00:57:41.360 --> 00:57:42.900 and the third board member, 00:57:42.900 --> 00:57:45.500 we're just trying to schedule him to come out. 00:57:45.500 --> 00:57:48.820 He used to be a former employee director 00:57:48.820 --> 00:57:51.420 when Bear Valley was a division 00:57:51.420 --> 00:57:52.970 of Bear Valley Electric, 00:57:52.970 --> 00:57:54.963 and is very familiar with our system, 00:57:56.710 --> 00:57:58.960 but we want to get him out in the field 00:57:58.960 --> 00:58:00.490 so he can see some of the differences 00:58:00.490 --> 00:58:03.393 that have occurred since he's been gone. 00:58:04.900 --> 00:58:05.880 Sounds like a good idea. 00:58:05.880 --> 00:58:07.770 So you said that your employees 00:58:07.770 --> 00:58:10.070 are required to live in the service area, 00:58:10.070 --> 00:58:11.770 what about the board of directors? 00:58:12.900 --> 00:58:14.853 No, they are not. 00:58:16.702 --> 00:58:17.535 They're not required 00:58:17.535 --> 00:58:19.203 and they don't live in the service area? 00:58:20.840 --> 00:58:21.813 Only myself. 00:58:23.120 --> 00:58:24.320 The other two don't, no. 00:58:27.507 --> 00:58:32.507 The board of directors are more at the strategic level. 00:58:33.870 --> 00:58:36.380 The reason why the staff needs to live there 00:58:36.380 --> 00:58:40.840 is it's 50 minutes, in storm a lot longer, 00:58:40.840 --> 00:58:42.080 to get up the mountain. 00:58:42.080 --> 00:58:47.080 When we have a problem, we want people to be up here 00:58:47.210 --> 00:58:49.163 ready to do what we need to do. 00:58:50.170 --> 00:58:55.170 It also gives us a personal stake in the game here. 00:58:58.200 --> 00:59:01.913 We don't want wildfires either, believe me. 00:59:03.760 --> 00:59:06.623 It can be pretty scary up here whenever we have fires. 00:59:09.890 --> 00:59:12.180 Indeed it can be, for everyone. 00:59:12.180 --> 00:59:14.880 So thank you, I have more questions, 00:59:14.880 --> 00:59:18.290 but I'm gonna save time for my fellow Commissioners 00:59:18.290 --> 00:59:19.890 and for the director. 00:59:19.890 --> 00:59:20.993 So thank you, sir. 00:59:24.590 --> 00:59:26.663 Go ahead, Director Thomas Jacobs. 00:59:27.570 --> 00:59:28.730 Thanks. 00:59:28.730 --> 00:59:31.280 One quick follow on and then I have a couple others, 00:59:31.280 --> 00:59:32.650 but that was really interesting 00:59:32.650 --> 00:59:33.950 in terms of the board members, 00:59:33.950 --> 00:59:35.370 I get that they aren't required 00:59:35.370 --> 00:59:38.500 and don't live up there, do you guys have a current 00:59:38.500 --> 00:59:42.130 cadence in which they're, not to say required, 00:59:42.130 --> 00:59:45.410 but that they're coming up to be in the field? 00:59:45.410 --> 00:59:47.590 Even at the strategic level, just to have an awareness 00:59:47.590 --> 00:59:48.823 of what your needs are. 00:59:50.220 --> 00:59:55.220 So we will be having our board meetings up here. 00:59:56.110 --> 00:59:58.347 Right now, we have them via web-based 01:00:01.470 --> 01:00:03.023 due to COVID protocols. 01:00:04.230 --> 01:00:07.990 We are still not in a ... 01:00:07.990 --> 01:00:11.980 But we will be going to in person meetings here, 01:00:11.980 --> 01:00:13.383 we hope, in January, 01:00:14.720 --> 01:00:17.730 and we will hold all our meetings up here. 01:00:17.730 --> 01:00:21.600 And part of the meeting cadence associated 01:00:21.600 --> 01:00:25.750 with coming up here will be getting out in the field. 01:00:25.750 --> 01:00:27.773 We do meetings at least quarterly. 01:00:29.780 --> 01:00:30.640 Great. 01:00:30.640 --> 01:00:34.400 So my question, a lot of what you talked about 01:00:34.400 --> 01:00:37.870 was challenges with supply chain, 01:00:37.870 --> 01:00:41.340 challenges with contractors, challenges with turnover. 01:00:41.340 --> 01:00:45.600 As you articulated in our safety culture assessment, 01:00:45.600 --> 01:00:47.390 one of the general issues we identified 01:00:47.390 --> 01:00:49.590 was quality in the wildfire mitigation plans 01:00:49.590 --> 01:00:51.140 and compliance work that we do. 01:00:53.630 --> 01:00:55.914 It's great that work is getting done, 01:00:55.914 --> 01:00:57.610 but it's really important 01:00:57.610 --> 01:01:00.400 that even if the inspection's complete, 01:01:00.400 --> 01:01:02.980 that you're confident in the quality of the inspection. 01:01:02.980 --> 01:01:04.990 So can you speak a little bit more 01:01:04.990 --> 01:01:09.260 about what quality assurance programs or efforts 01:01:09.260 --> 01:01:10.270 you guys have underway? 01:01:10.270 --> 01:01:12.290 I think you mentioned in your briefing 01:01:12.290 --> 01:01:14.230 that the management team goes out 01:01:14.230 --> 01:01:18.260 and does some of the QAQC, but what is the level of rigor 01:01:18.260 --> 01:01:22.120 and standardization around that QAQC 01:01:22.120 --> 01:01:23.540 to ensure the work that is happening 01:01:23.540 --> 01:01:26.560 is being done at the quality you guys would expect? 01:01:26.560 --> 01:01:28.724 So the engineering and planning group 01:01:28.724 --> 01:01:32.450 reviews all the designs and work packages 01:01:32.450 --> 01:01:34.463 before they go out, 01:01:35.970 --> 01:01:38.662 and they must approve them 01:01:38.662 --> 01:01:43.253 before they give a contractor notice to proceed. 01:01:45.181 --> 01:01:47.640 Then they go to the field inspector 01:01:47.640 --> 01:01:50.270 and he's the actual line person that delivers it 01:01:50.270 --> 01:01:51.950 to the contractor, 01:01:51.950 --> 01:01:56.920 and they set up a work in progress QC protocol 01:01:58.567 --> 01:01:59.990 of every day I want to meet with your team 01:01:59.990 --> 01:02:02.085 or I want to see what you've done, 01:02:02.085 --> 01:02:04.465 when you hang that transformer, 01:02:04.465 --> 01:02:08.090 I want us to be called and be there when you do it, 01:02:08.090 --> 01:02:11.280 and we do a lot of work in progress QC. 01:02:11.280 --> 01:02:14.820 Upon work complete, the contractor will return 01:02:14.820 --> 01:02:17.160 the work package to us with as built. 01:02:17.160 --> 01:02:18.870 In other words, they're making modifications 01:02:18.870 --> 01:02:22.690 to the work package, and then the field inspector 01:02:22.690 --> 01:02:27.690 verifies all the work that was reported to be done 01:02:28.540 --> 01:02:31.130 was done, and the materials that the contractor 01:02:31.130 --> 01:02:32.653 said they used were used. 01:02:34.006 --> 01:02:39.006 And then we tell the contractor that they're authorized 01:02:39.630 --> 01:02:40.923 to send us an invoice. 01:02:42.340 --> 01:02:43.740 When they send us an invoice, 01:02:43.740 --> 01:02:47.190 it goes to the project coordinator, 01:02:47.190 --> 01:02:50.433 who audits the work package against the invoice, 01:02:51.760 --> 01:02:56.680 and then it finally then goes through for approval. 01:02:56.680 --> 01:02:59.553 So there are several levels of QA, 01:03:00.770 --> 01:03:03.690 looking at the work packages and all that, 01:03:03.690 --> 01:03:05.880 and then there's QC out in the field 01:03:05.880 --> 01:03:07.923 looking at what was actually done. 01:03:11.450 --> 01:03:12.283 Thank you. 01:03:12.283 --> 01:03:16.190 And a question on the EVM implementation. 01:03:16.190 --> 01:03:19.650 So on that slide, I think if I remember correctly, 01:03:19.650 --> 01:03:22.560 on the briefing you said the enhanced 01:03:22.560 --> 01:03:25.190 vegetation management was implemented in 2018, 01:03:25.190 --> 01:03:26.250 when you started the work, 01:03:26.250 --> 01:03:29.333 and ultimately you got it across your entire grid by 2020. 01:03:30.550 --> 01:03:33.350 Looking at the drops in veg management, 01:03:33.350 --> 01:03:36.640 the biggest drop was from 2016 to 2017, 01:03:36.640 --> 01:03:40.530 and then there was a continued slow ramp down. 01:03:40.530 --> 01:03:44.300 What was the driver between 2016 and 2017 01:03:44.300 --> 01:03:45.630 for that biggest drop? 01:03:45.630 --> 01:03:47.859 It sounds like you hadn't implemented 01:03:47.859 --> 01:03:49.263 the enhanced vegetation management yet. 01:03:50.341 --> 01:03:51.550 We hit the highest risk areas first 01:03:51.550 --> 01:03:54.130 where we thought we had issues, 01:03:54.130 --> 01:03:56.773 and it looks like we found them. 01:03:58.380 --> 01:03:59.213 You drive around, 01:03:59.213 --> 01:04:01.430 you can see where you have thick vegetation, 01:04:01.430 --> 01:04:05.053 and so I wanted the contractors there first. 01:04:06.224 --> 01:04:09.550 We said we're starting the plan over today, 01:04:09.550 --> 01:04:12.210 we're not just continuing on our routine, 01:04:12.210 --> 01:04:15.263 and I want to get these risk areas done now. 01:04:16.560 --> 01:04:20.050 I'm not sleeping well, so I want them done now. 01:04:22.292 --> 01:04:24.120 That was in 2018 though, correct? 01:04:24.120 --> 01:04:24.953 Yes. 01:04:25.891 --> 01:04:28.980 So the biggest drop there was between 2016 and 2017, 01:04:28.980 --> 01:04:30.180 so that (indistinct). 01:04:30.180 --> 01:04:33.050 Yep, 2016 we had some major storms 01:04:33.050 --> 01:04:34.763 in January and February. 01:04:35.610 --> 01:04:40.610 So that large number was just due to Winter storms. 01:04:41.630 --> 01:04:43.640 They probably weren't wildfire threats, 01:04:43.640 --> 01:04:48.640 but in 2017, we didn't have as many storms. 01:04:51.700 --> 01:04:55.497 I think January 6th through the 9th of 2016, 01:04:55.497 --> 01:04:57.683 we had a very major storm up here. 01:04:59.090 --> 01:04:59.990 I remember that one pretty well 01:04:59.990 --> 01:05:01.340 'cause we had many outages. 01:05:03.430 --> 01:05:05.780 And then last question, 01:05:05.780 --> 01:05:08.350 you reported that the third party ground control 01:05:08.350 --> 01:05:11.573 was an important addition to your wildfire mitigation plans. 01:05:12.410 --> 01:05:17.410 For the third quarter quarterly notifications, 01:05:17.460 --> 01:05:19.900 that particular initiative is off track. 01:05:19.900 --> 01:05:23.680 Can you speak to what the current status is of that, 01:05:23.680 --> 01:05:26.518 and what you guys are doing to get it back on track? 01:05:26.518 --> 01:05:27.535 Yeah. 01:05:27.535 --> 01:05:30.370 So even though the patrol had been completed, 01:05:30.370 --> 01:05:33.490 we had not received the results, 01:05:33.490 --> 01:05:36.595 and when I'd heard we had not received the results 01:05:36.595 --> 01:05:41.595 by September 30th which is the cutoff for the QDR/QIUs, 01:05:43.230 --> 01:05:45.130 I said well, we can't call it complete 01:05:46.370 --> 01:05:50.910 because what good is an inspection without results? 01:05:50.910 --> 01:05:53.080 So yes, we reported it off track 01:05:53.080 --> 01:05:55.670 and we have results and we're fixing them. 01:05:56.710 --> 01:05:57.760 Great. 01:05:57.760 --> 01:05:58.860 So basically the work was actually done, 01:05:58.860 --> 01:06:00.220 you're just saying you didn't have the results 01:06:00.220 --> 01:06:02.034 so you didn't want to claim the credit for that. 01:06:02.034 --> 01:06:03.320 Right. 01:06:03.320 --> 01:06:06.560 (indistinct). 01:06:06.560 --> 01:06:07.553 Great, thank you. 01:06:09.609 --> 01:06:12.070 That's it for me for now, thanks. 01:06:12.070 --> 01:06:14.223 Please go ahead, Commissioner Houck. 01:06:16.000 --> 01:06:17.450 Yes, I'm just wondering about, 01:06:17.450 --> 01:06:21.640 I believe you said that you had significant turnover rate, 01:06:21.640 --> 01:06:25.980 I think up to 25%, and part of that being 01:06:25.980 --> 01:06:29.910 the remote location, but I guess the concern 01:06:29.910 --> 01:06:32.500 with recruiting and retaining skilled staff 01:06:32.500 --> 01:06:34.050 is obviously really important 01:06:34.050 --> 01:06:35.700 to making sure the safety measures 01:06:35.700 --> 01:06:37.670 are being implemented on the ground. 01:06:37.670 --> 01:06:39.200 So can you talk a little bit more 01:06:39.200 --> 01:06:41.940 about how the board is addressing those challenges 01:06:41.940 --> 01:06:44.040 to ensure that you've got sufficient staff 01:06:44.040 --> 01:06:46.540 to make sure these measures are being implemented? 01:06:47.670 --> 01:06:50.670 So that's a great question. 01:06:50.670 --> 01:06:52.680 I did make a presentation to the board 01:06:52.680 --> 01:06:55.593 about this issue last year, 01:06:57.810 --> 01:07:00.947 when we renegotiated our contract with the IBW, 01:07:02.370 --> 01:07:07.370 we did authorize some improvements in their pay 01:07:07.740 --> 01:07:11.653 beyond what we've done historically to address that issue, 01:07:13.100 --> 01:07:18.100 and the other thing is we are working with 01:07:18.610 --> 01:07:22.323 our human capital management group, 01:07:25.070 --> 01:07:28.250 we have an exit interview process now 01:07:28.250 --> 01:07:32.730 so that we can begin to understand why people are leaving. 01:07:35.690 --> 01:07:37.943 These are done by a third party, 01:07:39.340 --> 01:07:44.340 and take those on and try to address those issues. 01:07:49.772 --> 01:07:50.980 It's challenging, 01:07:50.980 --> 01:07:53.570 people think they like to live up in Big Bear, 01:07:53.570 --> 01:07:57.280 and then after a year or two of not being next 01:07:57.280 --> 01:08:01.520 to whatever their favorite store is, it can be challenging. 01:08:05.310 --> 01:08:07.240 Honestly, like I said, 01:08:07.240 --> 01:08:11.650 it's 50 minutes to an hour to get on and off the mountain. 01:08:11.650 --> 01:08:15.540 During the peak season, if you want to go to the store, 01:08:15.540 --> 01:08:17.800 it could take you, even though we're small, 01:08:17.800 --> 01:08:20.750 it could take you two hours with the traffic. 01:08:20.750 --> 01:08:22.743 We have 200,000 visitors up here, 01:08:23.660 --> 01:08:26.403 it can get very challenging for the local residents. 01:08:29.055 --> 01:08:32.183 It can be challenging for them in their way of life. 01:08:37.870 --> 01:08:39.382 Thank you, 01:08:39.382 --> 01:08:43.020 and I look forward to seeing how that progresses 01:08:43.020 --> 01:08:45.460 and the information you learn from those surveys, 01:08:45.460 --> 01:08:48.717 and how you're hopefully increasing 01:08:48.717 --> 01:08:51.270 to make sure you've got the correct staff in place. 01:08:51.270 --> 01:08:52.863 So thank you for the response. 01:08:56.280 --> 01:08:57.430 Commissioner Shiroma. 01:08:59.100 --> 01:08:59.950 Yes, thank you. 01:09:01.350 --> 01:09:04.373 Thank you for the thorough presentation. 01:09:05.360 --> 01:09:10.360 For your safety committee, Mr. Marconi, 01:09:10.590 --> 01:09:12.313 is there a charter? 01:09:13.350 --> 01:09:16.600 I was looking at your website and I didn't see 01:09:18.090 --> 01:09:22.020 any reference to your safety committee or- 01:09:22.020 --> 01:09:23.973 There's a charter. 01:09:26.170 --> 01:09:28.563 I'm not sure if it's on our website. 01:09:31.261 --> 01:09:33.767 I think the safety cert went to OEIS, 01:09:33.767 --> 01:09:38.170 and so when we do that, we provide it in that package, 01:09:38.170 --> 01:09:39.753 but I can send it to you. 01:09:42.639 --> 01:09:45.361 Okay, sure. 01:09:45.361 --> 01:09:50.361 And then on your slide 13, let's see ... 01:09:52.576 --> 01:09:57.110 Actually, it's slide 14, the last bullet, 01:09:58.890 --> 01:10:02.670 Bear Valley's safety culture objectives 01:10:02.670 --> 01:10:06.810 do not provide details on how progress will be monitored 01:10:06.810 --> 01:10:08.133 and sustained. 01:10:09.130 --> 01:10:13.760 And then back on your slide 12, 01:10:13.760 --> 01:10:17.170 you've got your initiatives, the summaries, 01:10:17.170 --> 01:10:18.343 and some dates. 01:10:21.055 --> 01:10:23.910 So the transparency and open communication, 01:10:23.910 --> 01:10:27.560 it says December 31st 2023, 01:10:27.560 --> 01:10:30.510 and the initiative was targeted, 01:10:30.510 --> 01:10:32.750 management frequently conduct safety briefs 01:10:32.750 --> 01:10:36.180 and encourages employees to periodically lead them. 01:10:36.180 --> 01:10:37.950 Safety committee meeting minutes 01:10:37.950 --> 01:10:41.410 and safety performance measures are shared with employees. 01:10:41.410 --> 01:10:45.402 Employees are motivated to report hazards, 01:10:45.402 --> 01:10:47.420 encouraged to make recommendations, 01:10:47.420 --> 01:10:51.230 employees have buy in in all aspects of safety. 01:10:51.230 --> 01:10:54.860 So I want to reconcile that with this date 01:10:54.860 --> 01:10:59.743 of December 31st 2023, which is two years from now. 01:11:00.800 --> 01:11:02.290 Yeah. 01:11:02.290 --> 01:11:04.760 As I mentioned, while we have dates 01:11:04.760 --> 01:11:08.580 on where we want to achieve the full maturity level 01:11:08.580 --> 01:11:12.590 on that initiative, we are working on that initiative today. 01:11:12.590 --> 01:11:15.220 We're working on all of these initiatives, 01:11:15.220 --> 01:11:19.310 we're not oh, we're gonna start doing that. 01:11:19.310 --> 01:11:21.200 That's an important one, 01:11:21.200 --> 01:11:25.420 and that one takes a long time to fully achieve, 01:11:25.420 --> 01:11:27.453 but we have to start today. 01:11:28.660 --> 01:11:32.630 We've already started on it to get there, 01:11:32.630 --> 01:11:34.303 and that's an ongoing process, 01:11:35.700 --> 01:11:39.640 and so like I said, we're not just holding back 01:11:39.640 --> 01:11:40.473 and waiting. 01:11:41.640 --> 01:11:42.539 Good, good. 01:11:42.539 --> 01:11:44.339 Are you sharing your meeting minutes 01:11:46.050 --> 01:11:49.803 and safety performance metrics now with employees? 01:11:52.250 --> 01:11:53.083 No. 01:11:54.665 --> 01:11:57.830 We just hired a safety consultant 01:11:57.830 --> 01:12:01.683 who will be at our next meeting next week. 01:12:03.240 --> 01:12:05.720 I've talked to them, so my goals 01:12:05.720 --> 01:12:07.623 and what I want to achieve, 01:12:08.510 --> 01:12:12.320 and I think within the next month or two, 01:12:12.320 --> 01:12:13.493 we will be doing that. 01:12:16.065 --> 01:12:20.450 I'm a firm believer that things need to be written down, 01:12:20.450 --> 01:12:23.270 ratified, and easily accessible, 01:12:23.270 --> 01:12:28.270 and so in terms of these safety performance metrics, 01:12:28.540 --> 01:12:33.540 the expectations of use, the other board of directors, 01:12:35.088 --> 01:12:40.088 are these things written down and accessible 01:12:41.140 --> 01:12:42.477 to your employees? 01:12:45.040 --> 01:12:47.787 So as far as the metrics go, 01:12:47.787 --> 01:12:50.820 the only metric that we display 01:12:50.820 --> 01:12:53.813 besides the required OSHA (indistinct) forms, 01:12:55.060 --> 01:12:58.540 we do display on a marquee the number of days 01:12:58.540 --> 01:13:00.940 accident free to all our employees 01:13:00.940 --> 01:13:02.923 in very visible locations. 01:13:03.850 --> 01:13:06.020 We have a weekly management meeting 01:13:06.020 --> 01:13:08.300 where we go through our safety metrics 01:13:09.560 --> 01:13:12.460 with supervisors and managers and other key people, 01:13:12.460 --> 01:13:15.620 but we don't put that out to all employees yet. 01:13:15.620 --> 01:13:17.030 We're working with our consultant 01:13:17.030 --> 01:13:20.470 to come up with some weekly communications, 01:13:20.470 --> 01:13:25.470 and part of that will be the safety record and metrics 01:13:26.070 --> 01:13:30.140 so that employees can feel ... 01:13:30.140 --> 01:13:33.100 And I think right now, employees feel very strongly 01:13:33.100 --> 01:13:37.800 about the number of days we've been accident free. 01:13:37.800 --> 01:13:39.170 In fact, sometimes I fear 01:13:39.170 --> 01:13:43.290 that someone might not report an injury, 01:13:43.290 --> 01:13:48.000 but they don't want to be the one who broke our record. 01:13:48.000 --> 01:13:52.544 So I emphasize to supervisors tell your guys and gals 01:13:52.544 --> 01:13:57.544 that don't take anything for granted, be open with us. 01:13:59.910 --> 01:14:02.900 I told a lineman personally, 01:14:02.900 --> 01:14:07.003 you go out to a job site and you forget something, 01:14:09.465 --> 01:14:11.490 it's okay, we'll drive back to the yard 01:14:11.490 --> 01:14:13.650 and get what we need, or we'll drive up the mountain 01:14:13.650 --> 01:14:14.550 and get what we need. 01:14:14.550 --> 01:14:16.730 There's nothing that they are doing 01:14:16.730 --> 01:14:19.350 that is worth risking anybody's life 01:14:19.350 --> 01:14:21.773 or going home injured. 01:14:22.790 --> 01:14:24.003 Absolutely nothing. 01:14:26.320 --> 01:14:27.554 Yeah. 01:14:27.554 --> 01:14:32.554 I can see through you that you are really looking 01:14:35.180 --> 01:14:40.030 to embody the soul of the utility, 01:14:43.110 --> 01:14:48.110 of the priorities, and that you live up there. 01:14:49.720 --> 01:14:50.980 It's very important 01:14:50.980 --> 01:14:55.980 that you're out in the trenches frequently. 01:14:57.820 --> 01:15:01.480 Really, my query is that are you confident 01:15:05.490 --> 01:15:10.440 that everything that you are living, eating, breathing, 01:15:10.440 --> 01:15:14.663 in terms of the safety culture as a top executive, 01:15:16.360 --> 01:15:20.270 how are you going to assure that those values 01:15:20.270 --> 01:15:24.140 are chronicled, adopted, communicated, 01:15:26.892 --> 01:15:29.853 and in terms of meeting these deadlines ... 01:15:36.340 --> 01:15:39.140 One person can make a difference absolutely, 01:15:39.140 --> 01:15:44.050 but how do you infuse your verve 01:15:46.130 --> 01:15:49.463 into the organization so that it is there for longevity? 01:15:52.000 --> 01:15:54.850 Are you confident that you're going to be able to do that 01:15:55.830 --> 01:15:58.630 with these various steps and plans that you've outlined? 01:16:00.300 --> 01:16:02.950 So that is challenging. 01:16:02.950 --> 01:16:06.383 I will say that my field operations, 01:16:07.860 --> 01:16:11.613 he's up here for the long run. 01:16:13.333 --> 01:16:15.776 He shares these values, 01:16:15.776 --> 01:16:20.493 he believes in what I call intrusive leadership. 01:16:22.130 --> 01:16:23.903 It's very involved in everything, 01:16:24.850 --> 01:16:28.450 and I won't say he's a micromanager, 01:16:28.450 --> 01:16:30.510 I will just say he's just engaged 01:16:30.510 --> 01:16:32.073 where he has to be engaged. 01:16:35.534 --> 01:16:38.410 He's a key element of my team. 01:16:38.410 --> 01:16:42.100 I have some newer supervisors that I have to work 01:16:42.100 --> 01:16:45.330 and mentor and train to make sure 01:16:45.330 --> 01:16:48.640 that they also understand, 01:16:48.640 --> 01:16:52.370 and like you say, it's a challenge. 01:16:52.370 --> 01:16:55.656 I have to make sure even my accounting supervisor 01:16:55.656 --> 01:16:59.600 understands that when we need a part, 01:16:59.600 --> 01:17:01.833 we need that part, not something else, 01:17:01.833 --> 01:17:03.953 because they're in charge of procurement. 01:17:07.017 --> 01:17:08.510 It's a team effort, 01:17:08.510 --> 01:17:13.510 and when we receipt materials or we assign contracts, 01:17:15.680 --> 01:17:18.080 we need to make sure all that stuff is right too 01:17:18.990 --> 01:17:20.490 because it adds to everything. 01:17:23.000 --> 01:17:24.560 And we also need to make sure 01:17:24.560 --> 01:17:27.760 that when that customer service rep takes the phone call 01:17:27.760 --> 01:17:31.330 and says someone's reporting arcing and sparking, 01:17:31.330 --> 01:17:34.770 that that phone call doesn't get parked somewhere 01:17:36.230 --> 01:17:37.220 and not get addressed. 01:17:37.220 --> 01:17:40.310 It has to get right to the duty team 01:17:40.310 --> 01:17:43.613 so that they can quickly be energized and get out there. 01:17:46.790 --> 01:17:50.673 I think your initiatives outlined on your slide 12, 01:17:52.800 --> 01:17:55.540 the targets, which is gonna be important 01:17:55.540 --> 01:18:00.540 to have those communicated well and frequently, 01:18:05.800 --> 01:18:10.440 and that the work is underway, 01:18:10.440 --> 01:18:14.523 and that if you can actually beat those deadlines, 01:18:14.523 --> 01:18:16.483 that that would be important. 01:18:19.180 --> 01:18:20.110 All right, thank you. 01:18:20.110 --> 01:18:20.943 Thank you. 01:18:23.770 --> 01:18:25.750 Thank you, Commissioner Shiroma. 01:18:25.750 --> 01:18:27.750 Please go ahead, Director Thomas Jacobs. 01:18:28.700 --> 01:18:29.720 Thank you. 01:18:29.720 --> 01:18:32.140 So just wanted to reiterate on a couple things 01:18:32.140 --> 01:18:35.470 that you said, Paul, I think they're really important. 01:18:35.470 --> 01:18:38.100 One, really appreciate that you called out 01:18:38.100 --> 01:18:40.690 that your concern now is that people would be hesitant 01:18:40.690 --> 01:18:44.610 to report something because of the length of time 01:18:44.610 --> 01:18:49.243 in terms of going without an injury or an ignition too, 01:18:51.194 --> 01:18:53.240 so want to just reinforce that. 01:18:53.240 --> 01:18:56.723 I think that's a healthy concern to have. 01:18:58.400 --> 01:19:02.220 I think it's fundamental to building a safety culture 01:19:02.220 --> 01:19:05.010 to develop a open communication. 01:19:05.010 --> 01:19:07.850 If you don't know about it, you can't fix it. 01:19:07.850 --> 01:19:12.160 So I think it will be important across the organization, 01:19:12.160 --> 01:19:13.500 especially with the turnover 01:19:13.500 --> 01:19:14.960 that it sounds like you guys struggle with 01:19:14.960 --> 01:19:17.690 just because of the dynamics that you have 01:19:17.690 --> 01:19:20.960 in your particular organization and location, 01:19:20.960 --> 01:19:24.150 to constantly be reinforcing that. 01:19:24.150 --> 01:19:26.140 As well as with the contractors, 01:19:26.140 --> 01:19:28.250 reiterating again what you've already called out, 01:19:28.250 --> 01:19:30.630 that there is a difference between the workers 01:19:30.630 --> 01:19:35.060 that live in your area and are rooted in your organization, 01:19:35.060 --> 01:19:36.860 and the contractors that are coming in and out 01:19:36.860 --> 01:19:39.790 of that organization, and yet they play a vital role. 01:19:39.790 --> 01:19:41.500 We find that across all of the utilities, 01:19:41.500 --> 01:19:43.310 they are playing a vital role 01:19:43.310 --> 01:19:47.400 in executing these wildfire mitigations, but more broadly, 01:19:47.400 --> 01:19:50.336 safety activities that the utilities 01:19:50.336 --> 01:19:52.823 are currently implementing across their systems. 01:19:53.700 --> 01:19:55.010 So just want to call out again, 01:19:55.010 --> 01:19:57.950 the importance of developing a culture around that, 01:19:57.950 --> 01:20:02.550 of open communication where identification of issues 01:20:02.550 --> 01:20:06.030 is encouraged and supported and responded to 01:20:06.030 --> 01:20:09.860 in such a way that it breeds further communication, 01:20:09.860 --> 01:20:11.970 as opposed to shutting anybody down. 01:20:11.970 --> 01:20:13.900 So if you can speak to me a little bit more 01:20:13.900 --> 01:20:16.730 about specific actions you guys are taking 01:20:16.730 --> 01:20:19.855 to breed that within your organization, 01:20:19.855 --> 01:20:22.623 I would appreciate hearing that. 01:20:24.770 --> 01:20:26.100 Yeah. 01:20:26.100 --> 01:20:30.323 I think we need to have more direct communications 01:20:33.110 --> 01:20:34.233 with our employees. 01:20:39.035 --> 01:20:41.135 COVID has caused me to speak less directly 01:20:42.270 --> 01:20:44.383 to our employees than I had in the past. 01:20:46.150 --> 01:20:51.150 I used to have monthly everybody get in the conference room 01:20:51.730 --> 01:20:53.733 early in the morning and we'd talk, 01:20:54.640 --> 01:20:56.303 and that part is missing, 01:20:57.621 --> 01:20:59.690 and it's been challenging to get around that, 01:20:59.690 --> 01:21:03.860 but I've talked to my supervisors 01:21:03.860 --> 01:21:06.140 and then asked them to have that conversation 01:21:06.140 --> 01:21:08.413 with their employees and that's been working, 01:21:09.310 --> 01:21:14.310 but maybe I personally also will need to get out, 01:21:18.531 --> 01:21:20.710 make a rotation and go to their briefs 01:21:20.710 --> 01:21:23.260 and emphasize that from me, 01:21:23.260 --> 01:21:28.100 that they know no one's gonna be thrown under the bus 01:21:28.100 --> 01:21:29.550 if they say hey, 01:21:29.550 --> 01:21:32.433 we forgot one of the many grounding cables we need, 01:21:33.450 --> 01:21:36.860 and they don't make a decision to just not install 01:21:36.860 --> 01:21:41.663 that grounding cable, go back and get one. 01:21:43.380 --> 01:21:46.023 That they understand that, no one's gonna be mad. 01:21:51.550 --> 01:21:54.440 I'm a believer that there's only one way to do something 01:21:54.440 --> 01:21:56.753 and that's the proper and safe way. 01:21:58.360 --> 01:22:02.358 I don't believe in safety first or things like that 01:22:02.358 --> 01:22:04.693 'cause that implies there's another way of doing it. 01:22:06.058 --> 01:22:08.950 So the only way you should do it 01:22:08.950 --> 01:22:12.470 is by the procedure, the proper way we do it, 01:22:12.470 --> 01:22:14.077 to our standards. 01:22:14.077 --> 01:22:15.653 And so that's important, 01:22:16.540 --> 01:22:19.959 and that's a message that has to be discussed 01:22:19.959 --> 01:22:22.083 over and over and over again. 01:22:23.300 --> 01:22:28.300 I do engage with the union rep, 01:22:30.170 --> 01:22:34.000 we meet quarterly and we talk about safety, 01:22:34.000 --> 01:22:38.890 and he gathers with the union employees afterwards, 01:22:42.580 --> 01:22:45.390 and we communicate our concerns 01:22:45.390 --> 01:22:47.110 and he communicates his concerns 01:22:47.110 --> 01:22:48.163 and we address those, 01:22:49.540 --> 01:22:54.430 and I've found the IBW local 47 01:22:54.430 --> 01:22:57.470 to be extremely safety oriented 01:22:57.470 --> 01:23:01.883 and committed to holding their members to a high standard, 01:23:02.775 --> 01:23:07.775 and I appreciate that. 01:23:08.220 --> 01:23:13.090 They feel very empowered, 01:23:13.090 --> 01:23:17.750 feel very much that the workers they provide 01:23:17.750 --> 01:23:19.423 have to meet high standards, 01:23:20.600 --> 01:23:23.710 and they're committed to holding them to high standards. 01:23:23.710 --> 01:23:27.080 So when I bring issues up with them, they take care of them, 01:23:28.810 --> 01:23:31.743 and so I think that's been a very good relationship. 01:23:38.221 --> 01:23:39.221 Thank you. 01:23:42.042 --> 01:23:43.040 Thank you. 01:23:43.040 --> 01:23:45.120 If there are no further questions, 01:23:45.120 --> 01:23:50.120 I think we are ready for our break. 01:23:50.220 --> 01:23:52.600 We are somewhat ahead of schedule, 01:23:52.600 --> 01:23:57.600 so we will be reconvening at 1:00 PM. 01:23:58.020 --> 01:24:01.240 Again, that will be 1:00 PM to reconvene 01:24:01.240 --> 01:24:03.770 for PG&E's afternoon session. 01:24:03.770 --> 01:24:05.710 So thank you, Commissioners, 01:24:05.710 --> 01:24:08.290 Energy Safety Director, and presenters, 01:24:08.290 --> 01:24:09.943 we will reconvene at 1:00 PM. 01:24:11.670 --> 01:24:12.503 Thank you. 01:24:16.760 --> 01:24:17.593 Thank you. 01:24:37.870 --> 01:24:39.290 At this time, there will be a lunch break 01:24:39.290 --> 01:24:41.440 and the call will resume at 1:00 PM Pacific time. 01:24:41.440 --> 01:24:44.440 You will hear music in the conference until it resumes. 01:24:44.440 --> 01:24:47.440 (upbeat rock music) 01:25:34.337 --> 01:25:35.170 This streaming event 01:25:35.170 --> 01:25:38.940 brought to you by adminmonitor.com will begin momentarily. 01:25:38.940 --> 01:25:40.340 Thank you for your patience. 01:25:51.030 --> 01:25:52.873 The feed for this streaming event- 01:25:59.540 --> 01:26:01.230 Good afternoon, and thank you all for standing by. 01:26:01.230 --> 01:26:03.110 Today's conference has resumed. 01:26:03.110 --> 01:26:04.180 I would now like to turn the call 01:26:04.180 --> 01:26:06.040 back to Carolina Contreras. 01:26:06.040 --> 01:26:07.290 Thank you, you may begin. 01:26:09.000 --> 01:26:10.140 Good afternoon, everyone, 01:26:10.140 --> 01:26:12.590 and welcome back to Bear Valley Electric Service 01:26:12.590 --> 01:26:15.100 and Pacific Gas and Electric safety update briefing 01:26:15.100 --> 01:26:17.280 to the California Public Utilities Commission 01:26:17.280 --> 01:26:21.030 and the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety. 01:26:21.030 --> 01:26:22.200 In this afternoon session, 01:26:22.200 --> 01:26:24.720 members of the board of directors of PG&E 01:26:24.720 --> 01:26:27.540 will present and answer questions from the CPUC 01:26:27.540 --> 01:26:29.470 and Energy Safety regarding updates 01:26:29.470 --> 01:26:31.913 on their electric safety related efforts. 01:26:32.773 --> 01:26:36.340 Serving us on the virtual dais are CPUC President Batjer 01:26:36.340 --> 01:26:39.740 and her fellow Commissioners Shiroma, Gusmanasevas, 01:26:39.740 --> 01:26:40.780 and Houck, 01:26:40.780 --> 01:26:43.740 Director of the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety, 01:26:43.740 --> 01:26:45.680 Caroline Thomas Jacobs, 01:26:45.680 --> 01:26:48.730 and executive director, oh excuse me, 01:26:48.730 --> 01:26:50.960 she will not be joining us right now. 01:26:50.960 --> 01:26:52.310 In terms of format, 01:26:52.310 --> 01:26:56.236 this afternoon's portion of the briefing will focus on PG&E. 01:26:56.236 --> 01:26:58.383 We will first hold public comments 01:26:58.383 --> 01:27:03.383 followed by a 45 minute presentation by PG&E representatives 01:27:06.370 --> 01:27:08.320 on their safety update. 01:27:08.320 --> 01:27:10.350 We will then move onto a discussion 01:27:10.350 --> 01:27:14.420 and Q&A from Commissioners and Energy Safety director. 01:27:14.420 --> 01:27:17.333 We are scheduled to conclude today at 3:00 PM. 01:27:19.227 --> 01:27:21.350 Before we move on to public comments, 01:27:21.350 --> 01:27:24.310 I'd like to ask if there are any brief statements 01:27:24.310 --> 01:27:25.493 from the virtual dais. 01:27:30.715 --> 01:27:32.850 If no statements, we will now- 01:27:32.850 --> 01:27:36.160 Oh, please go ahead, President Batjer. 01:27:36.160 --> 01:27:38.780 Oh no, no, thank you, Carolina. 01:27:38.780 --> 01:27:41.260 I said I have none for this afternoon, thank you. 01:27:41.260 --> 01:27:42.510 I made mine this morning. 01:27:44.060 --> 01:27:45.470 No problem. 01:27:45.470 --> 01:27:46.510 Thank you. 01:27:46.510 --> 01:27:47.570 If no statements, 01:27:47.570 --> 01:27:50.000 we will now turn to the public comments portion 01:27:50.000 --> 01:27:51.303 of today's agenda. 01:27:53.000 --> 01:27:56.020 As a reminder, if you wish to make a public comment, 01:27:56.020 --> 01:28:01.020 dial into 800-857-1917 and enter passcode 5180519 01:28:07.630 --> 01:28:09.050 for the English line, 01:28:09.050 --> 01:28:14.050 and passcode 3799627 for the Spanish line. 01:28:16.833 --> 01:28:19.530 Unmute your phone and press *1, 01:28:19.530 --> 01:28:21.540 you will be placed into a queue 01:28:21.540 --> 01:28:24.990 and the operator will take your name and information. 01:28:24.990 --> 01:28:27.020 You will be called upon to speak 01:28:27.020 --> 01:28:30.760 in the order your call was received. 01:28:30.760 --> 01:28:33.380 You will have two minutes to speak. 01:28:33.380 --> 01:28:36.233 You will hear a bell sound when your time is up. 01:28:37.290 --> 01:28:39.820 Please be mindful of other speakers in the queue 01:28:39.820 --> 01:28:42.540 and keep to your allotted time. 01:28:42.540 --> 01:28:44.320 I will now turn to the operator 01:28:44.320 --> 01:28:46.420 to open the public comment telephone line. 01:28:50.566 --> 01:28:52.630 The public comment line is now open. 01:28:52.630 --> 01:28:54.770 If you wish to speak during this, 01:28:54.770 --> 01:28:56.840 press *1, unmute your phone, 01:28:56.840 --> 01:28:58.160 and clearly record your name 01:28:58.160 --> 01:29:00.050 and organization when prompted. 01:29:00.050 --> 01:29:01.980 Again, press *1. 01:29:01.980 --> 01:29:04.623 One moment, as we wait for any public comments. 01:29:26.530 --> 01:29:28.623 There are currently no public comments. 01:29:32.900 --> 01:29:34.870 Thank you, operator. 01:29:34.870 --> 01:29:37.170 With no comments on the line, 01:29:37.170 --> 01:29:39.663 the public comment period is closed. 01:29:43.400 --> 01:29:44.233 Moving on. 01:29:47.190 --> 01:29:50.560 We will now hear from PG&E representatives, 01:29:50.560 --> 01:29:52.820 Ms. Cheryl Campbell, Floor Director 01:29:52.820 --> 01:29:55.970 and Chair of the Safety and Nuclear Oversight Committee, 01:29:55.970 --> 01:29:58.510 Mr. Sameet Singh, Senior Vice President 01:29:58.510 --> 01:30:01.070 and Chief Risk Officer, 01:30:01.070 --> 01:30:05.760 and Mr. Adam Wright, Executive Vice President Operations, 01:30:05.760 --> 01:30:09.220 Chief Operating Officer, and board director. 01:30:09.220 --> 01:30:10.880 Ms. Campbell, welcome, 01:30:10.880 --> 01:30:13.160 you are scheduled for 45 minutes 01:30:13.160 --> 01:30:14.783 and I will now turn it to you. 01:30:16.750 --> 01:30:18.250 Thank you. 01:30:18.250 --> 01:30:19.640 Good afternoon, President Batjer, 01:30:19.640 --> 01:30:22.450 respected Commissioners, Director Thomas Jacobs, 01:30:22.450 --> 01:30:26.000 and CPUC and Energy Safety staff. 01:30:26.000 --> 01:30:28.120 We appreciate the opportunity to speak with you today 01:30:28.120 --> 01:30:30.620 about our focus on safety at PG&E, 01:30:31.620 --> 01:30:35.153 but first on behalf of the board of directors of PG&E, 01:30:35.153 --> 01:30:37.780 I'd also like to acknowledge the anniversary 01:30:37.780 --> 01:30:40.700 of the campfire, the resulting deaths, 01:30:40.700 --> 01:30:43.313 and the horrible impact it had on the community. 01:30:44.250 --> 01:30:46.990 The board recognizes the oversight role it plays 01:30:46.990 --> 01:30:49.970 in setting the tone and priorities for the company 01:30:49.970 --> 01:30:52.630 as it works to improve public safety. 01:30:52.630 --> 01:30:54.590 We take the role very seriously, 01:30:54.590 --> 01:30:57.010 and we work diligently with the leadership team 01:30:57.010 --> 01:30:58.563 on this important effort. 01:31:01.740 --> 01:31:06.060 I think we can move to the next slide, please. 01:31:06.060 --> 01:31:07.477 Thank you. 01:31:07.477 --> 01:31:08.970 We have prepared the following presentation 01:31:08.970 --> 01:31:11.227 to address the topics that you have outlined 01:31:11.227 --> 01:31:14.800 for the meeting, and we'll cover these topics shown, 01:31:14.800 --> 01:31:17.040 and we're happy to answer any questions you have 01:31:17.040 --> 01:31:19.193 at any time during the presentation. 01:31:20.720 --> 01:31:22.743 Let's go to the next slide. 01:31:24.220 --> 01:31:25.500 Let's start with governance 01:31:25.500 --> 01:31:27.910 and our safety and nuclear oversight committee, 01:31:27.910 --> 01:31:30.873 or SNO committee as we call it within the company. 01:31:32.410 --> 01:31:35.190 The committee was formed to advise and assist the board 01:31:35.190 --> 01:31:38.300 with respect to the oversight and review of policies, 01:31:38.300 --> 01:31:42.620 practices, goals, issues, risks, and compliance 01:31:42.620 --> 01:31:45.043 related to public and workforce safety. 01:31:46.130 --> 01:31:48.530 The committee operates under a charter 01:31:48.530 --> 01:31:50.440 which is posted and available 01:31:50.440 --> 01:31:53.490 on our investor relations website, 01:31:53.490 --> 01:31:56.460 and was updated and refreshed by the board 01:31:56.460 --> 01:31:58.883 as recently as May of this year. 01:31:59.730 --> 01:32:04.730 There are currently six members, all independent directors, 01:32:05.190 --> 01:32:09.260 and all have, in one or more areas, 01:32:09.260 --> 01:32:11.080 deep and demonstrated expertise 01:32:11.080 --> 01:32:13.840 in one or more areas shown below. 01:32:13.840 --> 01:32:16.920 The six directors are myself as the chair, 01:32:16.920 --> 01:32:20.840 Jessica Denecore, Admiral Mark Ferguson, 01:32:20.840 --> 01:32:24.693 Craig Fugate, Mike Nigley, and Belle Smith. 01:32:25.750 --> 01:32:29.380 The committee meets formally at least six times a year, 01:32:29.380 --> 01:32:32.310 including periodically joint meetings 01:32:32.310 --> 01:32:34.710 with the (indistinct) committee. 01:32:34.710 --> 01:32:37.430 At those meetings, we meet with management, 01:32:37.430 --> 01:32:39.350 including the chief risk officer 01:32:39.350 --> 01:32:43.680 and the chief safety officer, and others as needed. 01:32:43.680 --> 01:32:48.040 We receive reports, we discuss policies and performance, 01:32:48.040 --> 01:32:50.953 and we provide feedback to the management team. 01:32:52.170 --> 01:32:53.930 The formal meetings are supplemented 01:32:53.930 --> 01:32:58.240 by informal meetings, and go to see field visits. 01:32:58.240 --> 01:33:00.320 Committee members interact with employees 01:33:00.320 --> 01:33:03.810 at all level of the company at these field visits, 01:33:03.810 --> 01:33:06.000 and I'll just give you a couple of examples 01:33:06.000 --> 01:33:08.560 of where we've been recently. 01:33:08.560 --> 01:33:12.380 We've been on vegetation management jobs, 01:33:12.380 --> 01:33:14.887 we've been on locate and mark jobs, 01:33:14.887 --> 01:33:19.108 last week, Admiral Ferguson and I were at Diablo Canyon, 01:33:19.108 --> 01:33:23.557 and we have also been at the wildfire command center 01:33:23.557 --> 01:33:26.290 and the lean operations command center 01:33:26.290 --> 01:33:27.863 in August of this year. 01:33:29.850 --> 01:33:32.190 The committee also periodically observes 01:33:32.190 --> 01:33:34.440 the company's wildfire command center 01:33:34.440 --> 01:33:36.970 during it's weekly operating review, 01:33:36.970 --> 01:33:40.150 and meets with operational staff and senior management 01:33:40.150 --> 01:33:41.933 after that meeting concludes. 01:33:43.150 --> 01:33:45.440 I also want to point out that the feedback loop 01:33:45.440 --> 01:33:47.790 is not just internal, 01:33:47.790 --> 01:33:50.750 SNO members meet periodically separately 01:33:50.750 --> 01:33:53.260 with external observers and parties 01:33:53.260 --> 01:33:57.630 to get insight and feedback on the company's performance. 01:33:57.630 --> 01:34:00.410 These parties include the federal monitor, 01:34:00.410 --> 01:34:03.773 the operational observer, and North Star. 01:34:05.430 --> 01:34:07.280 And underlying all of this, 01:34:07.280 --> 01:34:10.560 is the board's commitment to promote a speak up culture 01:34:10.560 --> 01:34:11.940 both within the company 01:34:11.940 --> 01:34:14.303 and amongst the board members themselves. 01:34:16.370 --> 01:34:18.920 I also want to point out that the committee's charter 01:34:18.920 --> 01:34:21.180 includes significant operational performance 01:34:21.180 --> 01:34:25.370 and compliance issues related to all of PG&E's operations 01:34:25.370 --> 01:34:29.813 and facilities, which include nuclear, generation, 01:34:29.813 --> 01:34:32.180 gas and electric transmission, 01:34:32.180 --> 01:34:34.712 and gas and electric distribution, 01:34:34.712 --> 01:34:38.310 as well as the risk management policies and practices 01:34:38.310 --> 01:34:41.140 related to those operations and facilities, 01:34:41.140 --> 01:34:42.913 including cybersecurity. 01:34:44.076 --> 01:34:47.120 I'd like to provide you with a couple of quick examples 01:34:47.120 --> 01:34:49.270 of the tie between our oversight rule 01:34:49.270 --> 01:34:51.053 and how it impacts the company. 01:34:52.420 --> 01:34:54.580 As you can see from the materials, 01:34:54.580 --> 01:34:56.780 one of our roles is to oversee 01:34:56.780 --> 01:35:01.333 the utilities wildfire mitigation plan and the PSPS program. 01:35:02.240 --> 01:35:04.680 So we review the performance against the plan 01:35:04.680 --> 01:35:08.240 with the chief risk officer on a regular basis, 01:35:08.240 --> 01:35:10.403 and we have been providing feedback. 01:35:12.020 --> 01:35:14.556 We did express some concerns about the risk modeling 01:35:14.556 --> 01:35:17.480 as well as the active identification. 01:35:17.480 --> 01:35:20.570 As a result, management updated the risk models 01:35:20.570 --> 01:35:21.950 to address those concerns 01:35:22.794 --> 01:35:24.240 about how the work was prioritized, 01:35:24.240 --> 01:35:27.380 and they've also implemented asset registry improvements, 01:35:27.380 --> 01:35:28.470 which will have an impact 01:35:28.470 --> 01:35:30.883 on the asset management programs overall. 01:35:32.510 --> 01:35:34.330 We also generate reports of the board 01:35:34.330 --> 01:35:38.610 on a quarterly basis that updates the company's progress 01:35:38.610 --> 01:35:40.363 on these important programs. 01:35:42.050 --> 01:35:44.280 Another way that we have impacted the company 01:35:44.280 --> 01:35:45.880 is we review the appointment 01:35:45.880 --> 01:35:47.940 of the chief safety officer of the company, 01:35:47.940 --> 01:35:49.680 as well as other key officers 01:35:49.680 --> 01:35:51.350 who have significant safety focus 01:35:51.350 --> 01:35:53.050 as part of their responsibilities. 01:35:54.820 --> 01:35:57.040 And the third example I'd like to provide 01:35:57.040 --> 01:35:59.260 is we collaborate closely with the people 01:35:59.260 --> 01:36:01.460 in compensation committee to develop safety 01:36:01.460 --> 01:36:02.990 and operational metrics 01:36:02.990 --> 01:36:05.710 to which executive compensation is tied, 01:36:05.710 --> 01:36:08.100 and we then meet with the same committee 01:36:08.100 --> 01:36:09.663 and review those results. 01:36:14.325 --> 01:36:18.000 I think we can go to the next slide if we could. 01:36:18.000 --> 01:36:21.400 So let's take a look at the board beyond the SNO committee. 01:36:21.400 --> 01:36:23.450 One of the areas that the company focused on 01:36:23.450 --> 01:36:25.600 in the wake of the recent safety incidents 01:36:25.600 --> 01:36:27.670 and as it emerged from bankruptcy, 01:36:27.670 --> 01:36:30.093 was to restructure the board of directors 01:36:30.093 --> 01:36:32.680 with a focus on bringing in new directors 01:36:32.680 --> 01:36:35.723 with extensive experience in safety and risk management. 01:36:37.240 --> 01:36:39.970 The board's currently comprised of 13 individuals 01:36:39.970 --> 01:36:43.100 with a wide range of experience and skills. 01:36:43.100 --> 01:36:45.270 Their knowledge and experience are used to improve 01:36:45.270 --> 01:36:48.770 and inform workforce safety throughout PG&E 01:36:48.770 --> 01:36:50.890 as well as public safety. 01:36:50.890 --> 01:36:53.620 And what you see on this slide are the areas of expertise 01:36:53.620 --> 01:36:56.660 that are found within our board of directors. 01:36:56.660 --> 01:36:57.820 You'll find more information 01:36:57.820 --> 01:36:59.630 about how we select our board members 01:36:59.630 --> 01:37:02.563 in our proxy information on the PG&E website. 01:37:06.360 --> 01:37:09.060 With that, that concludes my comments 01:37:09.060 --> 01:37:12.530 about the governance and I'd like to turn our attention 01:37:12.530 --> 01:37:14.960 to the wildfire mitigation efforts 01:37:14.960 --> 01:37:16.998 which are driven by real time learnings 01:37:16.998 --> 01:37:20.310 from our fire incident investigation of observation 01:37:20.310 --> 01:37:22.870 of prior behavior in California this year. 01:37:22.870 --> 01:37:25.080 So I'd like to hand that over to Sameet Singh 01:37:25.080 --> 01:37:26.293 to take it from here. 01:37:29.430 --> 01:37:30.680 Thank you, Cheryl. 01:37:30.680 --> 01:37:32.120 Good afternoon, 01:37:32.120 --> 01:37:34.130 and thank you for the opportunity to engage 01:37:34.130 --> 01:37:35.273 in this forum today. 01:37:36.879 --> 01:37:39.683 I have the privilege of being PG&E's chief risk officer, 01:37:39.683 --> 01:37:44.683 and as Cheryl highlighted, the SNO committee is responsible 01:37:44.810 --> 01:37:48.880 for oversight of all the company's top risks, 01:37:48.880 --> 01:37:52.370 but we will focus today on what's on top of mind 01:37:52.370 --> 01:37:54.513 for everyone which is wildfire safety. 01:37:55.890 --> 01:37:58.370 Our focus on wildfire safety 01:37:58.370 --> 01:38:00.660 is not just to make our system resilient 01:38:01.597 --> 01:38:04.510 with the climate risk that we are facing now, 01:38:04.510 --> 01:38:07.260 but the climate risk that we are going to be facing 01:38:07.260 --> 01:38:08.163 in the future. 01:38:09.770 --> 01:38:12.000 Years of drought and increasing temperatures 01:38:12.000 --> 01:38:13.730 have dramatically changed the environment 01:38:13.730 --> 01:38:14.950 in which we operate, 01:38:14.950 --> 01:38:17.730 as also highlighted by Director Thomas Jacobs 01:38:17.730 --> 01:38:19.073 in her opening remarks. 01:38:20.090 --> 01:38:24.110 More than half of PG&E service area as of 2018, 01:38:24.110 --> 01:38:26.640 is considered high fire risk. 01:38:26.640 --> 01:38:30.800 This represents more than 3x increase 01:38:30.800 --> 01:38:33.900 over a six year time period since 2012, 01:38:33.900 --> 01:38:37.393 where 15% of our service area was considered in high risk. 01:38:38.510 --> 01:38:41.520 And even a larger portion of our service area today 01:38:41.520 --> 01:38:43.550 is considered to be in a drought. 01:38:43.550 --> 01:38:46.553 2021 has been the eighth driest year 01:38:46.553 --> 01:38:49.830 over the last 125 years in California. 01:38:49.830 --> 01:38:52.770 33% of California is in extreme drought. 01:38:52.770 --> 01:38:55.010 The recent rains have helped 01:38:55.010 --> 01:38:58.850 and are a welcomed relief, but have not been enough 01:38:58.850 --> 01:39:01.233 to ease the severe drought conditions. 01:39:02.259 --> 01:39:04.573 So if we can go to the next slide, please. 01:39:07.100 --> 01:39:07.933 Thank you. 01:39:08.810 --> 01:39:12.200 The dramatic shift in the environment conditions 01:39:12.200 --> 01:39:16.520 that changed and have changed widely accepted 01:39:16.520 --> 01:39:18.410 electrical equipment standards, 01:39:18.410 --> 01:39:20.300 meaning that we have to rethink 01:39:20.300 --> 01:39:23.880 the way we deliver energy safely to our customers 01:39:23.880 --> 01:39:26.910 and our communities that we are privileged to serve. 01:39:26.910 --> 01:39:30.910 In California, our service area covers 65% 01:39:30.910 --> 01:39:33.730 of the state's high fire threat areas, 01:39:33.730 --> 01:39:37.363 creating a unique risk profile given the scale. 01:39:38.850 --> 01:39:41.300 Additionally since 2018, 01:39:41.300 --> 01:39:45.918 we have identified approximately 500 additional miles, 01:39:45.918 --> 01:39:48.930 both transmission and distribution combined, 01:39:48.930 --> 01:39:52.190 where wildfire safety work needs to be undertaken 01:39:52.190 --> 01:39:54.840 based on an analysis of our service area 01:39:54.840 --> 01:39:59.653 using advanced technology, 600+ years of fire expertise 01:39:59.653 --> 01:40:02.860 with former fire services professionals 01:40:02.860 --> 01:40:04.120 that are part of our team, 01:40:04.120 --> 01:40:07.380 to identify the high fire risk areas in addition 01:40:07.380 --> 01:40:11.460 to the CPUC's 2018 high fire threat district map. 01:40:11.460 --> 01:40:15.653 So what that results in is about 31,000 line miles 01:40:15.653 --> 01:40:18.150 in high fire risk areas, 01:40:18.150 --> 01:40:20.679 which makes up approximately 32% 01:40:20.679 --> 01:40:24.000 of all of our overhead line miles. 01:40:24.000 --> 01:40:26.960 A large majority of that 31,000 is distribution, 01:40:26.960 --> 01:40:31.960 with 25,500, and the balance of 5,550 miles is transmission. 01:40:35.670 --> 01:40:37.620 If we can go to the next slide, please. 01:40:38.790 --> 01:40:39.673 Great, thank you. 01:40:40.530 --> 01:40:43.810 We have expanded our wildfire safety capabilities 01:40:43.810 --> 01:40:46.320 significantly to address this challenge 01:40:46.320 --> 01:40:49.250 as we have an unwavering focus to ensure 01:40:49.250 --> 01:40:51.560 catastrophic wildfires shall stop. 01:40:51.560 --> 01:40:54.640 In 2018, we launched a comprehensive program 01:40:54.640 --> 01:40:57.323 to address the growing wildfire threat in our state. 01:40:58.210 --> 01:41:01.830 Since it's launch, we have continued to add, 01:41:01.830 --> 01:41:03.345 as you can see in the slide, 01:41:03.345 --> 01:41:07.020 new layers of safety to our system. 01:41:07.020 --> 01:41:10.970 The technology we use and the tools we have available to us, 01:41:10.970 --> 01:41:14.370 and our co-workers and our contract partners. 01:41:14.370 --> 01:41:17.530 The foundation for our capabilities has been informed 01:41:17.530 --> 01:41:18.920 by extensive benchmarking 01:41:18.920 --> 01:41:21.360 with our peer utilities in California, 01:41:21.360 --> 01:41:24.583 as well as practices implemented in Australia, 01:41:25.500 --> 01:41:29.300 and the capabilities have really focused on several areas. 01:41:29.300 --> 01:41:33.380 First, is advancing our risk management approach 01:41:33.380 --> 01:41:35.370 based on artificial intelligence, 01:41:35.370 --> 01:41:39.260 machine learning practices, to identify and target 01:41:39.260 --> 01:41:41.373 the highest risk areas of our system. 01:41:42.350 --> 01:41:44.710 Implementation of situational awareness 01:41:44.710 --> 01:41:47.630 and intelligence with a focus on sharing 01:41:47.630 --> 01:41:51.400 the collected information publicly with first responders, 01:41:51.400 --> 01:41:53.133 agencies, and our customers. 01:41:54.100 --> 01:41:57.050 Enhanced maintenance practices such as system inspections 01:41:57.050 --> 01:41:59.300 and enhanced vegetation management, 01:41:59.300 --> 01:42:02.190 and fundamental redesign and construction 01:42:02.190 --> 01:42:05.420 of our electric grid to make our system resilient 01:42:05.420 --> 01:42:06.603 to the climate risk. 01:42:07.490 --> 01:42:10.510 And lastly, adjusting grid operations 01:42:10.510 --> 01:42:15.020 to operate safely during adverse fire weather conditions 01:42:15.020 --> 01:42:16.550 such as EPSS, 01:42:16.550 --> 01:42:18.790 which is the Enhanced Powerline Safety Setting 01:42:18.790 --> 01:42:22.320 or fast trip, as well as a measure of last resort 01:42:22.320 --> 01:42:25.143 which is PSPS, and I will discuss EPSS 01:42:25.143 --> 01:42:28.183 in a lot more detail shortly. 01:42:29.410 --> 01:42:30.900 Before they're improved, 01:42:30.900 --> 01:42:33.810 our planning and execution of wildfire safety work, 01:42:33.810 --> 01:42:38.810 going into 2021 we implemented two significant 01:42:39.020 --> 01:42:40.930 systematic changes. 01:42:40.930 --> 01:42:43.320 The first is we stood up the wildfire risk 01:42:43.320 --> 01:42:45.800 governance (indistinct) committee, which I chair, 01:42:45.800 --> 01:42:48.930 not only to approve the methodology and work plans 01:42:48.930 --> 01:42:50.240 for each of our programs, 01:42:50.240 --> 01:42:54.180 but to review the progress and discuss and approve changes 01:42:54.180 --> 01:42:57.840 to those plans so we're continuing to reduce the risk 01:42:57.840 --> 01:42:59.887 of catastrophic wildfires for our customers 01:42:59.887 --> 01:43:01.073 and our communities. 01:43:02.254 --> 01:43:03.790 And the second is that we have implemented 01:43:03.790 --> 01:43:06.920 a lean operating system, which we discussed in detail 01:43:06.920 --> 01:43:09.864 during our Monday session with this dais, 01:43:09.864 --> 01:43:12.597 regarding the enhanced vegetation management 01:43:12.597 --> 01:43:13.990 collective action plan. 01:43:13.990 --> 01:43:16.330 This system provides radical transparency 01:43:16.330 --> 01:43:18.540 to all aspects of our execution 01:43:18.540 --> 01:43:20.730 against the risk informed plans, 01:43:20.730 --> 01:43:22.960 and it improves the ability of our teams 01:43:22.960 --> 01:43:26.600 to safely execute work and to raise issues 01:43:26.600 --> 01:43:28.400 through the daily operating reviews. 01:43:32.937 --> 01:43:34.310 With these significant changes, 01:43:34.310 --> 01:43:36.250 we are still not satisfied because we know 01:43:36.250 --> 01:43:38.272 we have more work to do, 01:43:38.272 --> 01:43:40.652 and we also know that when it comes to safety, 01:43:40.652 --> 01:43:42.093 our work is never done. 01:43:45.130 --> 01:43:47.080 If we can go to the next slide, please. 01:43:48.680 --> 01:43:50.510 Over the past four years, 01:43:50.510 --> 01:43:53.563 we have made progress in making our systems safer. 01:43:55.550 --> 01:43:58.100 This year, we completed our goal 01:43:58.100 --> 01:44:01.380 of installing a cumulative 1,300 new 01:44:01.380 --> 01:44:03.800 advanced weather stations that equates 01:44:03.800 --> 01:44:06.044 to approximately one weather station 01:44:06.044 --> 01:44:10.350 for every 20 miles of overhead line that we have 01:44:10.350 --> 01:44:12.590 in the high fire threat district. 01:44:12.590 --> 01:44:15.090 By next year, we will complete the installation 01:44:15.090 --> 01:44:17.490 of 600 high definition cameras 01:44:17.490 --> 01:44:19.060 where we'll be able to cover more than 90% 01:44:19.060 --> 01:44:22.200 of our high fire threat districts in our service area 01:44:22.200 --> 01:44:25.260 through the situational awareness capability. 01:44:25.260 --> 01:44:27.610 At the same time, we know that public safety 01:44:27.610 --> 01:44:30.350 cannot come at the trade off of reliability 01:44:30.350 --> 01:44:33.160 for our customers as it did 01:44:33.160 --> 01:44:35.553 through our initial implementation of EPSS. 01:44:36.575 --> 01:44:40.090 That is why reducing the impact, 01:44:40.090 --> 01:44:43.190 not only for EPSS but also PSPS events 01:44:43.190 --> 01:44:46.190 for our customers, using six correlation devices, 01:44:46.190 --> 01:44:48.623 enhanced weather forecasting is so important. 01:44:49.480 --> 01:44:53.880 I'm gonna first touch on the improvements from PSPS 01:44:53.880 --> 01:44:56.950 and then later I will touch on the work we've done 01:44:56.950 --> 01:44:58.303 related to EPSS. 01:45:00.358 --> 01:45:02.390 We have more than quadrupled the number 01:45:02.390 --> 01:45:06.350 of sectionalization devices which help us separate 01:45:06.350 --> 01:45:10.400 and segment the electric grid into smaller parts, 01:45:10.400 --> 01:45:13.878 in turn, allowing us to be much more targeted 01:45:13.878 --> 01:45:18.450 for deactivation during severe weather and fire conditions. 01:45:18.450 --> 01:45:20.040 Between 2019 and 2020, 01:45:20.040 --> 01:45:22.710 based on all of the infrastructure improvements 01:45:22.710 --> 01:45:25.490 as well as the advancements we've made 01:45:25.490 --> 01:45:29.513 on the meteorological and numerical modeling side, 01:45:29.513 --> 01:45:32.440 we have been able to reduce the scope of PSPS events 01:45:32.440 --> 01:45:35.300 by more than 50% for similar weather conditions 01:45:35.300 --> 01:45:37.633 without taking on additional wildfire risk. 01:45:38.900 --> 01:45:41.220 We are also hardening our electric system 01:45:41.220 --> 01:45:43.240 with stronger poles, covered power lines, 01:45:43.240 --> 01:45:46.620 and under grounding in high fire threat areas. 01:45:46.620 --> 01:45:50.293 Since 2018, we have hardened more than 650 line miles, 01:45:51.230 --> 01:45:54.260 and since nearly 1/3 of our electric lines 01:45:55.470 --> 01:45:57.060 traverse the high fire threat districts, 01:45:57.060 --> 01:45:59.880 we are focusing our enhance vegetation management efforts 01:45:59.880 --> 01:46:02.170 in the communities with the highest risk. 01:46:02.170 --> 01:46:05.210 Again, we have discussed in quite a bit of detail, 01:46:05.210 --> 01:46:07.250 and since we launched our EVM program, 01:46:07.250 --> 01:46:10.523 we have addressed more than 5,500 line miles of vegetation. 01:46:11.570 --> 01:46:13.820 It's the combination of the safety programs 01:46:13.820 --> 01:46:16.730 that is helping our customers stay safer, 01:46:16.730 --> 01:46:19.120 and reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires, 01:46:19.120 --> 01:46:22.640 but we know we must continue to improve 01:46:22.640 --> 01:46:25.773 as we keep up with the ever changing climate risk. 01:46:26.710 --> 01:46:30.700 With regards to the specific 2021 wildfire mitigation 01:46:30.700 --> 01:46:32.866 plan commitment progress as requested 01:46:32.866 --> 01:46:36.333 by Director Thomas Jacobs at the beginning of the call, 01:46:37.500 --> 01:46:41.200 of the 53 commitments, 30 are complete, 01:46:41.200 --> 01:46:45.590 15 are on track with our original schedule, 01:46:45.590 --> 01:46:48.320 5 are off track from our original schedule 01:46:48.320 --> 01:46:49.980 but we have clear line of sight to complete 01:46:49.980 --> 01:46:51.980 by mid December or sooner, 01:46:51.980 --> 01:46:55.104 which is prior to the end of the year commitment. 01:46:55.104 --> 01:46:57.430 We are tracking our progress for all of these commitments 01:46:57.430 --> 01:47:00.890 on a daily basis using our lean operating system. 01:47:00.890 --> 01:47:04.090 The last three are also on track to be completed 01:47:04.090 --> 01:47:05.690 prior to end of the year, 01:47:05.690 --> 01:47:08.360 but will be completed late from the target date 01:47:08.360 --> 01:47:12.023 that we had included in the 2021 wildfire mitigation plan. 01:47:12.960 --> 01:47:14.980 Hopefully, Director Thomas Jacobs, that's helpful 01:47:14.980 --> 01:47:17.500 to provide an update in regards to how we're tracking 01:47:17.500 --> 01:47:18.663 on those commitments. 01:47:19.870 --> 01:47:22.603 If we can go to the next slide, please. 01:47:24.200 --> 01:47:26.780 Let me touch a little bit on one of the major decisions 01:47:26.780 --> 01:47:28.960 and announcements that we made earlier this year, 01:47:28.960 --> 01:47:32.880 which is to commit to place a significant portion 01:47:32.880 --> 01:47:35.700 of our overhead distribution system underground 01:47:35.700 --> 01:47:38.184 in the high fire threat districts. 01:47:38.184 --> 01:47:42.398 Since 2019, we have underground over 85 line miles, 01:47:42.398 --> 01:47:46.090 and will complete another 45 by the end of the year. 01:47:46.090 --> 01:47:48.610 And in 2022 and in the coming years, 01:47:48.610 --> 01:47:50.740 we will see a significant ramp up 01:47:50.740 --> 01:47:54.050 in our execution of the underground miles. 01:47:54.050 --> 01:47:57.400 The work that we've done and are doing today 01:47:57.400 --> 01:47:59.990 related to under grounding in Paradise, 01:47:59.990 --> 01:48:02.540 has provided us with innovative construction methods 01:48:02.540 --> 01:48:05.897 and techniques to reduce the cost to perform this work, 01:48:05.897 --> 01:48:09.480 and enable a significant risk reduction per dollar spend 01:48:09.480 --> 01:48:12.510 when we consider the full active lifecycle cost 01:48:12.510 --> 01:48:13.670 for certain parts of our system 01:48:13.670 --> 01:48:16.140 in the high fire threat districts. 01:48:16.140 --> 01:48:18.840 Under grounding not only improves the safety outcomes, 01:48:18.840 --> 01:48:22.870 but also eliminates PSPS impact and outages 01:48:22.870 --> 01:48:25.920 that may be experienced during Winter storm conditions, 01:48:25.920 --> 01:48:29.053 thereby also improving reliability. 01:48:30.290 --> 01:48:33.250 This program is the largest program of its kind 01:48:33.250 --> 01:48:36.230 ever to be undertaken at the wildfire risk reduction effort, 01:48:36.230 --> 01:48:40.110 and we understand the challenge that is ahead of us, 01:48:40.110 --> 01:48:41.930 and we are continuing to collaborate 01:48:41.930 --> 01:48:45.060 with many external partners through our established 01:48:45.060 --> 01:48:49.050 underground advisory council to shape our approach, 01:48:49.050 --> 01:48:52.378 plans, and execution, and the council is co-chaired 01:48:52.378 --> 01:48:56.330 by one of our executive leaders, Carla Peterman, 01:48:56.330 --> 01:48:58.920 as well as by the President 01:48:58.920 --> 01:49:01.190 of the California Professional Firefighters Union, 01:49:01.190 --> 01:49:02.053 Brian Rice. 01:49:03.360 --> 01:49:06.460 This major effort is getting underway now, 01:49:06.460 --> 01:49:08.280 and we are engaging with local communities 01:49:08.280 --> 01:49:10.340 to understand their local priorities 01:49:10.340 --> 01:49:13.840 and potential concerns and developing an implementation plan 01:49:13.840 --> 01:49:17.043 that we will outline in the 2022 wildfire mitigation plan 01:49:17.043 --> 01:49:20.303 that will be submitted in February of next year. 01:49:22.552 --> 01:49:24.352 We can go to the next slide, please. 01:49:25.940 --> 01:49:27.991 Was not planning on covering this topic- 01:49:27.991 --> 01:49:30.658 (indistinct). 01:49:32.542 --> 01:49:33.592 Can we go back to ... 01:49:34.430 --> 01:49:36.880 What is the process that you're using 01:49:36.880 --> 01:49:40.250 to engage local communities? 01:49:40.250 --> 01:49:43.660 Is there a role that your regional vice presidents 01:49:43.660 --> 01:49:46.480 are playing in determining the locations 01:49:46.480 --> 01:49:50.423 that you're gonna be including in your 2022 plan? 01:49:51.720 --> 01:49:53.010 Thank you, Commissioner. 01:49:53.010 --> 01:49:53.950 Absolutely. 01:49:53.950 --> 01:49:56.546 So our five regional vice presidents 01:49:56.546 --> 01:50:00.120 are engaged as part of this effort. 01:50:00.120 --> 01:50:04.800 We are also including the output of our data 01:50:04.800 --> 01:50:07.050 from the wildfire distribution risk model, 01:50:07.050 --> 01:50:11.020 which has informed many of our mitigation plans 01:50:11.020 --> 01:50:12.850 and programs for this year. 01:50:12.850 --> 01:50:17.750 We have also engaged our former fire services professionals 01:50:17.750 --> 01:50:19.300 which are public safety specialists, 01:50:19.300 --> 01:50:21.605 to give us the boots on the ground assessment 01:50:21.605 --> 01:50:25.740 of communities that have an ingress/egress challenge. 01:50:25.740 --> 01:50:27.400 So that input's being considered. 01:50:27.400 --> 01:50:30.840 In addition to that, we are also looking at areas 01:50:30.840 --> 01:50:32.860 and portions of the circuit 01:50:32.860 --> 01:50:35.070 that have been significantly impacted 01:50:35.070 --> 01:50:40.070 by repeat PSPS events since 2020 and 2019. 01:50:41.140 --> 01:50:43.060 So those are all the different factors 01:50:43.060 --> 01:50:46.539 that are going into helping inform a overall 01:50:46.539 --> 01:50:50.630 execution work plan that the teams are pulling together 01:50:50.630 --> 01:50:53.623 with that engagement and support from the RVPs. 01:50:55.680 --> 01:50:59.197 Okay, and those are excellent risk state factors, 01:50:59.197 --> 01:51:01.450 but what is the engagement with the local governments 01:51:01.450 --> 01:51:05.843 and communities on selection of these lines? 01:51:07.740 --> 01:51:10.274 Thank you, Commissioner, for that follow up. 01:51:10.274 --> 01:51:14.140 The specific engagement is in regards to understanding 01:51:14.140 --> 01:51:19.100 what are those local challenges, 01:51:19.100 --> 01:51:22.730 and potential execution impediments 01:51:22.730 --> 01:51:25.650 around areas that could be difficult 01:51:25.650 --> 01:51:29.960 or could be long lead from a permitting perspective, 01:51:29.960 --> 01:51:33.840 could be sensitive from an endangered species standpoint, 01:51:33.840 --> 01:51:35.570 so we have that coordination occurring 01:51:35.570 --> 01:51:38.960 both with the agencies at the state level, 01:51:38.960 --> 01:51:42.110 as well as things like fish and wildlife services, 01:51:42.110 --> 01:51:45.130 as well as their local district offices. 01:51:45.130 --> 01:51:47.330 Engagement with entities like CalTrans 01:51:47.330 --> 01:51:48.280 to also understand 01:51:48.280 --> 01:51:50.940 what are some of their design requirements 01:51:50.940 --> 01:51:53.899 as part of the work that we're gonna be conducting. 01:51:53.899 --> 01:51:56.198 So that's really the level of engagement 01:51:56.198 --> 01:51:57.890 that is occurring, 01:51:57.890 --> 01:52:00.710 and we're also working with the country leadership 01:52:00.710 --> 01:52:03.510 to understand if we have a major thoroughfare 01:52:03.510 --> 01:52:05.450 for some of the communities, 01:52:05.450 --> 01:52:07.453 what would be the potential implications 01:52:07.453 --> 01:52:09.430 from a traffic standpoint 01:52:09.430 --> 01:52:11.540 when we do have to shut down a certain lane 01:52:11.540 --> 01:52:12.970 to do the under grounding work, 01:52:12.970 --> 01:52:15.260 are there work hour restrictions as well. 01:52:15.260 --> 01:52:18.510 So those are all the different execution feasibility 01:52:18.510 --> 01:52:21.450 elements that go into the prioritization 01:52:21.450 --> 01:52:23.870 of informing when we can do work, 01:52:23.870 --> 01:52:25.407 how much work we can do, 01:52:25.407 --> 01:52:27.557 and which part of the respective community. 01:52:31.340 --> 01:52:32.173 Thank you. 01:52:33.600 --> 01:52:34.433 My pleasure. 01:52:35.476 --> 01:52:36.893 Go, Commissioner. 01:52:39.310 --> 01:52:44.280 So you indicated that you have an effort 01:52:44.280 --> 01:52:49.280 led by a Carla Peterman and Brian Rice, I'm sorry, 01:52:51.362 --> 01:52:53.210 would you mind repeating what is that effort 01:52:53.210 --> 01:52:54.493 and who else is involved? 01:52:55.440 --> 01:52:56.370 Yeah. 01:52:56.370 --> 01:52:58.197 Thank you, Commissioner, again, 01:52:58.197 --> 01:52:59.640 that effort is what we call 01:52:59.640 --> 01:53:03.690 our underground advisory council, 01:53:03.690 --> 01:53:08.222 and the council also includes respective leaders 01:53:08.222 --> 01:53:11.550 from different state agencies, 01:53:11.550 --> 01:53:14.800 and really the intent of that effort 01:53:14.800 --> 01:53:19.800 is to create a cross-functional advisory council 01:53:21.030 --> 01:53:23.750 that can help provide strategic guidance 01:53:23.750 --> 01:53:28.120 as we start pulling together our under grounding plan, 01:53:28.120 --> 01:53:32.360 what are some of those specific types of challenges, 01:53:32.360 --> 01:53:35.220 impediments, long lead permits, 01:53:35.220 --> 01:53:36.600 that we're gonna have to consider 01:53:36.600 --> 01:53:41.600 and are there ways for us to further streamline 01:53:42.080 --> 01:53:45.150 the type of information that we need to be submitting 01:53:45.150 --> 01:53:46.780 to respective state agencies 01:53:46.780 --> 01:53:49.840 so that we can help accelerate the review and approval 01:53:49.840 --> 01:53:53.570 at the project level some of the under grounding plans 01:53:53.570 --> 01:53:55.800 that we're going to be implementing. 01:53:55.800 --> 01:54:00.400 So it's really helping to work through streamlining 01:54:00.400 --> 01:54:03.080 many of those processes because we're well aware 01:54:03.080 --> 01:54:05.370 that this kind of undertaking and an effort 01:54:05.370 --> 01:54:07.440 can't be done alone by ourselves, 01:54:07.440 --> 01:54:10.990 but can only be effective with that engagement 01:54:10.990 --> 01:54:13.052 of the multitude of external partners 01:54:13.052 --> 01:54:15.963 that we're gonna need support and engagement from. 01:54:17.250 --> 01:54:18.990 Two more quick questions. 01:54:18.990 --> 01:54:19.957 Are you (indistinct), 01:54:22.842 --> 01:54:26.093 in these efforts (indistinct)? 01:54:26.093 --> 01:54:28.380 Yes, so Commissioner, that's part of the process. 01:54:28.380 --> 01:54:30.870 The environmental permitting, again, 01:54:30.870 --> 01:54:33.280 understanding those specific areas 01:54:34.190 --> 01:54:38.450 that could require that type of a permitting effort. 01:54:38.450 --> 01:54:39.283 So those are some of the things 01:54:39.283 --> 01:54:41.630 that go into that decision making process. 01:54:41.630 --> 01:54:45.100 I can't speak to the specific project 01:54:45.100 --> 01:54:46.840 and the (indistinct) implications perse, 01:54:46.840 --> 01:54:48.860 but those are all the different factors 01:54:48.860 --> 01:54:49.720 that are considered, 01:54:49.720 --> 01:54:52.231 including the state environmental agencies 01:54:52.231 --> 01:54:54.870 which are engaged as part of this. 01:54:54.870 --> 01:54:58.100 Okay, and then my other question 01:54:58.100 --> 01:55:03.100 is are you looking at how you true up this effort 01:55:03.210 --> 01:55:08.070 with the requirements of the 2022 wildfire mitigation plan 01:55:08.070 --> 01:55:12.800 and also the ongoing (indistinct) applications 01:55:12.800 --> 01:55:14.650 we've got with the CPUC? 01:55:16.420 --> 01:55:17.831 Yes, Commissioner, 01:55:17.831 --> 01:55:19.313 that's part of our current planning process, 01:55:19.313 --> 01:55:23.800 because as we filed for the 2023 GRC, 01:55:23.800 --> 01:55:27.720 the four year GRC as you all know, 01:55:27.720 --> 01:55:32.720 we have a significant program that we have included 01:55:32.960 --> 01:55:34.730 as part of system hardening, 01:55:34.730 --> 01:55:37.450 and when we consider under grounding, 01:55:37.450 --> 01:55:41.120 that's part of our broader system hardening portfolio, 01:55:41.120 --> 01:55:42.610 because in addition to under grounding, 01:55:42.610 --> 01:55:46.622 we also look at are there areas where overhead hardening 01:55:46.622 --> 01:55:51.560 may be a more risk bent efficient solution, 01:55:51.560 --> 01:55:54.960 or is there a remote grid opportunity 01:55:54.960 --> 01:55:58.830 like the one we recently implemented in Briceburg 01:55:58.830 --> 01:56:02.270 coming out of the 2019 Briceburg fire that occurred. 01:56:02.270 --> 01:56:06.200 A small system that's renewable with solar battery backup 01:56:06.200 --> 01:56:08.454 that's providing service to five customers, 01:56:08.454 --> 01:56:10.710 obviously didn't make sense to underground that line 01:56:10.710 --> 01:56:12.950 or do overhead hardening, we moved the line 01:56:12.950 --> 01:56:16.420 and created a small micro-grid type of a setup. 01:56:16.420 --> 01:56:19.020 So these are all the different tools that we have 01:56:19.020 --> 01:56:21.570 within our broader system hardening program 01:56:21.570 --> 01:56:23.920 and under grounding is a key component of that. 01:56:26.657 --> 01:56:29.730 And keep in mind that all these efforts that you're doing 01:56:29.730 --> 01:56:33.890 with the other state agencies, at the end of the day, 01:56:33.890 --> 01:56:37.550 if you're gonna need approval from the GPSE and OEIS 01:56:40.940 --> 01:56:42.900 on these, I'm sure you're looking at 01:56:42.900 --> 01:56:45.800 as to how you're integrating and bringing them 01:56:45.800 --> 01:56:48.983 all of us up to speed on all of these things. 01:56:50.200 --> 01:56:51.036 In the end, the customers are the ones 01:56:51.036 --> 01:56:52.336 who are gonna have to pay. 01:56:54.660 --> 01:56:56.300 Yep, absolutely, Commissioner, 01:56:56.300 --> 01:56:58.680 that's going to be front and center 01:56:58.680 --> 01:57:02.130 as part of our 2022 wildfire mitigation plan filing. 01:57:02.130 --> 01:57:02.963 Absolutely. 01:57:07.030 --> 01:57:09.273 Any other questions before I ... 01:57:09.273 --> 01:57:12.120 Good, Commissioner Houck, (indistinct) question. 01:57:12.120 --> 01:57:15.130 On your 2022 wildfire mitigation plan, 01:57:15.130 --> 01:57:17.574 are you gonna be including the 10,000 miles 01:57:17.574 --> 01:57:19.280 as long term planning 01:57:19.280 --> 01:57:22.740 or how are you going to look at the long term 01:57:22.740 --> 01:57:25.463 versus what you're planning for 2022? 01:57:26.640 --> 01:57:28.100 Thank you, Commissioner. 01:57:28.100 --> 01:57:30.410 Typically the WMP process, 01:57:30.410 --> 01:57:33.180 and Director Thomas Jacobs can correct if I'm wrong, 01:57:33.180 --> 01:57:35.900 it's a three year look ahead, 01:57:35.900 --> 01:57:38.344 which includes the in year 2022 01:57:38.344 --> 01:57:43.344 as well as two years subsequent to that, 2023 and 2024. 01:57:43.350 --> 01:57:46.082 So that's the level of information 01:57:46.082 --> 01:57:48.351 that we're gonna be providing, 01:57:48.351 --> 01:57:50.960 and at the same time, there's a significant amount of work 01:57:50.960 --> 01:57:55.960 that's being done to stand up a fairly significant PMO 01:57:57.135 --> 01:58:02.135 to be able to help establish the long term plan, 01:58:02.590 --> 01:58:05.070 as well as the oversight of all of the work 01:58:05.070 --> 01:58:08.030 that would need to happen from scoping to engineering 01:58:08.030 --> 01:58:12.760 to permitting to safe execution in the field 01:58:12.760 --> 01:58:15.110 and construction, and ensuring the work is done 01:58:15.110 --> 01:58:16.310 to the highest level of quality. 01:58:16.310 --> 01:58:19.170 So all of that infrastructure from a process 01:58:19.170 --> 01:58:22.360 and oversight perspective, is also currently in the process 01:58:22.360 --> 01:58:24.240 of being stood up with the intent and the focus 01:58:24.240 --> 01:58:28.543 of the 2022 WMP would be a three year type of focus. 01:58:32.620 --> 01:58:34.460 And just last (indistinct), 01:58:34.460 --> 01:58:37.990 do you see any potential difficulties 01:58:37.990 --> 01:58:40.820 with the fact that the WMPs are three years 01:58:40.820 --> 01:58:42.690 and then the GRCs are four years 01:58:42.690 --> 01:58:44.160 and whether they're aligned in a way 01:58:44.160 --> 01:58:47.610 that is going to make it easier and more efficient 01:58:47.610 --> 01:58:50.170 for all of us to understand what's going on 01:58:50.170 --> 01:58:54.413 in the crossover between the safety measures and the cost? 01:58:56.480 --> 01:59:00.500 Commissioner, to the extent feasible we are aligning 01:59:02.134 --> 01:59:06.737 both the GRC submissions as well as are including 01:59:06.737 --> 01:59:10.600 in the WMPs, and obviously, the WMP themselves 01:59:10.600 --> 01:59:13.340 are improving year over year. 01:59:13.340 --> 01:59:16.030 This will be the fourth year of the WMP filing, 01:59:16.030 --> 01:59:18.600 'cause if you look at what was submitted 2019, 01:59:18.600 --> 01:59:19.910 it was really a baseline, 01:59:19.910 --> 01:59:24.910 there was a very significant overhaul that was done in 2022, 01:59:25.160 --> 01:59:29.420 and that was further evolved in 2021 and 2022, 01:59:29.420 --> 01:59:32.737 but with the three and the four year time difference, 01:59:32.737 --> 01:59:36.430 many of the plans that we have for the end year 01:59:36.430 --> 01:59:39.250 tend to be very specific and more granular 01:59:39.250 --> 01:59:40.710 in terms of where are we gonna do 01:59:40.710 --> 01:59:43.580 that specific two, three, four mile project, 01:59:43.580 --> 01:59:46.520 and then for years two, three, and four, 01:59:46.520 --> 01:59:48.730 they tend to be more at the programmatic level. 01:59:48.730 --> 01:59:52.393 We're gonna be doing x miles of system hardening, 01:59:52.393 --> 01:59:56.120 1,800 miles of enhanced vegetation management as an example, 01:59:56.120 --> 01:59:59.450 and then as we get to that end year planning 01:59:59.450 --> 02:00:02.420 or typically starts to happen t-minus six months 02:00:02.420 --> 02:00:03.620 before we get to end year, 02:00:03.620 --> 02:00:06.320 to start outlining those specific levels of detail. 02:00:06.320 --> 02:00:08.010 So from a programmatic perspective, 02:00:08.010 --> 02:00:10.530 even if you look at the slides that I discussed about, 02:00:10.530 --> 02:00:13.000 all the additional safety programs that we layered, 02:00:13.000 --> 02:00:15.810 we're at a point where many of those programs 02:00:15.810 --> 02:00:17.500 are fairly steady state, 02:00:17.500 --> 02:00:21.190 and they will carry over into year four as well. 02:00:21.190 --> 02:00:22.440 So from our perspective, 02:00:22.440 --> 02:00:24.660 that does not cause a significant amount of disruption 02:00:24.660 --> 02:00:26.580 of year three versus year four. 02:00:26.580 --> 02:00:28.890 Now, the big change, obviously, 02:00:28.890 --> 02:00:32.860 going into the 2022 WMP is the fairly significant addition 02:00:32.860 --> 02:00:36.010 of under grounding, which we're also considering 02:00:36.010 --> 02:00:39.580 and working through from both a GRC perspective 02:00:39.580 --> 02:00:41.163 as well as a WMP perspective. 02:00:44.440 --> 02:00:45.273 Thank you. 02:00:46.260 --> 02:00:47.093 My pleasure. 02:00:50.390 --> 02:00:52.960 All right, if there's no other questions 02:00:52.960 --> 02:00:55.853 I will continue on the slide. 02:00:56.760 --> 02:00:58.463 Thank you for that engaging Q&A. 02:01:00.068 --> 02:01:02.030 Wasn't planning on spending a lot of time here, 02:01:02.030 --> 02:01:04.240 we spent about four hours together on Monday 02:01:04.240 --> 02:01:07.750 on this topic in regards to the enhanced vegetation 02:01:07.750 --> 02:01:11.130 management corrective action plan. 02:01:11.130 --> 02:01:12.920 Our process continues to improve. 02:01:12.920 --> 02:01:15.960 Our planning is addressing the highest risk 02:01:15.960 --> 02:01:19.822 and the gaps that were identified in the 2020 work, 02:01:19.822 --> 02:01:23.420 because of our co-workers and contract partners, 02:01:23.420 --> 02:01:25.440 we've made essential progress towards 02:01:25.440 --> 02:01:29.120 our 2021 EVM program goals. 02:01:29.120 --> 02:01:32.910 We exceeded the two milestones that we had included 02:01:32.910 --> 02:01:34.750 in the May 6th corrective action plan 02:01:34.750 --> 02:01:37.150 for both June 1st and September 1st, 02:01:37.150 --> 02:01:39.530 and we have clear line of sight towards 02:01:39.530 --> 02:01:43.110 our December 31st goal of 1,800 miles. 02:01:43.110 --> 02:01:45.250 I know we submitted on November 4th, 02:01:45.250 --> 02:01:48.610 progress report for data as of September 30th, 02:01:48.610 --> 02:01:52.100 I will share the work that we have completed 02:01:52.100 --> 02:01:55.510 as of yesterday for our enhanced vegetation management, 02:01:55.510 --> 02:02:00.510 and we're at more than 1,560 miles that have been completed, 02:02:01.580 --> 02:02:04.860 and we've got the line of sight to meet or exceed 02:02:04.860 --> 02:02:07.220 the 1,800 miles by end of the year, 02:02:07.220 --> 02:02:08.420 and most importantly, 02:02:08.420 --> 02:02:11.410 97% of that work that's been completed, 02:02:11.410 --> 02:02:14.080 which is the 1,560 miles as of yesterday, 02:02:14.080 --> 02:02:17.340 has been completed in the highest 20% 02:02:17.340 --> 02:02:19.350 of the risk ranked circuits. 02:02:19.350 --> 02:02:22.410 So that's really the big focus for us. 02:02:22.410 --> 02:02:26.830 And then lastly, on the 2022 EVM scope of work, 02:02:26.830 --> 02:02:29.440 we are much further along than where we were 02:02:29.440 --> 02:02:31.470 at this time last year. 02:02:31.470 --> 02:02:34.730 We did not finalize this year's plan until April, 02:02:34.730 --> 02:02:37.810 and for 2022, we have already issued a preliminary plan 02:02:37.810 --> 02:02:42.250 for our execution teams to review for planning purposes 02:02:42.250 --> 02:02:44.233 that we also discussed on Monday. 02:02:45.470 --> 02:02:48.440 That's a quick update on our EVM corrective action plan. 02:02:48.440 --> 02:02:51.610 Commissioner, you have a question, go ahead. 02:02:51.610 --> 02:02:53.068 Yes. 02:02:53.068 --> 02:02:55.760 I meant to ask you this question on Monday. 02:02:55.760 --> 02:02:57.423 Sure. 02:02:57.423 --> 02:03:02.423 From 2019 to now, at various workshops we heard 02:03:02.537 --> 02:03:06.850 about certain kinds of plant species and trees 02:03:06.850 --> 02:03:09.170 that will grow back quickly. 02:03:09.170 --> 02:03:10.950 In your efforts, have you gone back 02:03:10.950 --> 02:03:14.830 to let's say the 2019 vegetation management ... 02:03:14.830 --> 02:03:19.250 Are you tracking where you've been, where you are, 02:03:19.250 --> 02:03:22.050 and whether or not any of the previous work 02:03:22.050 --> 02:03:23.743 needed to be revisited? 02:03:25.111 --> 02:03:26.650 You have any kind of plant species 02:03:26.650 --> 02:03:28.300 that may be growing back quickly? 02:03:30.210 --> 02:03:32.020 Commissioner, the short answer is yes. 02:03:32.020 --> 02:03:35.360 So if you think about EVM 02:03:35.360 --> 02:03:38.700 which includes two additional aspects of the scope 02:03:38.700 --> 02:03:41.190 that goes beyond the routine 02:03:41.190 --> 02:03:43.350 or compliance vegetation management program, 02:03:43.350 --> 02:03:45.330 which is to clear the overhang 02:03:45.330 --> 02:03:48.883 as well as assess the health of the strike potential trees 02:03:48.883 --> 02:03:51.940 that are tall enough and not far enough from our lines. 02:03:51.940 --> 02:03:55.700 So to maintain that overhang clearance, 02:03:55.700 --> 02:03:58.550 to your point because that clearance is gonna grow back, 02:03:58.550 --> 02:04:00.580 we are folding that into what we call 02:04:00.580 --> 02:04:03.490 our routine vegetation management program going forward, 02:04:03.490 --> 02:04:05.450 so that when our teams are where 02:04:05.450 --> 02:04:07.780 we have already been for EVM, 02:04:07.780 --> 02:04:09.790 they'll not only do the manual clearance, 02:04:09.790 --> 02:04:12.370 which they do to maintain compliance with the GO 02:04:12.370 --> 02:04:14.360 and the public resource code of requirements, 02:04:14.360 --> 02:04:16.360 but also ensure that we're maintaining 02:04:16.360 --> 02:04:18.980 what we did for EVM for overhang. 02:04:18.980 --> 02:04:22.620 In addition to that, we are further introducing more rigor 02:04:22.620 --> 02:04:24.863 going into next year in our routine program 02:04:24.863 --> 02:04:27.140 so that our tree inspectors and arborist 02:04:27.140 --> 02:04:29.200 that are on the routine program itself 02:04:29.200 --> 02:04:32.213 are doing a 360 hazard assessment of trees 02:04:32.213 --> 02:04:34.650 that are tall enough and not far enough 02:04:34.650 --> 02:04:36.280 for exactly that reason, 02:04:36.280 --> 02:04:39.110 and also the reason that given the exceptional 02:04:39.110 --> 02:04:40.680 and extreme drought conditions, 02:04:40.680 --> 02:04:43.210 one of the adverse impacts it does have on trees 02:04:43.210 --> 02:04:45.487 is it accelerates tree mortality. 02:04:45.487 --> 02:04:49.070 So those are the elements that we are folding in 02:04:49.070 --> 02:04:51.292 from our EVM program into the routine program 02:04:51.292 --> 02:04:54.003 and operationalizing that going into 2022. 02:04:56.340 --> 02:04:58.972 Can I ask a follow on question on that? 02:04:58.972 --> 02:05:01.280 I just wanted to make sure I understood you. 02:05:01.280 --> 02:05:06.280 So you're folding in ongoing maintenance of EVM 02:05:06.530 --> 02:05:10.870 into your routine, can you just be really clear 02:05:10.870 --> 02:05:14.070 on has that been folded in or are you folding it in 02:05:14.070 --> 02:05:15.240 in the future? 02:05:15.240 --> 02:05:16.220 When does that start? 02:05:16.220 --> 02:05:19.510 So which EVM maybe hasn't been getting caught 02:05:19.510 --> 02:05:21.193 in the routine yet? 02:05:22.290 --> 02:05:23.630 Yeah, so what happened in getting caught, 02:05:23.630 --> 02:05:26.540 Director Thomas Jacobs, thank you for that clarification, 02:05:26.540 --> 02:05:29.800 is the work that was already completed in 2019 and 2020. 02:05:29.800 --> 02:05:34.800 So it's gonna get folded in as of January of 2022. 02:05:34.970 --> 02:05:39.760 So that's where the work we did in '19, '20, '21, 02:05:39.760 --> 02:05:41.580 we're gonna maintain the overhang 02:05:41.580 --> 02:05:45.842 as well as implement the additional 360 degree walk around 02:05:45.842 --> 02:05:48.020 to assess the hazard of the tree. 02:05:48.020 --> 02:05:51.063 So that gets fully baked going into 2022. 02:05:58.763 --> 02:06:01.510 Any other questions before I continue? 02:06:01.510 --> 02:06:03.078 Okay. 02:06:03.078 --> 02:06:05.393 We can go to the next slide, please. 02:06:09.760 --> 02:06:13.430 So given our drought conditions that we've discussed 02:06:13.430 --> 02:06:16.370 and the subsequent increase of the wildfire risk, 02:06:16.370 --> 02:06:21.298 we've experienced, outside of the typical wind-driven events 02:06:21.298 --> 02:06:26.090 that really have been our experience in the past, 02:06:26.090 --> 02:06:29.897 and on non red flag warning conditions, 02:06:29.897 --> 02:06:32.800 we did a number of enhancements 02:06:32.800 --> 02:06:35.680 to our wildfire prevention efforts this year. 02:06:35.680 --> 02:06:38.990 One of our most impactful changes we have made 02:06:38.990 --> 02:06:41.090 is to adjust the sensitivity of our equipment 02:06:41.090 --> 02:06:44.080 to automatically turn off power faster 02:06:44.080 --> 02:06:46.320 if the system detects a problem, 02:06:46.320 --> 02:06:47.780 and these settings are known 02:06:47.780 --> 02:06:50.470 as the Enhanced Power Line Safety Settings, 02:06:50.470 --> 02:06:53.630 I think Mr. Houck had referenced them as fast trip. 02:06:53.630 --> 02:06:55.493 They're two of the same. 02:06:56.450 --> 02:07:00.784 The EPSS was implemented in late July 02:07:00.784 --> 02:07:05.597 as it became very clear because of the extreme conditions 02:07:05.597 --> 02:07:09.000 of the drought and the exceptional drought conditions 02:07:09.000 --> 02:07:11.410 that we were experiencing in our service area 02:07:11.410 --> 02:07:16.410 a lot more fuels driven and terrain driven fires 02:07:16.710 --> 02:07:18.493 as compared to wind driven. 02:07:19.435 --> 02:07:21.860 It was a significant shift from what we have seen 02:07:21.860 --> 02:07:24.490 in the last five years. 02:07:24.490 --> 02:07:28.770 We implemented this capability for 11,500 miles 02:07:28.770 --> 02:07:30.600 of our distribution circuits. 02:07:30.600 --> 02:07:34.380 We're about 45% of the lines in the high fire risk areas. 02:07:34.380 --> 02:07:38.390 With a specific focus on circuits that could lead to 02:07:38.390 --> 02:07:42.550 a fuels and terrain driven fire under load 02:07:42.550 --> 02:07:45.470 to still wind conditions. 02:07:45.470 --> 02:07:49.320 So these changes have prevented potential wildfires, 02:07:49.320 --> 02:07:52.970 and we made the decision leading with our true north, 02:07:52.970 --> 02:07:55.730 that everyone and everything's always safe. 02:07:55.730 --> 02:07:58.833 Now that said, we fully acknowledge 02:07:58.833 --> 02:08:01.040 that with our initial implementation 02:08:01.040 --> 02:08:03.720 we could have done much better in our execution 02:08:03.720 --> 02:08:06.110 given the significant reliability impact 02:08:06.110 --> 02:08:08.400 on some of our communities and our customers, 02:08:08.400 --> 02:08:10.988 and we needed to be far more effective 02:08:10.988 --> 02:08:14.280 in our communications with our customers. 02:08:14.280 --> 02:08:18.620 I'm gonna touch on both of these in detail shortly. 02:08:18.620 --> 02:08:20.320 Since the initial implementation, 02:08:20.320 --> 02:08:22.628 we have made significant improvements 02:08:22.628 --> 02:08:25.250 for the EPSS enabled circuits, 02:08:25.250 --> 02:08:28.230 to address the reliability concerns 02:08:28.230 --> 02:08:31.170 both on the frequency of outages 02:08:31.170 --> 02:08:33.220 and the duration of outages, 02:08:33.220 --> 02:08:36.830 and we have also conducted focused webinars 02:08:36.830 --> 02:08:39.240 with our customers across our communities 02:08:39.240 --> 02:08:41.780 that were impacted by EPSS, 02:08:41.780 --> 02:08:45.150 which again, I'll discuss in detail shortly. 02:08:45.150 --> 02:08:48.826 We have also fine-tuned the settings 02:08:48.826 --> 02:08:53.826 in the locations where we have experienced the storms, 02:08:53.980 --> 02:08:57.940 and we have actually disabled the EPSS settings now 02:08:57.940 --> 02:09:00.560 given the minimal fire spread risk. 02:09:00.560 --> 02:09:01.970 So today, we have the ability 02:09:01.970 --> 02:09:06.330 to be able to enable and disable the 11,500 miles 02:09:06.330 --> 02:09:08.810 associated with the circuits, 02:09:08.810 --> 02:09:13.380 and we are able to do that in a remote setting 02:09:13.380 --> 02:09:15.070 from our control center, 02:09:15.070 --> 02:09:18.080 and we can actually enable and disable this capability now 02:09:18.080 --> 02:09:20.020 based on the potential fire risk. 02:09:20.020 --> 02:09:22.810 And given the low fire spread risk 02:09:22.810 --> 02:09:24.007 for most of our service territory, 02:09:24.007 --> 02:09:27.467 the EPSS capabilities have been disabled 02:09:27.467 --> 02:09:29.660 within our service area. 02:09:29.660 --> 02:09:31.440 When these settings are enabled 02:09:31.440 --> 02:09:33.630 and settings are enabled next year, 02:09:33.630 --> 02:09:36.043 we will have additional improvements in place 02:09:36.043 --> 02:09:38.330 that will improve customer reliability 02:09:38.330 --> 02:09:39.853 without compromising safety. 02:09:41.430 --> 02:09:45.363 Let me shift to PSPS and I'll come back to EPSS. 02:09:46.200 --> 02:09:47.273 We have made some ... 02:09:48.600 --> 02:09:50.546 I'll pause, go ahead. 02:09:50.546 --> 02:09:51.573 I'm sorry. 02:09:51.573 --> 02:09:52.690 Sorry. 02:09:52.690 --> 02:09:56.140 You said you've stopped it for now, 02:09:56.140 --> 02:10:00.820 but you're gonna resume it in another fashion next year. 02:10:00.820 --> 02:10:05.820 Obviously, the lack of notice and preparation to customers 02:10:08.013 --> 02:10:13.013 is at a direct conflict with this type of use of technology, 02:10:13.690 --> 02:10:18.460 and you need to secure that before restarting it. 02:10:18.460 --> 02:10:21.613 And so maybe you could speak more directly to ... 02:10:23.140 --> 02:10:26.300 From my perspective, this is a PSPS 02:10:26.300 --> 02:10:30.183 and all those protocols need to apply. 02:10:31.490 --> 02:10:35.749 Even customer knowledge to say 02:10:35.749 --> 02:10:38.663 I don't know what the cure is right now, 02:10:41.116 --> 02:10:41.990 well, the cure is they should receive 02:10:41.990 --> 02:10:45.600 the same type of notifications as a PSPS, 02:10:45.600 --> 02:10:49.543 but what do you mean by it's gonna come back next year? 02:10:51.150 --> 02:10:55.048 So Commissioner, we'll probably draw a distinction 02:10:55.048 --> 02:11:00.048 as to why EPSS is very different from PSPS. 02:11:01.360 --> 02:11:04.283 The reason why it's different is in PSPS 02:11:04.283 --> 02:11:09.283 we are able to forecast the adverse wind conditions 02:11:11.250 --> 02:11:13.930 for five days in advance. 02:11:13.930 --> 02:11:17.840 That gives us the ability, from a meteorological perspective 02:11:17.840 --> 02:11:19.640 and operational perspective, 02:11:19.640 --> 02:11:22.540 to stand up our emergency operations center 02:11:22.540 --> 02:11:26.270 and get into that posture to notify the customers 02:11:26.270 --> 02:11:30.040 on t-minus 48 hours, t-minus 24, t-minus 12, 02:11:30.040 --> 02:11:32.238 and imminent notification because we're seeing 02:11:32.238 --> 02:11:35.680 that weather event materialize. 02:11:35.680 --> 02:11:40.680 With EPSS, a key distinction is that the circuit 02:11:41.487 --> 02:11:44.650 does not de-energize until there's some level 02:11:44.650 --> 02:11:48.220 of disturbance that's detected already. 02:11:48.220 --> 02:11:51.490 So meaning that there's a level of an outage, 02:11:51.490 --> 02:11:56.490 a tree limb or branch that may come in contact with a line, 02:11:56.743 --> 02:12:01.160 a squirrel or a bird that comes in contact with a line, 02:12:01.160 --> 02:12:04.870 all of these instances that could lead 02:12:04.870 --> 02:12:08.440 to a potential ignition, result in that disturbance, 02:12:08.440 --> 02:12:12.242 and what occurs with EPSS is the devices 02:12:12.242 --> 02:12:16.880 are much more sensitive and faster reacting. 02:12:16.880 --> 02:12:20.090 So as soon it detects it, it de-energizes, 02:12:20.090 --> 02:12:23.000 and it reduces the amount of energy that's produced 02:12:23.000 --> 02:12:25.180 to create a potential ignition. 02:12:25.180 --> 02:12:29.290 Now, the initial implementation of our EPSS 02:12:29.290 --> 02:12:33.590 is what created the significant reliability impact, 02:12:33.590 --> 02:12:35.480 and I'll honestly go to that now 02:12:35.480 --> 02:12:36.840 just to touch on it. 02:12:36.840 --> 02:12:40.670 So if you go to slide 15, this starts to, 02:12:40.670 --> 02:12:43.999 Commissioner, get to be responsive to your question 02:12:43.999 --> 02:12:47.900 about the cure for this. 02:12:47.900 --> 02:12:50.583 I'm sorry, two more please. 02:12:53.510 --> 02:12:54.610 Great, thank you. 02:12:54.610 --> 02:12:56.760 So one of the things that we experienced, 02:12:56.760 --> 02:12:59.840 Commissioner, was when we did the intimal implementation, 02:12:59.840 --> 02:13:02.860 we did it at a very, very rapid pace. 02:13:02.860 --> 02:13:06.160 So what that resulted in was when there was an outage 02:13:06.160 --> 02:13:08.923 that occurred, there was multiple devices 02:13:08.923 --> 02:13:10.710 that actually opened. 02:13:10.710 --> 02:13:13.100 So it was very difficult for our teams in the field 02:13:13.100 --> 02:13:15.450 to identify and pinpoint and target 02:13:15.450 --> 02:13:18.230 exactly where the trouble was, 02:13:18.230 --> 02:13:20.590 but since then, we have gone in 02:13:20.590 --> 02:13:24.180 and done an engineering evaluation 02:13:24.180 --> 02:13:26.160 for every single one of those circuits, 02:13:26.160 --> 02:13:30.600 which is 170 of them that we had implemented EPSS on, 02:13:30.600 --> 02:13:33.810 and coordinated the settings in the field, 02:13:33.810 --> 02:13:36.560 so made changes to all the other devices 02:13:36.560 --> 02:13:39.580 so all the devices don't trip at one time, 02:13:39.580 --> 02:13:41.730 so that there's only one device that trips 02:13:41.730 --> 02:13:45.980 and it really targets where that disturbance or trouble is 02:13:45.980 --> 02:13:50.560 so we can much more rapidly pinpoint, safely patrol, 02:13:50.560 --> 02:13:53.107 and restore service to our customers. 02:13:53.107 --> 02:13:54.270 And what we've seen is 02:13:54.270 --> 02:13:57.680 from an average outage duration perspective, 02:13:57.680 --> 02:14:00.550 we are back to the similar level of performance 02:14:00.550 --> 02:14:05.300 that we had pre-EPSS when we took that second step. 02:14:05.300 --> 02:14:07.700 So that's what you see under the progress 02:14:07.700 --> 02:14:10.812 of an increase in 12% (indistinct), 02:14:10.812 --> 02:14:13.720 that was subsequently dropped as we implemented 02:14:13.720 --> 02:14:16.120 what we called these coordinated settings. 02:14:16.120 --> 02:14:20.847 So that's a key improvement that has already been made, 02:14:20.847 --> 02:14:22.840 and when we make a reference to that, 02:14:22.840 --> 02:14:25.230 we implement this going into next year, 02:14:25.230 --> 02:14:26.550 we're gonna implement it 02:14:26.550 --> 02:14:29.597 with these coordinated engineered settings, 02:14:29.597 --> 02:14:31.980 and what our engineers do is they study 02:14:31.980 --> 02:14:34.750 the low profile for every single circuit. 02:14:34.750 --> 02:14:38.210 When there's a shift of demand on that circuit, 02:14:38.210 --> 02:14:41.040 it creates a potential disturbance as well, 02:14:41.040 --> 02:14:43.210 but we don't want to trip the circuit 02:14:43.210 --> 02:14:45.210 or de-energize it at those levels, 02:14:45.210 --> 02:14:48.440 we only want to trip it when there's some kind of impact, 02:14:48.440 --> 02:14:51.920 whether it's a tree that comes in contact or animals, 02:14:51.920 --> 02:14:54.660 and that's a fine tune of the threshold 02:14:54.660 --> 02:14:57.660 that our teams have done now for 170 circuits. 02:14:57.660 --> 02:15:02.103 That's a key improvement from a reliability perspective. 02:15:05.540 --> 02:15:08.830 Is 170 circuits the universe 02:15:08.830 --> 02:15:10.963 of where the technology's being applied? 02:15:12.220 --> 02:15:14.630 This is where we applied it this year, Commissioner, 02:15:14.630 --> 02:15:16.827 which is the 11,500- 02:15:18.172 --> 02:15:21.223 But it's gonna effect all your circuits? 02:15:22.400 --> 02:15:23.832 Yeah. 02:15:23.832 --> 02:15:26.120 So going forward, what we are setting up 02:15:26.120 --> 02:15:29.155 is doing the engineer settings 02:15:29.155 --> 02:15:33.480 and basically creating two operating configurations 02:15:33.480 --> 02:15:35.990 for our circuits in the high fire threat districts. 02:15:35.990 --> 02:15:38.430 One's what we call a normal configuration, 02:15:38.430 --> 02:15:40.360 which is what you see today. 02:15:40.360 --> 02:15:43.940 When there's low to minimal fire spread risk. 02:15:43.940 --> 02:15:46.092 Second configuration is the EPSS 02:15:46.092 --> 02:15:50.130 which will be coordinated so that our customers 02:15:50.130 --> 02:15:52.230 are not gonna experience the extended outages 02:15:52.230 --> 02:15:55.394 that they did with the initial implementation, 02:15:55.394 --> 02:15:59.393 and we would enable and disable those settings 02:15:59.393 --> 02:16:04.393 when there's a high fire risk concern 02:16:04.400 --> 02:16:05.710 from a spread perspective. 02:16:05.710 --> 02:16:08.990 So that capability of EPSS is not gonna be enabled 02:16:08.990 --> 02:16:11.210 for the duration of the fire season. 02:16:11.210 --> 02:16:14.600 We will have the ability to toggle it on and off. 02:16:14.600 --> 02:16:17.963 That's circuit specific and geographic location specific. 02:16:19.210 --> 02:16:21.737 Okay, just a couple of follow ups here. 02:16:21.737 --> 02:16:24.843 So the duration's gonna be decreased by 12%, 02:16:25.678 --> 02:16:28.130 is that what you're saying? 02:16:28.130 --> 02:16:30.190 This takeaway, Commissioner, I would share with you 02:16:30.190 --> 02:16:35.190 is that when you look at the pre-EPSS levels, 02:16:35.343 --> 02:16:38.420 the step one of the implementation that we did, 02:16:38.420 --> 02:16:43.420 we saw a 12% increase in outage duration for our customers. 02:16:43.790 --> 02:16:45.760 After we took step two, 02:16:45.760 --> 02:16:49.970 we brought the duration impact back to pre-EPSS levels. 02:16:49.970 --> 02:16:53.180 So with EPSS or non-EPSS, 02:16:53.180 --> 02:16:54.950 our customers should not be experiencing 02:16:54.950 --> 02:16:58.040 any adverse impact on outage duration 02:16:58.040 --> 02:17:00.990 as we implement this capability going to 2022. 02:17:00.990 --> 02:17:02.990 That's the key takeaway. 02:17:02.990 --> 02:17:05.230 See, I have a follow up to your follow up, Martha, 02:17:05.230 --> 02:17:07.580 a follow up to this very question, 02:17:07.580 --> 02:17:09.343 if I may interrupt you. 02:17:10.458 --> 02:17:13.620 So you're talking about percentage of duration, 02:17:13.620 --> 02:17:18.620 and you well know that the CEO and I have had an exchange, 02:17:19.740 --> 02:17:23.620 a lengthy letter, which you all had responded to. 02:17:23.620 --> 02:17:25.180 So I'm asking some questions 02:17:25.180 --> 02:17:26.290 that are gonna be repetitive, 02:17:26.290 --> 02:17:29.060 but not everyone has obviously seen the letter 02:17:29.060 --> 02:17:30.830 nor the response. 02:17:30.830 --> 02:17:34.840 So the concern was you have an average outage, 02:17:34.840 --> 02:17:39.040 on this chart, of seven hours 02:17:41.240 --> 02:17:43.590 and your average impacted customers 1,000. 02:17:43.590 --> 02:17:47.900 So if indeed you're going to decrease that by 12% 02:17:48.970 --> 02:17:53.970 with those greater technologies that you've brought on, 02:17:54.560 --> 02:17:57.100 more sensitivity that you've brought on, 02:17:57.100 --> 02:18:00.290 that's, to me, only one piece of it, 02:18:00.290 --> 02:18:03.030 and I'd rather talk about actual hours 02:18:03.030 --> 02:18:05.543 because people being without electricity, 02:18:05.543 --> 02:18:08.160 1,000 people which is an average, 02:18:08.160 --> 02:18:10.990 and the seven hours is just an average as you know, 02:18:10.990 --> 02:18:12.570 we said this before, 02:18:12.570 --> 02:18:17.170 that we had customers complain to us that had outages, 02:18:17.170 --> 02:18:19.647 and this is up in the El Dorado County area 02:18:19.647 --> 02:18:23.430 and out in the Santa Cruz mountain area 02:18:23.430 --> 02:18:25.950 that lasted between 24 and 36 hours. 02:18:25.950 --> 02:18:28.045 Now, that was perhaps anecdotal, 02:18:28.045 --> 02:18:30.620 but that's an awful lot of time 02:18:30.620 --> 02:18:32.180 when you've had literally no notice, 02:18:32.180 --> 02:18:36.750 and I know the essence of fast trip is no notice, 02:18:36.750 --> 02:18:38.430 that's the essence of it, 02:18:38.430 --> 02:18:39.980 because if a squirrel hits a line, 02:18:39.980 --> 02:18:42.903 how in the heck are you gonna know that? 02:18:45.470 --> 02:18:47.700 But to me, that's only half of it, 02:18:47.700 --> 02:18:50.030 because one of the things I was concerned about 02:18:50.030 --> 02:18:53.170 is your safety patrol and re-energizing. 02:18:53.170 --> 02:18:58.170 You might drop the percentage by 12%, 02:18:59.470 --> 02:19:02.700 which is five hours maybe? 02:19:02.700 --> 02:19:05.370 But you're not going to be able to re-energize 02:19:05.370 --> 02:19:07.320 until you get that patrol out there, 02:19:07.320 --> 02:19:09.360 and that's boots on the ground, that's people, 02:19:09.360 --> 02:19:11.730 that's more people, that's contractors? 02:19:11.730 --> 02:19:13.327 I don't know how you guys are gonna do it, 02:19:13.327 --> 02:19:17.150 but to me, that's another thing that was a big hiccup 02:19:17.150 --> 02:19:20.170 when you all first implemented this 02:19:20.170 --> 02:19:24.520 is you, I don't think, had enough, again, 02:19:24.520 --> 02:19:27.700 excuse me if I'm making a presumption I shouldn't, 02:19:27.700 --> 02:19:29.940 but I don't think you had enough boots on the ground 02:19:29.940 --> 02:19:34.580 to go out and patrol fast enough to re-energize that line, 02:19:34.580 --> 02:19:38.920 'cause as I understand it, you still are under the protocol 02:19:38.920 --> 02:19:41.380 that the line is not re-energized 02:19:41.380 --> 02:19:44.343 until it's been patrolled and found safe. 02:19:45.846 --> 02:19:49.620 So President Batjer, thank you for your remarks 02:19:49.620 --> 02:19:51.710 and your sentiments, we completely understand 02:19:51.710 --> 02:19:53.130 the concern and the frustrations, 02:19:53.130 --> 02:19:54.480 and what I can show with you 02:19:54.480 --> 02:19:56.610 is that the initial implementation 02:19:56.610 --> 02:19:59.280 resulted in a lot of the outcomes that you talked about. 02:19:59.280 --> 02:20:02.220 So since we have implemented and did implement 02:20:02.220 --> 02:20:03.940 the coordination of the settings, 02:20:03.940 --> 02:20:06.670 we do not have to patrol the entire circuit. 02:20:06.670 --> 02:20:07.840 That's the big change, 02:20:07.840 --> 02:20:10.770 because instead of having multiple devices 02:20:10.770 --> 02:20:12.370 that trip on that circuit, 02:20:12.370 --> 02:20:16.330 one example is (indistinct) meetings 02:20:16.330 --> 02:20:18.940 in which really helped paint the picture 02:20:18.940 --> 02:20:21.350 is when you have a device in your house 02:20:21.350 --> 02:20:23.120 you also have additional fuses 02:20:23.120 --> 02:20:25.060 for each of the respective homes. 02:20:25.060 --> 02:20:26.470 What was happening before is 02:20:26.470 --> 02:20:28.330 when there was a outage that occurred, 02:20:28.330 --> 02:20:32.210 it was the outage and the trip that impacted 02:20:32.210 --> 02:20:33.530 the entire home. 02:20:33.530 --> 02:20:35.960 Given the additional adjustments that we made 02:20:35.960 --> 02:20:38.350 to the settings, we can be much more targeted 02:20:38.350 --> 02:20:40.050 so the impact is only to a bathroom 02:20:40.050 --> 02:20:42.830 as compared to the entire home. 02:20:42.830 --> 02:20:45.570 So now, when that trip occurs, 02:20:45.570 --> 02:20:49.430 we don't have to patrol every single electrical line 02:20:49.430 --> 02:20:52.130 in the home, it's only the electrical line 02:20:52.130 --> 02:20:54.870 that's associated with that bathroom as an example, 02:20:54.870 --> 02:20:56.240 if we use that analogy. 02:20:56.240 --> 02:20:59.430 So that's the way that the configuration 02:20:59.430 --> 02:21:01.670 of the system works, and that's how we've been able 02:21:01.670 --> 02:21:06.090 to now reduce the impact of duration. 02:21:06.090 --> 02:21:08.150 In addition to that, we did step up 02:21:09.000 --> 02:21:10.390 the additional resources. 02:21:10.390 --> 02:21:12.110 We'll see that in the response 02:21:12.110 --> 02:21:13.780 to the letter we provided on November 8th. 02:21:13.780 --> 02:21:16.630 We stepped up by more than 40% 02:21:16.630 --> 02:21:20.620 and now we're back down to about 20% higher 02:21:20.620 --> 02:21:22.440 than our baseline staffing, 02:21:22.440 --> 02:21:25.400 because we have seen that additional benefit 02:21:25.400 --> 02:21:28.630 of the targeted outage response. 02:21:28.630 --> 02:21:32.160 In addition to that, we pre-staged helicopters 02:21:32.160 --> 02:21:34.950 to be able to get eyes on the patrolling 02:21:34.950 --> 02:21:38.050 in a much faster way, as well as leveraging drones 02:21:38.050 --> 02:21:41.040 on some of the hard and difficult to access 02:21:41.040 --> 02:21:42.300 and challenging locations. 02:21:42.300 --> 02:21:45.480 All of those improvements have really brought 02:21:45.480 --> 02:21:49.440 the average outage duration back to the pre-EPSS levels. 02:21:49.440 --> 02:21:52.150 So when we see an outage now on EPSS, 02:21:52.150 --> 02:21:54.820 it would be the same as any other outage that may occur 02:21:54.820 --> 02:21:59.820 let's say on a potential gray sky day or a storm day. 02:21:59.980 --> 02:22:04.070 So that's the place where we are now with EPSS 02:22:04.070 --> 02:22:05.470 from a duration standpoint. 02:22:05.470 --> 02:22:07.030 So pause there and Adam, 02:22:07.030 --> 02:22:09.023 I don't know if you want to add anything to that. 02:22:09.930 --> 02:22:11.490 Yeah, sure, I'd be happy to. 02:22:11.490 --> 02:22:13.300 And again, thank you for the push. 02:22:13.300 --> 02:22:14.420 Really appreciate it. 02:22:14.420 --> 02:22:17.130 And the letter even, we always appreciate the challenge 02:22:17.130 --> 02:22:19.620 for us to think through how we can get better. 02:22:19.620 --> 02:22:21.870 We do recognize that this was rolled out 02:22:21.870 --> 02:22:24.340 in a sledgehammer type of fashion. 02:22:24.340 --> 02:22:26.600 It wasn't targeted specifically 02:22:26.600 --> 02:22:29.190 because of the dire conditions that we were facing, 02:22:29.190 --> 02:22:32.370 and the proactive safety steps that we took 02:22:32.370 --> 02:22:35.180 came with the reliability impact and quite frankly, 02:22:35.180 --> 02:22:37.157 we didn't realize it would be this many 02:22:37.157 --> 02:22:38.400 and for this long. 02:22:38.400 --> 02:22:39.320 We really didn't. 02:22:39.320 --> 02:22:40.850 We didn't think we'd have this many trips 02:22:40.850 --> 02:22:43.460 on similar circuits for as long as we did. 02:22:43.460 --> 02:22:45.030 And so having realized that, 02:22:45.030 --> 02:22:47.270 and again, our main operating system really helped us 02:22:47.270 --> 02:22:49.835 highlight that daily that we were seeing 02:22:49.835 --> 02:22:51.210 this high frequency, long duration outages 02:22:51.210 --> 02:22:53.980 on common circuits, helped us formulate 02:22:53.980 --> 02:22:55.740 a more refined approach. 02:22:55.740 --> 02:22:57.470 Helped us develop the community webinars 02:22:57.470 --> 02:22:59.310 to show folks exactly what we were finding 02:22:59.310 --> 02:23:02.450 and why this is a necessary safety measure at this time, 02:23:02.450 --> 02:23:03.650 but it is not lost on us 02:23:03.650 --> 02:23:06.500 that we have to get better in this area. 02:23:06.500 --> 02:23:09.423 More proactively communicating as we get into next year 02:23:09.423 --> 02:23:11.700 that this safety setting has been established, 02:23:11.700 --> 02:23:14.320 what to expect, how we can respond, 02:23:14.320 --> 02:23:18.100 what we plan to do to make this as painless as possible 02:23:18.100 --> 02:23:19.630 for our customers. 02:23:19.630 --> 02:23:21.816 We have to get better, that is not lost on us, 02:23:21.816 --> 02:23:23.390 but I just wanted to try to reground us very quickly 02:23:23.390 --> 02:23:25.940 in the fact that we had to do something. 02:23:25.940 --> 02:23:30.650 We had a million acre fire on a normal day, 02:23:30.650 --> 02:23:33.170 and those conditions were not conducive for the safety 02:23:33.170 --> 02:23:35.220 of our communities and our co-workers, 02:23:35.220 --> 02:23:38.000 and so very important that we took this measure. 02:23:38.000 --> 02:23:39.400 Clearly we need to refine it. 02:23:39.400 --> 02:23:41.120 I think we've demonstrated we are taking 02:23:41.120 --> 02:23:44.340 very proactive steps and being diligent to do so, 02:23:44.340 --> 02:23:46.530 and we have to make sure going into next year 02:23:46.530 --> 02:23:49.220 we have those things in place before we re-implement 02:23:49.220 --> 02:23:50.990 this safety procedure. 02:23:50.990 --> 02:23:54.197 But it's not lost on us at all, we have to be better. 02:23:58.120 --> 02:24:00.330 Go ahead, President Batjer. 02:24:00.330 --> 02:24:02.984 Yeah, just real quickly, Caroline, 02:24:02.984 --> 02:24:06.623 'cause something you said, Adam, just reminded me, 02:24:08.959 --> 02:24:11.930 Sameet had mentioned earlier the webinars, 02:24:11.930 --> 02:24:13.750 you just mentioned them again. 02:24:13.750 --> 02:24:15.843 Are you counting how many people ... 02:24:16.940 --> 02:24:19.377 There were thousands of people that were impacted, 02:24:19.377 --> 02:24:24.090 and my concern is folks just don't hear about these things 02:24:24.090 --> 02:24:27.570 in terms of the awareness that you're having them, 02:24:27.570 --> 02:24:28.490 that they can be informed about it. 02:24:28.490 --> 02:24:32.080 So just wondering how many people 02:24:32.080 --> 02:24:32.970 are attending these webinars? 02:24:32.970 --> 02:24:34.633 Or attended the webinars. 02:24:37.540 --> 02:24:39.000 I don't have that number. 02:24:39.000 --> 02:24:40.800 I can get it and follow up pretty quickly. 02:24:40.800 --> 02:24:43.351 I'll actually send a fax right now (indistinct). 02:24:43.351 --> 02:24:44.184 Yeah. 02:24:44.184 --> 02:24:45.920 Well, you get the point though. 02:24:45.920 --> 02:24:50.580 That oftentimes a webinar, something that is transmitted 02:24:52.260 --> 02:24:54.530 electronically or even in social media, 02:24:54.530 --> 02:24:58.470 it does not get the broad broadcast, if you will, 02:24:58.470 --> 02:25:02.573 of notification of thousands of people 02:25:02.573 --> 02:25:06.350 that were impacted this Summer and into the Fall. 02:25:06.350 --> 02:25:08.520 And I'm sorry because I interrupted 02:25:08.520 --> 02:25:10.678 my fellow Commissioner, Caroline. 02:25:10.678 --> 02:25:12.450 I wanted to follow up on Martha's, 02:25:12.450 --> 02:25:16.050 but I could get one more question before, Caroline, you go. 02:25:16.050 --> 02:25:18.463 Martha, did you have one more question? 02:25:20.950 --> 02:25:22.429 Well, thank you. 02:25:22.429 --> 02:25:25.520 By the way, I think it was 560,000 customers impacted, 02:25:25.520 --> 02:25:29.130 and I appreciate the clarification 02:25:29.130 --> 02:25:32.980 on the improvement on the circuit refinement. 02:25:32.980 --> 02:25:36.960 What is the improvement on giving those customers 02:25:36.960 --> 02:25:38.863 an opportunity to prepare? 02:25:42.152 --> 02:25:44.030 Yes, we do have to do better. 02:25:44.030 --> 02:25:45.783 Adam, you have to do better here. 02:25:46.940 --> 02:25:49.040 It's not okay to just say 02:25:49.040 --> 02:25:52.390 we're just gonna implement this again, 02:25:52.390 --> 02:25:54.170 although it's better, 02:25:54.170 --> 02:25:57.330 without giving customers the ability to prepare. 02:25:57.330 --> 02:25:59.400 What are the criteria you're using 02:25:59.400 --> 02:26:01.530 to effectuate this next year? 02:26:01.530 --> 02:26:02.930 What month are you starting? 02:26:02.930 --> 02:26:04.310 What day are you starting? 02:26:04.310 --> 02:26:05.950 Which counties do you anticipate? 02:26:05.950 --> 02:26:08.510 Do you anticipate the same 6-7 counties 02:26:08.510 --> 02:26:10.022 to be greatly impacted? 02:26:10.022 --> 02:26:12.407 What are you doing to prepare 02:26:12.407 --> 02:26:15.413 helping customers be prepared? 02:26:18.928 --> 02:26:19.761 I can touch on a couple of things, 02:26:19.761 --> 02:26:23.300 and then maybe Adam if you want to add onto that, 02:26:23.300 --> 02:26:25.580 please feel free to do so, and President Batjer, 02:26:25.580 --> 02:26:26.413 we're getting the numbers. 02:26:26.413 --> 02:26:30.430 We've done, to date, 14 webinars, 02:26:30.430 --> 02:26:32.880 and we have those specific dates and locations 02:26:32.880 --> 02:26:37.780 that we included in the November 8th letter, 02:26:37.780 --> 02:26:39.480 the response that we submitted. 02:26:39.480 --> 02:26:44.320 We had a fairly good attendance on the Santa Cruz 02:26:44.320 --> 02:26:46.090 and the El Dorado, which were the areas 02:26:46.090 --> 02:26:47.260 that were the most impacted, 02:26:47.260 --> 02:26:50.360 and then they started to thin out a little bit from there. 02:26:50.360 --> 02:26:54.630 But our intent, going to your question, Commissioner, 02:26:54.630 --> 02:26:58.541 is really around using the same protocols 02:26:58.541 --> 02:27:01.890 from a customer support perspective 02:27:01.890 --> 02:27:03.550 that we have for PSPS. 02:27:03.550 --> 02:27:04.600 So what do I mean by that? 02:27:04.600 --> 02:27:07.340 So as an example, we have about 30,000 02:27:07.340 --> 02:27:09.023 medical baseline customers 02:27:09.023 --> 02:27:11.160 in the high fire threat districts. 02:27:11.160 --> 02:27:13.830 When you look at the number of medical baseline customers 02:27:13.830 --> 02:27:17.678 that were impacted by EPSS outage 02:27:17.678 --> 02:27:22.678 in a high fire threat district or two or more PSPS events, 02:27:23.370 --> 02:27:24.700 it was about 38%. 02:27:24.700 --> 02:27:28.430 So round number's about 11,000 medical baseline customers. 02:27:28.430 --> 02:27:32.890 So this month, we are sending them additional details 02:27:32.890 --> 02:27:37.770 on all of the customer resiliency programs that we offer. 02:27:37.770 --> 02:27:39.730 Portable batteries, 02:27:39.730 --> 02:27:44.730 the rebates on the backup generator programs, 02:27:47.580 --> 02:27:51.940 the ability to leverage the community-based 02:27:51.940 --> 02:27:54.940 organizations like the California Foundation 02:27:54.940 --> 02:27:56.240 of Independent Living Centers. 02:27:56.240 --> 02:27:58.930 So all of those specific details 02:27:58.930 --> 02:28:00.790 and the support efforts that we provide 02:28:00.790 --> 02:28:04.790 for typical PSPS events, we are further educating 02:28:04.790 --> 02:28:06.450 our customer base on. 02:28:06.450 --> 02:28:09.720 At the same time, we are engaging with the agencies 02:28:09.720 --> 02:28:12.880 of those local counties, the first responders, 02:28:12.880 --> 02:28:17.770 as well as all the critical infrastructure entities. 02:28:17.770 --> 02:28:22.435 Things like hospitals, things like wastewater facilities, 02:28:22.435 --> 02:28:26.150 telecom entities, to identify are there backup 02:28:26.150 --> 02:28:27.930 generation capabilities that are needed, 02:28:27.930 --> 02:28:32.930 and actually, for some of the most impacted hospitals, 02:28:33.340 --> 02:28:35.590 even as we enable the EPSS this year, 02:28:35.590 --> 02:28:38.290 we provided backup generation working with them. 02:28:38.290 --> 02:28:41.270 So those are the types of areas of support 02:28:41.270 --> 02:28:43.330 that we are bringing to bear, 02:28:43.330 --> 02:28:45.223 and then as part of a broader communication effort 02:28:45.223 --> 02:28:47.320 that we do every year 02:28:47.320 --> 02:28:50.623 as part of all the community wildfire safety programs 02:28:50.623 --> 02:28:52.070 that we're gonna be implementing, 02:28:52.070 --> 02:28:56.570 EPSS is gonna be a key part of that communication strategy. 02:28:56.570 --> 02:29:00.277 Now, to your specific question on which month 02:29:00.277 --> 02:29:03.620 are we gonna start, we're actually gonna be looking at 02:29:03.620 --> 02:29:04.600 the conditions. 02:29:04.600 --> 02:29:08.840 If the conditions warrant a spread risk 02:29:08.840 --> 02:29:11.200 does not increase until June or July, 02:29:11.200 --> 02:29:13.580 that's a timeline where we would look at, 02:29:13.580 --> 02:29:15.800 and we're not going to do broad brush 02:29:15.800 --> 02:29:18.040 across the entire service area 02:29:18.040 --> 02:29:19.880 within the high fire threat district. 02:29:19.880 --> 02:29:23.320 And I was mentioning that one of the measures we have 02:29:23.320 --> 02:29:25.080 is something called a fire potential index, 02:29:25.080 --> 02:29:26.890 which is if an ignition occurs, 02:29:26.890 --> 02:29:28.350 what's the likelihood that ignition 02:29:28.350 --> 02:29:30.620 becomes catastrophic in nature? 02:29:30.620 --> 02:29:33.040 We measure that on an hourly basis, 02:29:33.040 --> 02:29:35.710 forecast it on an hourly basis on a rolling 02:29:35.710 --> 02:29:40.530 three day forecast at each circuit level. 02:29:40.530 --> 02:29:43.040 So that's the level of granularity that we're gonna use 02:29:43.040 --> 02:29:45.225 to enable or disable this capability 02:29:45.225 --> 02:29:47.454 So it's very surgical, very targeted, 02:29:47.454 --> 02:29:49.730 and condition dependent. 02:29:49.730 --> 02:29:52.240 These aren't the capabilities we had in place 02:29:52.240 --> 02:29:55.573 as we implemented it this year to Adam's point. 02:29:57.930 --> 02:29:59.577 I think the only thing I would add to that, 02:29:59.577 --> 02:30:03.610 and we did have relative to the number of customers 02:30:03.610 --> 02:30:07.550 who experienced an outage and does not make it better, 02:30:07.550 --> 02:30:10.180 Commissioner Guzman, but the 500,000, 02:30:10.180 --> 02:30:12.730 some of those are repeat so the pure number 02:30:12.730 --> 02:30:15.140 who experienced an EPSS outage is less than that, 02:30:15.140 --> 02:30:17.053 but still too many. 02:30:17.943 --> 02:30:21.780 1,169 attended the webinars, so a low number 02:30:21.780 --> 02:30:25.490 relative to the customers experiencing an outage. 02:30:25.490 --> 02:30:28.400 The thing I would just, again, 02:30:28.400 --> 02:30:29.870 free to continue the dialogue, 02:30:29.870 --> 02:30:32.700 but you have our commitment that we recognize this 02:30:32.700 --> 02:30:34.580 as a critical area for improvement 02:30:34.580 --> 02:30:37.030 for our customers and for our performance. 02:30:37.030 --> 02:30:39.050 We are committed to doing the things we need to 02:30:39.050 --> 02:30:41.700 to make this experience better for our customers, 02:30:41.700 --> 02:30:43.190 so that this can continue to be 02:30:43.190 --> 02:30:45.842 an effective mitigation against wildfire. 02:30:45.842 --> 02:30:48.490 We recognize it, understand it, 02:30:48.490 --> 02:30:50.923 and we'll put the weight of the organization behind it. 02:30:52.883 --> 02:30:53.930 And the last piece I'll add is, 02:30:53.930 --> 02:30:56.660 to the question President Batjer asked specifically, 02:30:56.660 --> 02:31:01.660 we had 1,169 attendees across those 14 webinars. 02:31:03.988 --> 02:31:06.023 Just wanted to make sure we close that out with you. 02:31:08.090 --> 02:31:10.103 One more question on this from me. 02:31:13.604 --> 02:31:17.520 Okay, 11,000 miles, 170 trip units, 02:31:20.418 --> 02:31:25.418 am I saying that right? 02:31:27.740 --> 02:31:30.670 You've been doing a lot of contextualizing 02:31:30.670 --> 02:31:35.670 smaller, it's really regionalized as opposed 02:31:37.250 --> 02:31:39.603 to a wide swathe of shutoffs. 02:31:41.600 --> 02:31:44.600 Are you looking to do that here? 02:31:44.600 --> 02:31:49.600 And also, are you adding more to the 11,000 miles next year? 02:31:53.640 --> 02:31:54.850 Yes, Commissioner. 02:31:54.850 --> 02:31:59.160 So again, the capability that we're looking to enable, 02:31:59.160 --> 02:32:03.530 because it's one of the things that we've realized 02:32:03.530 --> 02:32:06.115 is part of, and also what Adam highlighted 02:32:06.115 --> 02:32:09.400 and Director Thomas Jacobs highlighted 02:32:09.400 --> 02:32:11.983 in her opening remarks, that the fundamental way 02:32:11.983 --> 02:32:16.270 that we design, construct, maintain, and operate our grid 02:32:16.270 --> 02:32:18.457 has completely changed given the conditions 02:32:18.457 --> 02:32:19.290 that we're talking about. 02:32:19.290 --> 02:32:20.700 So really what we're talking about here 02:32:20.700 --> 02:32:24.380 is the operational of that grid and that system 02:32:24.380 --> 02:32:25.870 within the high fire threat district. 02:32:25.870 --> 02:32:30.700 So we have a total of 800 distribution circuits 02:32:30.700 --> 02:32:34.120 that correlate to the 25,500 miles, 02:32:34.120 --> 02:32:38.090 maybe doing the math 170 relates to 11,500. 02:32:38.090 --> 02:32:40.810 Each circuit mile is not the same as we know, 02:32:40.810 --> 02:32:44.270 and some of these circuits tend to vary in length 02:32:44.270 --> 02:32:46.500 fairly significantly, but the capability 02:32:46.500 --> 02:32:50.540 that we're looking to enable is for all of the circuits 02:32:50.540 --> 02:32:52.030 within the high fire threat districts. 02:32:52.030 --> 02:32:54.600 Now, it doesn't mean, again, just to reinforce, 02:32:54.600 --> 02:32:58.120 that all of them are gonna be enabled 100% of the time, 02:32:58.120 --> 02:32:58.953 all the time. 02:32:59.810 --> 02:33:03.180 It's really gonna be condition warranted 02:33:03.180 --> 02:33:05.903 when the fire risk is elevated. 02:33:07.946 --> 02:33:11.710 (distinct) your vegetation management, 02:33:11.710 --> 02:33:16.710 the covered conductors, and then your (indistinct) 02:33:17.546 --> 02:33:20.987 of under grounding in this whole rubric, right? 02:33:21.865 --> 02:33:23.150 Absolutely, Commissioner. 02:33:23.150 --> 02:33:25.380 So where we are, under grounding, 02:33:25.380 --> 02:33:29.500 that obviously mitigates the need to enable EPSS 02:33:29.500 --> 02:33:31.810 because we have mitigated that risk, 02:33:31.810 --> 02:33:34.900 so that obviously improves the reliability 02:33:34.900 --> 02:33:38.720 as well as where we have done overhead hardening. 02:33:38.720 --> 02:33:42.044 And I was remiss to not answer the first part 02:33:42.044 --> 02:33:43.850 of your question on your prior question, 02:33:43.850 --> 02:33:45.440 that are we also looking to install 02:33:45.440 --> 02:33:47.010 additional specialization devices. 02:33:47.010 --> 02:33:48.660 We are absolutely looking at that 02:33:48.660 --> 02:33:50.240 from a circuit perspective as well. 02:33:50.240 --> 02:33:53.095 Not just the ability to install additional 02:33:53.095 --> 02:33:57.300 specialization devices, but also additional remote 02:33:57.300 --> 02:34:00.660 and automation capabilities that have the ability 02:34:00.660 --> 02:34:03.940 to be able to disable and enable EPSS 02:34:03.940 --> 02:34:05.900 in a remote manner through our control center. 02:34:05.900 --> 02:34:08.220 So those are all the elements 02:34:08.220 --> 02:34:10.650 from a reliability improvement perspective 02:34:10.650 --> 02:34:15.650 associated with this program that are gonna be key 02:34:16.020 --> 02:34:18.790 as part of our 2022 effort before we start 02:34:18.790 --> 02:34:21.983 to get into this patchwork enabling these circuits. 02:34:23.290 --> 02:34:25.673 And again, the communication in advance, 02:34:26.585 --> 02:34:30.530 there were ring announcements, (indistinct) announcements 02:34:31.665 --> 02:34:34.630 on PSPS over and over again. 02:34:34.630 --> 02:34:36.990 Big, the whole page, as the newspapers, 02:34:36.990 --> 02:34:41.160 to familiarize people with PSPS's. 02:34:41.160 --> 02:34:44.120 Here, again, it happens instantaneously, 02:34:44.120 --> 02:34:48.050 but (indistinct) as really educating folks in these areas. 02:34:53.630 --> 02:34:56.560 That decision also is another part 02:34:56.560 --> 02:35:00.137 of the wildfire mitigation to be aware of, 02:35:00.137 --> 02:35:04.113 and what will you do if such a thing should occur? 02:35:07.348 --> 02:35:11.860 Yes, all great takeaways for us to build upon 02:35:11.860 --> 02:35:14.433 as we move towards this for next year. 02:35:14.433 --> 02:35:15.660 But you'll see this in the letter 02:35:15.660 --> 02:35:17.577 that we responded to as well, President Batjer 02:35:17.577 --> 02:35:19.277 and the rest of the Commissioners. 02:35:20.135 --> 02:35:21.040 (indistinct) with the idea 02:35:21.040 --> 02:35:23.430 that it was just the webinars for outreach. 02:35:23.430 --> 02:35:24.283 Again, it wasn't. 02:35:25.232 --> 02:35:26.065 They should have been on the front end, 02:35:26.065 --> 02:35:27.120 but we gotta correct it. 02:35:28.129 --> 02:35:31.780 But we did email notices out plus postcards were sent 02:35:31.780 --> 02:35:33.220 to all customers. 02:35:33.220 --> 02:35:35.720 We had our Sprinter mobile command vehicle on site 02:35:35.720 --> 02:35:38.020 when outages happened in select locations. 02:35:38.020 --> 02:35:39.940 We had social media postings that targeted 02:35:39.940 --> 02:35:42.060 the highly impacted communities. 02:35:42.060 --> 02:35:43.700 Letters were sent to customers, again, 02:35:43.700 --> 02:35:45.420 on highly impacted circuits. 02:35:45.420 --> 02:35:47.970 We did engage the (indistinct) the local officials, 02:35:47.970 --> 02:35:51.923 hospitals, schools, water agencies, telecom customers 02:35:51.923 --> 02:35:53.620 and providers. 02:35:53.620 --> 02:35:57.500 Automated calls were sent out supporting the fact 02:35:57.500 --> 02:35:59.500 that we were patrolling these lines to give information 02:35:59.500 --> 02:36:03.600 so customers didn't come out and slow down our patrol crews. 02:36:03.600 --> 02:36:05.890 And then several other actions that were completed 02:36:05.890 --> 02:36:07.670 to help notify and keep customers informed. 02:36:07.670 --> 02:36:09.230 So there was a suite of activity, 02:36:09.230 --> 02:36:12.380 the webinars, I felt, were more comprehensive 02:36:12.380 --> 02:36:15.280 and provided the full basis for the reasons why 02:36:15.280 --> 02:36:17.960 in a live format with dialogue and Q&A, 02:36:17.960 --> 02:36:20.060 but there were other channels of communication 02:36:20.060 --> 02:36:22.858 to help keep our customers aware of what was going on. 02:36:22.858 --> 02:36:25.660 Again, need to do better, we have our commitment. 02:36:25.660 --> 02:36:27.520 the organization is focused on it, 02:36:27.520 --> 02:36:29.913 and it will be an improved experience for 2022. 02:36:33.570 --> 02:36:35.860 So I have a question. 02:36:35.860 --> 02:36:38.680 I want to take us back to a little bit of what, 02:36:38.680 --> 02:36:40.563 Adam and Sameet, you started with. 02:36:42.030 --> 02:36:44.777 Adam you said it was sort of a blunt force approach 02:36:44.777 --> 02:36:49.360 to a new risk that you identified, 02:36:49.360 --> 02:36:51.777 which is, I would call it, a heightened fire risk 02:36:51.777 --> 02:36:54.230 but it doesn't have the wind threshold 02:36:54.230 --> 02:36:57.460 or other parameters that would potentially forecast 02:36:57.460 --> 02:36:59.343 a use of a PSPS. 02:36:59.343 --> 02:37:02.410 So you guys used an existing protocol 02:37:02.410 --> 02:37:03.905 that you could jump to 02:37:03.905 --> 02:37:07.550 that was an extreme safety sensitivity setting 02:37:07.550 --> 02:37:10.453 that then exposed this reliability issue. 02:37:11.320 --> 02:37:12.660 When you guys are, this is the part 02:37:12.660 --> 02:37:15.070 I want to get to understand better, 02:37:15.070 --> 02:37:19.370 when you went to refining it with a more surgical approach, 02:37:19.370 --> 02:37:22.960 I'll call it the custom configurations of sensitivities, 02:37:22.960 --> 02:37:25.150 how are you maintaining that same level 02:37:25.150 --> 02:37:29.520 of safety risk reduction that you originally intended 02:37:29.520 --> 02:37:30.570 with the blunt force? 02:37:31.901 --> 02:37:32.734 Yeah. 02:37:32.734 --> 02:37:35.230 So thank you, Director Thomas Jacobs for that. 02:37:35.230 --> 02:37:40.230 So basically, what we did is when we went 02:37:40.330 --> 02:37:42.680 to that blunt force, we over rotated, 02:37:42.680 --> 02:37:46.370 because when you look at the two different types 02:37:46.370 --> 02:37:50.390 of outages that we were experiencing, 02:37:50.390 --> 02:37:53.650 one was where we actually were able to identify 02:37:53.650 --> 02:37:56.180 what the cause was of the outage. 02:37:56.180 --> 02:37:59.280 And in many of the instances, 02:37:59.280 --> 02:38:00.440 initially when we implemented this, 02:38:00.440 --> 02:38:03.690 we were seeing up to almost 80% for some of the circuits 02:38:03.690 --> 02:38:06.340 an unknown cause, because when patrol was happening, 02:38:06.340 --> 02:38:09.630 there was no obvious damage that was identified. 02:38:09.630 --> 02:38:10.730 It could have been a momentary, 02:38:10.730 --> 02:38:12.720 whether it was a branch that came into contact 02:38:12.720 --> 02:38:16.320 in an intermittent way, but a substantial portion 02:38:16.320 --> 02:38:19.040 of those were occurring on what we call load current. 02:38:19.040 --> 02:38:24.040 So when there was load that turned on and off 02:38:24.900 --> 02:38:28.820 on the system, it takes a few seconds 02:38:28.820 --> 02:38:31.950 to be able to stabilize, but that few seconds 02:38:31.950 --> 02:38:33.310 of electrical disturbance was enough 02:38:33.310 --> 02:38:36.450 to be able to create the de-energization of that device. 02:38:36.450 --> 02:38:38.370 So when we went to this custom setting, 02:38:38.370 --> 02:38:41.900 our reliability engineers looked at the low profile 02:38:41.900 --> 02:38:44.870 to look at the amount of current that's generated 02:38:44.870 --> 02:38:47.250 when that loading configuration changes, 02:38:47.250 --> 02:38:51.410 and set the threshold so that we are catching 02:38:51.410 --> 02:38:53.290 all of the fault current, 02:38:53.290 --> 02:38:55.320 which would be indicative of when you have 02:38:55.320 --> 02:38:59.210 a animal contact or vegetation, but not impacting 02:38:59.210 --> 02:39:00.980 and tripping on load current. 02:39:00.980 --> 02:39:04.070 So that's the distinction that occurred. 02:39:04.070 --> 02:39:07.700 And then the other distinction was that each of the devices, 02:39:07.700 --> 02:39:09.650 when we coordinated the settings, 02:39:09.650 --> 02:39:12.460 they were offset by .02 seconds, 02:39:12.460 --> 02:39:15.480 meaning that if you have a device that's closest 02:39:15.480 --> 02:39:17.720 to the disturbance, that gets tripped, 02:39:17.720 --> 02:39:19.670 not necessarily a downstream device 02:39:19.670 --> 02:39:22.360 or the upstream device that's even further away from it. 02:39:22.360 --> 02:39:25.930 So it checks to see if the prior device 02:39:25.930 --> 02:39:27.740 that's right next to me has tripped 02:39:27.740 --> 02:39:30.030 because of a disturbance that I don't have to trip. 02:39:30.030 --> 02:39:32.690 So that's the additional slight time delay 02:39:32.690 --> 02:39:36.240 that was added to maintain the safety benefits 02:39:36.240 --> 02:39:39.890 of an impact without adversely continuing to see 02:39:39.890 --> 02:39:42.690 the reliability impact that we're seeing. 02:39:42.690 --> 02:39:47.023 So simply put, in a non-engineering framework, 02:39:48.375 --> 02:39:49.208 Sorry. 02:39:49.208 --> 02:39:50.041 It's okay. 02:39:50.041 --> 02:39:53.870 Is these refined settings, you feel like 02:39:53.870 --> 02:39:57.194 and correct me if this is not what you meant, 02:39:57.194 --> 02:40:01.626 you're still tracking the same potential ignitions 02:40:01.626 --> 02:40:03.330 that you would have with the blunt force, 02:40:03.330 --> 02:40:06.900 but now you've reduced reliability impact? 02:40:06.900 --> 02:40:07.750 That's correct. 02:40:09.088 --> 02:40:13.593 And you can actually see that if you go to slide 14, 02:40:13.593 --> 02:40:16.883 if we can pull that up, please. 02:40:17.920 --> 02:40:21.507 In regards to what we've seen from a CPUC 02:40:23.790 --> 02:40:25.340 reportable ignitions perspective. 02:40:25.340 --> 02:40:27.240 So it's one slide before this, please. 02:40:28.270 --> 02:40:29.103 Thank you. 02:40:30.760 --> 02:40:33.810 One after this. (laughs) 02:40:33.810 --> 02:40:34.643 Thank you. 02:40:34.643 --> 02:40:37.860 So if you look at the reductions that we are showing there, 02:40:37.860 --> 02:40:40.500 Director Thomas Jacobs, since we implemented this 02:40:40.500 --> 02:40:45.500 on July 28th, we have seen a 46% reduction in total 02:40:47.610 --> 02:40:50.333 to the CPUC reportable ignitions 02:40:50.333 --> 02:40:51.390 in a high fire threat district, 02:40:51.390 --> 02:40:53.690 and if we just look at the performance 02:40:53.690 --> 02:40:57.680 of those 170 circuits over the last three years 02:40:57.680 --> 02:41:01.080 in terms of the ignitions versus post-EPSS, 02:41:01.080 --> 02:41:03.430 it's almost an 80% reduction that we have seen. 02:41:04.360 --> 02:41:07.050 And in those 20% where ignition has occurred, 02:41:07.050 --> 02:41:09.580 they have been fairly small in nature, 02:41:09.580 --> 02:41:12.016 and that is intuitive actually, 02:41:12.016 --> 02:41:16.270 because the settings, what they do is they reduce 02:41:16.270 --> 02:41:17.930 the amount of energy that's released. 02:41:17.930 --> 02:41:20.100 So even if there is an ignition, 02:41:20.100 --> 02:41:23.320 there isn't that significant amount of sparks 02:41:23.320 --> 02:41:28.280 to create that larger type of ignition scenario. 02:41:28.280 --> 02:41:31.843 So that's proof in the pudding to the point you're making. 02:41:33.300 --> 02:41:34.133 Thank you. 02:41:35.210 --> 02:41:36.043 Sure. 02:41:40.950 --> 02:41:43.900 I'm sorry, can we just keep the slide back up? 02:41:43.900 --> 02:41:47.960 Let me just touch on the right hand side of this. 02:41:47.960 --> 02:41:49.409 Before I do that, 02:41:49.409 --> 02:41:54.000 I'll just make sure there's no other questions on EPSS. 02:41:54.000 --> 02:41:57.210 Really appreciate the feedback, the candor, 02:41:57.210 --> 02:42:00.509 the passion around this because we feel the same. 02:42:00.509 --> 02:42:04.085 Frankly, the level of communication, 02:42:04.085 --> 02:42:08.370 the notifications, and the reliability impact 02:42:08.370 --> 02:42:10.570 is unacceptable. 02:42:10.570 --> 02:42:12.550 We are gonna do better, we're committed to do better, 02:42:12.550 --> 02:42:15.653 and you can absolutely hold us accountable to that. 02:42:17.930 --> 02:42:20.440 Sorry, Sameet, I just have to say one more thing. 02:42:20.440 --> 02:42:21.813 No, sure. 02:42:21.813 --> 02:42:22.646 This is so important. 02:42:22.646 --> 02:42:24.240 I think it's important. 02:42:24.240 --> 02:42:26.173 Not withstanding on that, which is so true 02:42:26.173 --> 02:42:28.123 and you have our full commitment. 02:42:29.110 --> 02:42:33.703 I am proud of this company for prioritizing safety. 02:42:34.730 --> 02:42:38.860 This is something that the company has desperately needed 02:42:38.860 --> 02:42:43.860 is for leaders to step up and put safety first, 02:42:44.080 --> 02:42:48.260 and we did that and mistakes and do betters 02:42:48.260 --> 02:42:51.730 and all of that, but to make the decision 02:42:51.730 --> 02:42:53.730 knowing there was the potential for this, 02:42:53.730 --> 02:42:55.920 to anticipate it as widespread, 02:42:55.920 --> 02:42:58.737 but we erred on the side of making it safe 02:42:58.737 --> 02:43:01.400 and making it right, and I'm proud of this company 02:43:01.400 --> 02:43:02.650 for doing it. 02:43:02.650 --> 02:43:05.720 However this all plays out, I'm very proud of the fact 02:43:05.720 --> 02:43:07.280 that we were able to make that decision, 02:43:07.280 --> 02:43:10.740 act upon it quickly, have the capability to implement it, 02:43:10.740 --> 02:43:13.150 and then the wherewithal to make it better. 02:43:13.150 --> 02:43:15.900 So I just wanted to put that out there, 02:43:15.900 --> 02:43:18.453 might not be worth much but just had to say it. 02:43:19.460 --> 02:43:23.000 Adam, if I may just follow up with your comment. 02:43:23.000 --> 02:43:25.848 I appreciate the fact that the company 02:43:25.848 --> 02:43:30.183 has put, and some of it has been frankly regulated to do, 02:43:30.183 --> 02:43:31.743 put safety first. 02:43:33.480 --> 02:43:36.370 However, as I have been a broken record, 02:43:36.370 --> 02:43:38.343 as have my fellow Commissioners been, 02:43:40.150 --> 02:43:45.150 safety of not having as many ignitions, very important, 02:43:45.530 --> 02:43:48.470 absolutely, but the side of the fence 02:43:48.470 --> 02:43:52.520 that you missed initially in PSPS 02:43:52.520 --> 02:43:56.350 and you missed as you have attested to today 02:43:56.350 --> 02:44:00.140 and you did earlier in the week and you have in the letter, 02:44:00.140 --> 02:44:04.950 that you really blew is the safety of your customers 02:44:04.950 --> 02:44:09.444 that are there without energy for hours, 02:44:09.444 --> 02:44:13.450 and fast trip, by nature, is not gonna notice anybody, 02:44:13.450 --> 02:44:15.080 that's the definition of it. 02:44:15.080 --> 02:44:19.700 So these are people without energy for hours 02:44:19.700 --> 02:44:24.700 with no notice and that is a huge, huge safety risk. 02:44:25.650 --> 02:44:28.280 So that can't, I know you guys get this now 02:44:28.280 --> 02:44:30.101 because I've said it and said it, 02:44:30.101 --> 02:44:31.090 as have my fellow Commissioners, 02:44:31.090 --> 02:44:36.090 that cannot be ignored and cannot be not factored in 02:44:36.230 --> 02:44:38.870 to your safety risk. 02:44:38.870 --> 02:44:41.620 The people's lives over here who are trying 02:44:41.620 --> 02:44:45.028 to get through life without any electricity 02:44:45.028 --> 02:44:49.270 is a huge public safety situation. 02:44:49.270 --> 02:44:53.503 So okay, that's in reaction to what you said, Adam. 02:44:54.612 --> 02:44:57.029 I appreciate it, thank you. 02:44:58.184 --> 02:44:59.566 Thank you, President Batjer. 02:44:59.566 --> 02:45:00.540 Thank you, Adam. 02:45:00.540 --> 02:45:01.660 Let me wrap up on this slide 02:45:01.660 --> 02:45:03.860 and then I'll see if there's any questions 02:45:03.860 --> 02:45:07.620 on the wildfire topics and then move to a separate section. 02:45:07.620 --> 02:45:11.540 But if you look at the right hand section of this slide, 02:45:11.540 --> 02:45:15.560 what it's basically showing is a cumulative basis 02:45:15.560 --> 02:45:17.363 for 2019 and 2020. 02:45:18.260 --> 02:45:21.980 PSPS is proven to be an effective measure of last resort 02:45:21.980 --> 02:45:24.710 in preventing wildfires and obviously, 02:45:24.710 --> 02:45:27.280 one of the things that we do as part of PSPS 02:45:27.280 --> 02:45:31.650 is evaluate the damage and hazards that have taken place 02:45:31.650 --> 02:45:33.250 in our system. 02:45:33.250 --> 02:45:37.000 And consistent with the Commission study that was done 02:45:37.000 --> 02:45:39.870 by the safety enforcement division in 2019, 02:45:39.870 --> 02:45:41.280 we followed the same protocols 02:45:41.280 --> 02:45:44.420 that having not de-energized and the damage occurred 02:45:44.420 --> 02:45:47.860 and a subsequent ignition occurred under those conditions, 02:45:47.860 --> 02:45:49.900 what could the impact have been 02:45:49.900 --> 02:45:54.288 in terms of acres burned and potential structures impacted 02:45:54.288 --> 02:45:58.290 using the (indistinct) fire simulation capability. 02:45:58.290 --> 02:46:00.870 In total, more than 4 million additional acres 02:46:00.870 --> 02:46:04.480 and nearly 500,000 structures could have been impacted 02:46:04.480 --> 02:46:08.020 had PSPS measure of last resort not been used. 02:46:08.020 --> 02:46:11.240 And as you can see between '19 and '20, 02:46:11.240 --> 02:46:15.626 and furthermore into 2021, we'll continue to reduce 02:46:15.626 --> 02:46:18.290 the impact for our customers. 02:46:18.290 --> 02:46:20.220 Specifically in '19 and '20, 02:46:20.220 --> 02:46:21.680 all the infrastructure investments 02:46:21.680 --> 02:46:24.700 and the targeted meteorological capabilities 02:46:24.700 --> 02:46:25.863 that we put into place 02:46:25.863 --> 02:46:29.190 were the significant enabler for that. 02:46:29.190 --> 02:46:32.635 One last piece I will share is that the back testing 02:46:32.635 --> 02:46:37.260 that we've done with our 2021 PSPS protocols 02:46:37.260 --> 02:46:40.250 show that we would have prevented 96% 02:46:40.250 --> 02:46:43.110 of the buildings that were impacted from equipment caused 02:46:43.110 --> 02:46:47.440 and wind driven fires between 2012 and 2020. 02:46:47.440 --> 02:46:50.750 So we have the ability to be able to, in essence, 02:46:50.750 --> 02:46:52.920 simulate, through our protocols today, 02:46:52.920 --> 02:46:56.080 go back in time historically and identify 02:46:56.080 --> 02:46:59.750 would those protocols have mitigated and prevented 02:46:59.750 --> 02:47:02.180 some of the most catastrophic fires that have occurred 02:47:02.180 --> 02:47:04.960 in the state caused by our equipment. 02:47:04.960 --> 02:47:09.147 So that's an overview and in detail discussion 02:47:11.450 --> 02:47:12.700 on the wildfire topic. 02:47:12.700 --> 02:47:15.070 The next slide we already covered, 02:47:15.070 --> 02:47:18.590 which was on the reliability impacts for EPSS, 02:47:18.590 --> 02:47:21.740 but I just want to pause here again for a moment 02:47:21.740 --> 02:47:25.620 before I start to discuss the safety management system 02:47:25.620 --> 02:47:28.700 and safety culture to see if there's any questions, 02:47:28.700 --> 02:47:32.630 comments, on anything I've covered on wildfire related 02:47:32.630 --> 02:47:36.093 or that Adam opined on as well. 02:47:45.630 --> 02:47:48.520 Your staff that goes out and checks the lines 02:47:48.520 --> 02:47:52.120 before re-energization under this fast trip. 02:47:52.120 --> 02:47:55.243 I'm sorry, did you say that within the regions, 02:47:57.370 --> 02:48:01.410 as you enter the season, that you have those swat teams 02:48:01.410 --> 02:48:02.663 ready to go? 02:48:04.091 --> 02:48:08.670 They can check the lines, lower these hours folks are out. 02:48:10.210 --> 02:48:13.543 I think you mentioned it but I didn't quite catch that. 02:48:14.890 --> 02:48:17.440 Yes, we do, Commissioner. 02:48:17.440 --> 02:48:18.273 The short answer. 02:48:18.273 --> 02:48:21.630 In addition to that, they are supported by helicopters 02:48:21.630 --> 02:48:22.603 and drones. 02:48:23.570 --> 02:48:28.230 And again, most of our system, of the 170 circuits, 02:48:28.230 --> 02:48:30.590 there's only two circuits that are remaining, 02:48:30.590 --> 02:48:33.990 one in the most populous area and one in current area, 02:48:33.990 --> 02:48:36.120 that are still EPSS enabled. 02:48:36.120 --> 02:48:38.950 168 are back to normal configuration 02:48:38.950 --> 02:48:40.223 given the low fire risk. 02:48:42.360 --> 02:48:43.510 All right, thank you. 02:48:44.500 --> 02:48:45.333 My pleasure. 02:48:49.030 --> 02:48:51.800 Okay, so let me now transition. 02:48:51.800 --> 02:48:55.660 If we can go to one more slide ahead, please. 02:48:55.660 --> 02:48:56.683 Great, thank you. 02:48:57.690 --> 02:49:01.330 To our approach regarding the broader implementation 02:49:01.330 --> 02:49:03.770 of our safety management system. 02:49:03.770 --> 02:49:06.790 So we're taking a page out of our playbook 02:49:06.790 --> 02:49:11.630 from gas operations where we implemented the API 1173. 02:49:11.630 --> 02:49:13.160 Some of you may be familiar with that, 02:49:13.160 --> 02:49:15.540 it's our pipeline safety management system 02:49:15.540 --> 02:49:18.820 that was issued for the industry back in 2015, 02:49:18.820 --> 02:49:21.070 and it's really a safety management system 02:49:21.070 --> 02:49:25.970 that's modeled after the aviation and nuclear industries. 02:49:25.970 --> 02:49:29.930 API 1173 provides a systematic framework 02:49:29.930 --> 02:49:33.660 to manage and coordinate actions that address multiple 02:49:33.660 --> 02:49:35.810 dynamic activities and circumstances 02:49:35.810 --> 02:49:38.330 that are focused on operating a safe system, 02:49:38.330 --> 02:49:42.770 and continually improving the safety performance. 02:49:42.770 --> 02:49:46.180 And the foundational framework that it's based on 02:49:46.180 --> 02:49:49.700 is a concept of plan, do, check out. 02:49:49.700 --> 02:49:53.440 So starting with plan, the focus is to establish 02:49:54.281 --> 02:49:56.960 the objectives and processes that are necessary 02:49:56.960 --> 02:49:59.900 to deliver the results in accordance with the goals 02:49:59.900 --> 02:50:03.313 of ensuring that everyone and everything's always safe. 02:50:04.510 --> 02:50:07.980 The do aspect is a focus on execution of the plan 02:50:07.980 --> 02:50:10.570 to ensure there's no daylight 02:50:10.570 --> 02:50:14.053 with how the plan is getting executed in the field. 02:50:15.410 --> 02:50:17.120 Third is the check aspect, 02:50:17.120 --> 02:50:19.820 which is a validation of the results, 02:50:19.820 --> 02:50:23.150 comparing that to the plan and the established objectives 02:50:23.150 --> 02:50:27.760 to ensure that the results match the intended outcomes. 02:50:27.760 --> 02:50:29.830 And then the act is to take actions 02:50:29.830 --> 02:50:33.040 based on the gaps that are identified between those results, 02:50:33.040 --> 02:50:35.100 and identify the root cause of a gap 02:50:35.100 --> 02:50:37.760 and improve that process performance. 02:50:37.760 --> 02:50:42.460 So it's a never ending loop of plan, do, check, act, 02:50:42.460 --> 02:50:44.320 and it's very consistent with the fact 02:50:44.320 --> 02:50:47.713 that when it comes to safety, our work is never done. 02:50:48.600 --> 02:50:51.600 To further mature our planning process, 02:50:51.600 --> 02:50:54.610 one of the international standards and framework 02:50:54.610 --> 02:50:57.303 that we look to was ISO 55001, 02:50:59.200 --> 02:51:03.053 and it's really a framework of how we operate our assets. 02:51:04.320 --> 02:51:05.690 It's an international standard that specifies 02:51:05.690 --> 02:51:08.770 the requirements for establishing, implementing, 02:51:08.770 --> 02:51:13.190 maintaining, and improving an asset management system. 02:51:13.190 --> 02:51:16.350 So both our gas and electric operations have received 02:51:16.350 --> 02:51:19.640 this certification, and it allows us to manage 02:51:19.640 --> 02:51:22.340 the wholistic lifecycle of our equipment 02:51:22.340 --> 02:51:25.320 more effectively including design, construction, 02:51:25.320 --> 02:51:27.230 maintenance, and operations. 02:51:27.230 --> 02:51:30.350 The certification process is done 02:51:30.350 --> 02:51:33.810 through a third party assessment, Lloyd's Register, 02:51:33.810 --> 02:51:36.020 of our asset management practices, 02:51:36.020 --> 02:51:41.020 and then Lloyd's Register does a six month validation 02:51:42.470 --> 02:51:44.130 on our progress of the plans 02:51:44.130 --> 02:51:45.997 after the initial certification, 02:51:45.997 --> 02:51:50.150 and a full re-certification process occurs very three years. 02:51:50.150 --> 02:51:52.330 And one thing I'll highlight is that the certification 02:51:52.330 --> 02:51:56.320 does not signify that we are the finish line, 02:51:56.320 --> 02:52:00.980 but a confirmation that we have a structured framework, 02:52:00.980 --> 02:52:04.930 a structured process, to assess and improve 02:52:04.930 --> 02:52:07.130 our asset management practices. 02:52:07.130 --> 02:52:09.490 And this framework really enables a focus 02:52:09.490 --> 02:52:11.760 on the understanding of the assets, 02:52:11.760 --> 02:52:14.500 the risk associated with our assets, 02:52:14.500 --> 02:52:16.190 and the lifecycle of the assets 02:52:16.190 --> 02:52:19.740 so that we are proactively managing them 02:52:19.740 --> 02:52:23.150 as compared to a run, do, failure approach 02:52:23.150 --> 02:52:26.593 which is all too common in the utility space. 02:52:27.440 --> 02:52:29.860 The framework that we implemented, 02:52:29.860 --> 02:52:33.410 which is still in place in gas operations 02:52:33.410 --> 02:52:36.740 post the tragic San Bruno transmission pipeline incident 02:52:36.740 --> 02:52:38.730 that occurred in 2010, 02:52:38.730 --> 02:52:41.200 we've seen some significant improvements 02:52:41.200 --> 02:52:43.180 not only in asset management 02:52:43.180 --> 02:52:46.830 but our process safety capabilities and also safety culture, 02:52:46.830 --> 02:52:49.640 and this is evident based on examples 02:52:49.640 --> 02:52:52.040 like our dig in rate reduction 02:52:52.040 --> 02:52:54.830 occurred between 2010 and 2021. 02:52:54.830 --> 02:52:58.200 We went from fourth quartile, to first quartile, 02:52:58.200 --> 02:53:02.835 and dig ins for second parties are one of the prominent 02:53:02.835 --> 02:53:06.780 risk drivers for the gas distribution aspects. 02:53:06.780 --> 02:53:10.950 Our gas emergency response, which is the average time 02:53:10.950 --> 02:53:13.220 for response when a customer calls in 02:53:13.220 --> 02:53:15.360 when they smell a potential gas leak, 02:53:15.360 --> 02:53:19.650 to be able to get to their premises and a safe place, 02:53:19.650 --> 02:53:24.330 again, from 2010 to 2021, we went from fourth quartile 02:53:24.330 --> 02:53:26.880 to first quartile performance. 02:53:26.880 --> 02:53:30.760 It's proven in our gas operations part of the organization 02:53:30.760 --> 02:53:33.810 and that the same safety management system and principles 02:53:33.810 --> 02:53:36.350 that we scaling across the enterprise, 02:53:36.350 --> 02:53:39.660 and with electric operations, obtaining the recent 02:53:39.660 --> 02:53:44.330 ISO 550001 certification that signifies a right step 02:53:44.330 --> 02:53:45.573 in this process. 02:53:48.570 --> 02:53:50.083 We go to the next slide. 02:53:51.713 --> 02:53:55.700 (indistinct) follow up on the certification, 02:53:55.700 --> 02:53:59.623 particularly the ISO 550001. 02:54:00.580 --> 02:54:03.070 What were some of the top weaknesses 02:54:03.070 --> 02:54:06.313 that were identified in that review? 02:54:07.210 --> 02:54:08.580 Yes, so thank you, Commissioner. 02:54:08.580 --> 02:54:13.580 When the review happens, there's 28 specific clauses 02:54:14.040 --> 02:54:18.320 within the ISO standard, and then there's a characterization 02:54:19.380 --> 02:54:21.930 known as a major non-conformance, 02:54:21.930 --> 02:54:26.380 a minor non-conformance, and a scope for improvement. 02:54:26.380 --> 02:54:29.340 So we did not have any major non-conformances 02:54:29.340 --> 02:54:31.630 because you cannot get the certification 02:54:31.630 --> 02:54:34.860 if you have any major non-conformances. 02:54:34.860 --> 02:54:38.060 We had several minor non-conformances. 02:54:38.060 --> 02:54:40.690 One example I'll share with you is to have 02:54:40.690 --> 02:54:44.300 a more effective management of change process. 02:54:44.300 --> 02:54:46.820 So what that means is, for example, 02:54:46.820 --> 02:54:51.520 when we introduce a new tool or a change to a standard, 02:54:51.520 --> 02:54:55.930 ensuring that we think through all of the dominoes 02:54:55.930 --> 02:54:57.050 associated with that. 02:54:57.050 --> 02:55:00.310 So it's not just a standard that changes, 02:55:00.310 --> 02:55:04.390 and let's just use a new tool that gets introduced 02:55:04.390 --> 02:55:08.740 into how work method needs to get conducted, 02:55:08.740 --> 02:55:11.510 there's calibration requirements for those tools, 02:55:11.510 --> 02:55:13.310 there's the training and qualifications 02:55:13.310 --> 02:55:16.050 of the individuals that have to use those tools 02:55:16.050 --> 02:55:19.200 in the field, there has to be the continued validation 02:55:19.200 --> 02:55:20.460 and feedback loop. 02:55:20.460 --> 02:55:22.610 If there's any continuous improvement processes 02:55:22.610 --> 02:55:25.010 and recommendations that those individuals 02:55:25.010 --> 02:55:27.340 closest to the work, that are using that tool, 02:55:27.340 --> 02:55:30.230 can provide so that we get into this plan, 02:55:30.230 --> 02:55:33.170 do, check, act, continuous improvement loop. 02:55:33.170 --> 02:55:34.910 So that's one example of ensuring 02:55:34.910 --> 02:55:36.890 we have a more rigorous process 02:55:36.890 --> 02:55:38.860 by which we make an evaluation, 02:55:38.860 --> 02:55:41.530 and a more rigorous and effective implementation 02:55:41.530 --> 02:55:42.790 of that management of change. 02:55:42.790 --> 02:55:44.590 So that's one example, Commissioner. 02:55:46.370 --> 02:55:48.680 And so you can follow up with a full list. 02:55:48.680 --> 02:55:52.260 So you said sample, does that mean two 02:55:52.260 --> 02:55:54.870 or does that mean 10? 02:55:54.870 --> 02:55:59.380 So I don't have the exact number off the top of my head, 02:55:59.380 --> 02:56:01.640 but I can follow up with you on that, 02:56:01.640 --> 02:56:03.960 but it's a handful, it's not 10, 02:56:03.960 --> 02:56:06.031 I can tell you that. 02:56:06.031 --> 02:56:08.920 What Lloyd's Register also looks at 02:56:08.920 --> 02:56:12.770 is when they come in and do the validation every six months, 02:56:12.770 --> 02:56:15.100 for each of these improvement areas 02:56:15.100 --> 02:56:17.390 we have improvement plans, 02:56:17.390 --> 02:56:18.980 and that's really what they're evaluating, 02:56:18.980 --> 02:56:21.353 that are we continuing to make improvements 02:56:21.353 --> 02:56:24.940 based on the gaps identified, and the progress towards that. 02:56:24.940 --> 02:56:28.773 So we're happy to share additional details 02:56:28.773 --> 02:56:33.350 if there's a report that gets issued by Lloyd's Register 02:56:33.350 --> 02:56:36.600 that, obviously, accompanies the initial certification. 02:56:36.600 --> 02:56:39.030 So I'm happy to provide some of that information 02:56:39.030 --> 02:56:40.470 if you'd like. 02:56:40.470 --> 02:56:42.872 Thank you, yes. 02:56:42.872 --> 02:56:43.877 Sure. 02:56:43.877 --> 02:56:45.316 President Batjer? 02:56:45.316 --> 02:56:46.449 Yes. 02:56:46.449 --> 02:56:50.070 Do you know if the other IOUs in California 02:56:50.070 --> 02:56:52.393 are so certified? 02:56:53.620 --> 02:56:57.920 I am not aware of other IOUs being certified. 02:56:57.920 --> 02:57:00.533 I don't know, President Batjer, if they're pursuing it, 02:57:00.533 --> 02:57:03.679 but both our electric and gas operations 02:57:03.679 --> 02:57:07.720 businesses are, and both our power generation 02:57:07.720 --> 02:57:10.580 and our IT organizations are also using 02:57:10.580 --> 02:57:12.150 some of the framework for asset management. 02:57:12.150 --> 02:57:13.930 So this is something that we adopted 02:57:13.930 --> 02:57:16.083 as a consistent enterprise-wide standard. 02:57:17.980 --> 02:57:18.813 Thank you. 02:57:19.810 --> 02:57:20.643 My pleasure. 02:57:26.102 --> 02:57:28.970 Okay, if there's no other questions 02:57:28.970 --> 02:57:33.970 I'll cover the next section related to safety culture. 02:57:36.650 --> 02:57:38.010 Thank you. 02:57:38.010 --> 02:57:41.000 So as you mentioned, President Batjer, 02:57:41.000 --> 02:57:44.120 in the opening remarks, a positive safety culture 02:57:44.120 --> 02:57:48.033 is essential to an organization's safety performance. 02:57:49.050 --> 02:57:51.389 Maintaining a positive safety culture 02:57:51.389 --> 02:57:54.120 requires continual diligence at every level 02:57:54.120 --> 02:57:58.310 within the organization, and embedding a speak up, 02:57:58.310 --> 02:58:02.270 listen up, follow up approach into the DNA 02:58:02.270 --> 02:58:06.430 and every fabric and every part of the organization. 02:58:06.430 --> 02:58:09.810 A key enabler for us on our speak up, listen up, 02:58:09.810 --> 02:58:13.361 and follow up, has been the implementation 02:58:13.361 --> 02:58:15.700 of our collective action program. 02:58:15.700 --> 02:58:19.800 This was adopted by gas operations in 2013, 02:58:19.800 --> 02:58:23.000 and it's really modeled after Diablo Canyon, 02:58:23.000 --> 02:58:25.493 and it's part of the nuclear industry. 02:58:26.410 --> 02:58:28.970 If you look at any airline entity, 02:58:28.970 --> 02:58:31.983 the aviation industry, any nuclear plant, 02:58:31.983 --> 02:58:34.960 each and every one of them has a form 02:58:34.960 --> 02:58:38.500 of a collective action program which is a key enabler 02:58:38.500 --> 02:58:40.700 for their safety management system. 02:58:40.700 --> 02:58:44.380 And subsequent to the implementation in gas operations, 02:58:44.380 --> 02:58:47.180 we deployed the collective action program 02:58:47.180 --> 02:58:50.580 on a system wide basis, which enables our co-workers 02:58:50.580 --> 02:58:54.936 and contractors across the organization to identify 02:58:54.936 --> 02:58:59.360 safety and process issues, as well as submit ideas 02:58:59.360 --> 02:59:01.410 for continuous improvement. 02:59:01.410 --> 02:59:04.510 We have made good progress in its implementation, 02:59:04.510 --> 02:59:07.160 but we are continuing to focus on improving 02:59:07.160 --> 02:59:09.173 its effectiveness every day. 02:59:10.180 --> 02:59:13.030 One of the methods that we have used 02:59:13.030 --> 02:59:14.860 to asses our safety culture 02:59:14.860 --> 02:59:17.100 is through a safety perception survey 02:59:17.100 --> 02:59:20.540 by the National Safety Council, or NSC, 02:59:20.540 --> 02:59:23.580 and this was performed in late 2020, 02:59:23.580 --> 02:59:24.700 and subsequent to this, 02:59:24.700 --> 02:59:28.370 actually Energy Safety's consultant DEKRA services 02:59:28.370 --> 02:59:31.220 completed its first safety culture assessment 02:59:31.220 --> 02:59:35.120 of personnel and wildfire safety for electrical corporations 02:59:35.120 --> 02:59:39.653 wildfire teams as is required by EB10544 earlier this year. 02:59:40.590 --> 02:59:42.300 The safety culture assessment for us 02:59:42.300 --> 02:59:44.300 included our co-workers, contractors, 02:59:44.300 --> 02:59:48.820 and electric operations that support wildfire efforts, 02:59:48.820 --> 02:59:51.183 as well as our dedicated wildfire risk teams. 02:59:52.110 --> 02:59:54.880 The survey included three categories. 02:59:54.880 --> 02:59:58.830 Wildfire, personal safety, and culture, 02:59:58.830 --> 03:00:01.960 and we ranked 90th percentile in the categories 03:00:01.960 --> 03:00:04.127 of both wildfire and personal safety, 03:00:04.127 --> 03:00:07.140 and 75th percentile in culture. 03:00:07.140 --> 03:00:11.730 The results from both surveys were fairly consistent. 03:00:11.730 --> 03:00:14.180 Some of the strengths that were identified 03:00:14.180 --> 03:00:19.010 included the self assessments that our teams are making 03:00:19.010 --> 03:00:22.540 which describe that an organization is open and honest 03:00:22.540 --> 03:00:25.030 about the current state of the safety culture maturity 03:00:25.030 --> 03:00:28.950 and the development that's needed to advance safety. 03:00:28.950 --> 03:00:31.430 And also a recognition that safety systems 03:00:31.430 --> 03:00:33.310 are continuing to advance, 03:00:33.310 --> 03:00:36.420 and evidence that we have increased emphasis 03:00:36.420 --> 03:00:39.623 on both personal and wildfire safety over recent years. 03:00:40.550 --> 03:00:42.880 Some of the opportunities include 03:00:42.880 --> 03:00:45.670 more effective communication and engagement 03:00:45.670 --> 03:00:48.710 with our frontline teams and this is consistent feedback 03:00:48.710 --> 03:00:51.000 that, frankly, I've personally heard President Batjer 03:00:51.000 --> 03:00:54.380 from yourself and respective Commissioners, 03:00:54.380 --> 03:00:57.957 improving the recognition of some of the wildfire 03:00:57.957 --> 03:00:59.820 and personal safety exposures, 03:00:59.820 --> 03:01:03.260 and creating a positive learning environment. 03:01:03.260 --> 03:01:04.850 So the insights that we have gained 03:01:04.850 --> 03:01:08.620 from both of these assessments are continuing to inform 03:01:08.620 --> 03:01:11.450 our path forward to shape our safety culture, 03:01:11.450 --> 03:01:14.470 and a key area of focus, as an example, 03:01:14.470 --> 03:01:17.580 of improving communications with our frontline teams 03:01:17.580 --> 03:01:20.520 is through the implementation of our lean operating system, 03:01:20.520 --> 03:01:23.220 which I know we discussed in quite a bit of length 03:01:23.220 --> 03:01:27.530 in our Monday focus on our enhanced vegetation management 03:01:27.530 --> 03:01:29.310 part of the organization, 03:01:29.310 --> 03:01:30.790 but this is how we are implementing 03:01:30.790 --> 03:01:34.430 and managing the business across the enterprise. 03:01:34.430 --> 03:01:37.260 The lean operating system enables both issue escalation 03:01:37.260 --> 03:01:41.060 and communication flow to each level of the organization 03:01:41.060 --> 03:01:43.690 on a daily basis, and as of today, 03:01:43.690 --> 03:01:47.240 we have approximately 1,300 daily operating reviews 03:01:47.240 --> 03:01:49.950 that take place across the enterprise, 03:01:49.950 --> 03:01:51.370 and as part of this implementation, 03:01:51.370 --> 03:01:55.740 our leaders go out and see where the work is taking place 03:01:55.740 --> 03:01:57.980 to engage with the teams closest to the work 03:01:57.980 --> 03:01:59.790 to understand their challenges, 03:01:59.790 --> 03:02:01.640 support the safety connections, 03:02:01.640 --> 03:02:03.350 and reduce the human struggle. 03:02:03.350 --> 03:02:05.890 I know I'm out in the field quite often, 03:02:05.890 --> 03:02:08.060 at least three times if not more a month. 03:02:08.060 --> 03:02:12.490 I know Adam's out there every week, if not more, 03:02:12.490 --> 03:02:14.340 really getting that pulse from our teams 03:02:14.340 --> 03:02:16.130 closest to the work. 03:02:16.130 --> 03:02:18.000 Something I'll share with that 03:02:18.000 --> 03:02:20.970 is although we've made progress on safety culture, 03:02:20.970 --> 03:02:23.080 we have a lot more work to do, 03:02:23.080 --> 03:02:26.680 and there is a continued focus on engaging 03:02:26.680 --> 03:02:29.960 with the hearts and minds of not just our co-workers, 03:02:29.960 --> 03:02:31.190 but our contract partners, 03:02:31.190 --> 03:02:34.453 so that we can enroll them to embrace our safety values. 03:02:35.440 --> 03:02:37.960 I'll pause there before I turn it over to Adam 03:02:37.960 --> 03:02:39.560 to cover our safety performance. 03:02:41.280 --> 03:02:43.420 I was just going to, if I may, 03:02:43.420 --> 03:02:45.030 since you talked about the importance 03:02:45.030 --> 03:02:46.780 of getting out in the field. 03:02:46.780 --> 03:02:49.640 And Cheryl, you mentioned in your opening remarks 03:02:49.640 --> 03:02:54.640 that the safety committee is having field visits 03:02:56.120 --> 03:03:00.760 and you listed some of them, I guess they're field visits 03:03:00.760 --> 03:03:02.410 but I don't consider them in the field 03:03:02.410 --> 03:03:05.790 like visiting the ops center and things like that. 03:03:05.790 --> 03:03:08.573 So I guess my question really is as a safety committee, 03:03:08.573 --> 03:03:12.010 as a board, which we give great importance to 03:03:12.010 --> 03:03:16.190 here at the Commission, and how engaged and involved 03:03:16.190 --> 03:03:21.000 you are deep in the organization in terms of not only 03:03:21.000 --> 03:03:23.727 communicating the importance of safety 03:03:23.727 --> 03:03:28.727 from the board's perspective, but listening 03:03:28.960 --> 03:03:33.960 to the line of people, particularly those below 03:03:34.160 --> 03:03:38.940 your middle management, of what they are seeing, 03:03:38.940 --> 03:03:40.860 and sensing, and hearing. 03:03:40.860 --> 03:03:45.030 I'm sure your survey, Sameet, that you just spoke about 03:03:45.030 --> 03:03:49.350 will give a lot of information hopefully to the company 03:03:49.350 --> 03:03:51.983 and to the board, to senior leadership, 03:03:52.890 --> 03:03:57.250 but in terms of getting out and really seeing 03:03:57.250 --> 03:04:01.310 both impact of wildfire, as well as some of the communities 03:04:01.310 --> 03:04:04.640 that have been particularly impacted by disaster, 03:04:04.640 --> 03:04:07.760 like the Santa Cruz mountains as Adam was talking about 03:04:11.786 --> 03:04:14.521 where you held the webinars, and the Dixie fire. 03:04:14.521 --> 03:04:16.920 Have you in the safety committee, have you been out 03:04:16.920 --> 03:04:20.330 and visited some of the nearly million acres 03:04:20.330 --> 03:04:25.080 that was burned in California in the Dixie fire alone? 03:04:25.080 --> 03:04:28.824 Just wondering what field visits you really are making. 03:04:28.824 --> 03:04:31.873 In the field, on the ground, out in California. 03:04:33.080 --> 03:04:35.848 Appreciate the question, President Batjer, 03:04:35.848 --> 03:04:40.313 and obviously, when COVID started, that slowed us down, 03:04:41.540 --> 03:04:45.820 but I personally, and other members of the safety committee, 03:04:45.820 --> 03:04:47.170 have been out in the field. 03:04:48.100 --> 03:04:49.810 Not only on locate and mark, 03:04:49.810 --> 03:04:51.710 but on some of the vegetation management, 03:04:51.710 --> 03:04:53.123 I've been to Paradise. 03:04:54.190 --> 03:04:57.430 Not all of our new board members have, again, 03:04:57.430 --> 03:05:01.300 because of some of the protocols that have been placed 03:05:01.300 --> 03:05:03.610 since COVID began. 03:05:03.610 --> 03:05:07.720 I have not had the opportunity to go the Dixie fire, 03:05:07.720 --> 03:05:08.963 it's on my list. 03:05:09.810 --> 03:05:13.770 I try to get out into the field I'd say 03:05:13.770 --> 03:05:16.520 just about every time we have a board meeting 03:05:16.520 --> 03:05:18.110 I try to get out. 03:05:18.110 --> 03:05:22.633 Now to your comment about talking to the employees, 03:05:24.180 --> 03:05:27.530 we interact with the frontline employees 03:05:27.530 --> 03:05:32.530 at every opportunity and I will say that the leadership team 03:05:32.720 --> 03:05:36.580 is actually very good about essentially stepping back 03:05:36.580 --> 03:05:40.080 and allowing the board members to interact openly 03:05:40.080 --> 03:05:45.080 and freely with the employees that are performing the work, 03:05:45.230 --> 03:05:48.010 and I think both Adam and Sameet would tell you 03:05:48.010 --> 03:05:53.010 that we provide very (indistinct) 03:05:53.073 --> 03:05:55.050 and forthright feedback on what we're hearing 03:05:55.050 --> 03:05:56.493 and what our concerns are. 03:05:58.430 --> 03:05:59.263 Good. 03:06:00.800 --> 03:06:02.917 I know there are restrictions still, 03:06:02.917 --> 03:06:07.917 but I would encourage particularly the safety committee 03:06:08.740 --> 03:06:10.690 to do as much in the field as possible. 03:06:10.690 --> 03:06:12.220 I think it's really important 03:06:13.340 --> 03:06:16.853 to see some of these communities and to feel their impact. 03:06:18.910 --> 03:06:23.290 A lot of these folks that are in the high fire danger 03:06:23.290 --> 03:06:28.283 are low income, lots of folks on fixed incomes, 03:06:29.630 --> 03:06:33.450 lots of folks with disabilities not only due to aging 03:06:33.450 --> 03:06:37.510 but just disabilities in general, 03:06:37.510 --> 03:06:42.510 and I don't think you see that without actually being there 03:06:42.610 --> 03:06:45.180 and being with them and listening to those communities 03:06:45.180 --> 03:06:47.500 and listening to the people, your people, 03:06:47.500 --> 03:06:51.580 who work on the lines and live in those communities. 03:06:51.580 --> 03:06:54.310 So I appreciate that you are, I think you're doing 03:06:55.920 --> 03:06:59.350 far more than your predecessors ever did, 03:06:59.350 --> 03:07:02.290 but never can be enough in terms of touching 03:07:02.290 --> 03:07:03.890 the communities. 03:07:03.890 --> 03:07:07.080 It's one of the reason the regionalization 03:07:07.080 --> 03:07:10.560 was part of the restructuring that was so important 03:07:16.760 --> 03:07:18.960 to this Commission and remains to be 03:07:18.960 --> 03:07:22.296 very much important to each Commissioner. 03:07:22.296 --> 03:07:24.293 So our encouragement there, if I may. 03:07:25.858 --> 03:07:28.290 I appreciate your perspective and your comments, 03:07:28.290 --> 03:07:31.740 and I think we will be out in the field more 03:07:31.740 --> 03:07:34.940 going forward now that protocols are relaxing 03:07:34.940 --> 03:07:38.560 and it's a lot easier to interact 03:07:38.560 --> 03:07:40.793 with different communities and people. 03:07:42.210 --> 03:07:43.153 Good, good. 03:07:44.310 --> 03:07:45.143 Thank you. 03:07:49.440 --> 03:07:51.638 Thank you, President Batjer, for that. 03:07:51.638 --> 03:07:52.510 If there's no other questions in my section, 03:07:52.510 --> 03:07:56.090 I'll turn it over to Adam to cover the safety performance. 03:07:56.090 --> 03:07:56.923 Thank you, Adam. 03:07:58.343 --> 03:08:01.361 Thank you, Sameet, really appreciate it. 03:08:01.361 --> 03:08:02.194 Sorry, Adam. 03:08:02.194 --> 03:08:04.800 Just a quick follow up on your statement. 03:08:04.800 --> 03:08:07.060 I know that we've learned from SG&E 03:08:07.060 --> 03:08:09.990 that they have board member representation 03:08:09.990 --> 03:08:13.667 on their county emergency response efforts 03:08:15.150 --> 03:08:20.150 and they meet monthly with two counties that they serve, 03:08:21.649 --> 03:08:25.730 (indistinct) and I wonder if that is a model 03:08:25.730 --> 03:08:28.260 that, Cheryl, you are all considering 03:08:28.260 --> 03:08:33.070 for board members to be directly involved, 03:08:33.070 --> 03:08:35.220 particularly with the emergency response 03:08:36.950 --> 03:08:39.973 local government leads in each county? 03:08:41.080 --> 03:08:44.540 A direct involvement at that level 03:08:44.540 --> 03:08:49.170 from one of your sister utilities, 03:08:49.170 --> 03:08:52.400 and you can take that back but it's a model 03:08:52.400 --> 03:08:54.740 I certainly am interested in exploring 03:08:54.740 --> 03:08:57.597 in our regionalization discussion 03:08:57.597 --> 03:09:00.443 and more direct engagement of the board. 03:09:03.070 --> 03:09:06.070 I appreciate your thoughts and your comments on that, 03:09:06.070 --> 03:09:08.670 Commissioner, and we will absolutely take that back 03:09:08.670 --> 03:09:12.023 and see what makes sense for us. 03:09:12.900 --> 03:09:16.573 It's an interesting idea to get that direct feedback. 03:09:21.390 --> 03:09:23.519 Okay, President Batjer. 03:09:23.519 --> 03:09:24.352 I'm just gonna do a time check, 03:09:24.352 --> 03:09:26.210 I think you mentioned 3:00 when we started. 03:09:26.210 --> 03:09:28.270 I don't think my comments will go much more 03:09:28.270 --> 03:09:31.559 than five to eight minutes, but just wanted to see 03:09:31.559 --> 03:09:32.392 if that was hard and fast 03:09:32.392 --> 03:09:35.895 and if I needed to shorten anything for Q&A. 03:09:35.895 --> 03:09:38.260 I have time to stay, 03:09:38.260 --> 03:09:40.420 but I don't know if my fellow Commissioners do. 03:09:40.420 --> 03:09:43.023 I think we should wrap up as close to 3:00. 03:09:44.097 --> 03:09:46.570 As we've been doing a lot of questioning along the way 03:09:46.570 --> 03:09:48.650 and commenting along the way, so I'm not sure 03:09:48.650 --> 03:09:53.270 what the run of show showed that we were leaving 03:09:53.270 --> 03:09:57.590 time for closing statements, but I think, 03:09:57.590 --> 03:10:00.300 for the most part, everybody's probably 03:10:00.300 --> 03:10:01.310 made their statements. 03:10:01.310 --> 03:10:04.163 So let's try and wrap up as close to 3:00 as possible. 03:10:05.250 --> 03:10:06.400 Okay, I appreciate that. 03:10:06.400 --> 03:10:08.570 I do want to start off by saying thank you. 03:10:08.570 --> 03:10:10.460 I wouldn't say that if it weren't true. 03:10:10.460 --> 03:10:13.150 We truly do value your oversight of us 03:10:13.150 --> 03:10:15.790 and your engagement with us, it makes us better, 03:10:15.790 --> 03:10:18.600 and so I truly look forward to these opportunities 03:10:18.600 --> 03:10:21.020 to spend with you and the rest of the Commissioners 03:10:21.020 --> 03:10:24.600 and with Director Thomas Jacobs, 03:10:24.600 --> 03:10:26.733 and just look forward to your feedback 03:10:26.733 --> 03:10:28.920 as I touch a little bit on our safety performance 03:10:28.920 --> 03:10:32.350 from our workforce, public safety, operational performance, 03:10:32.350 --> 03:10:35.230 and then sort of what we're looking at going forward. 03:10:35.230 --> 03:10:37.163 So if you flip to the next slide, 03:10:37.163 --> 03:10:39.430 I just wanted to cover a little bit about 03:10:39.430 --> 03:10:41.120 the improvements that we're making 03:10:41.120 --> 03:10:42.770 in our workforce safety. 03:10:42.770 --> 03:10:44.330 And the first thing I want to say 03:10:44.330 --> 03:10:47.120 is that this is a leadership challenge. 03:10:47.120 --> 03:10:49.683 Workforce safety is a leadership issue. 03:10:51.000 --> 03:10:53.640 Obviously, our co-workers out in the field 03:10:53.640 --> 03:10:56.440 have to make choices every day to put themselves 03:10:56.440 --> 03:10:59.540 in the best position to be safe, but as leaders, 03:10:59.540 --> 03:11:02.140 we create the environment, the standards, 03:11:02.140 --> 03:11:04.280 the expectations, the safety systems, 03:11:04.280 --> 03:11:06.430 much that Sameet has touched on, 03:11:06.430 --> 03:11:09.070 and this is something that had me the most excited 03:11:09.070 --> 03:11:12.280 when I talked with Cheryl before taking this opportunity, 03:11:12.280 --> 03:11:15.970 because I know that the way, again arguably, 03:11:15.970 --> 03:11:18.870 and it is applicable in many ways in my life, 03:11:18.870 --> 03:11:21.780 the way you do one thing is the way you do all things, 03:11:21.780 --> 03:11:24.470 and so if we can nail our workforce safety 03:11:24.470 --> 03:11:26.960 and make the drastic improvements that are needed here 03:11:26.960 --> 03:11:30.060 to keep our co-workers safe, I know we'll do everything else 03:11:30.060 --> 03:11:32.330 with the similar care, concern, and attention to detail 03:11:32.330 --> 03:11:34.943 it takes to run a successful operation. 03:11:35.910 --> 03:11:38.130 So if you look at our DART performance, 03:11:38.130 --> 03:11:41.360 it is drastically improved from really going 03:11:41.360 --> 03:11:44.403 as far back as the graph shows to this year. 03:11:45.602 --> 03:11:47.900 And the thing that is interesting about our DART performance 03:11:47.900 --> 03:11:50.570 is that nearly four out of five of our injuries 03:11:50.570 --> 03:11:52.710 are related to ergonomics. 03:11:52.710 --> 03:11:55.430 These are strains, a strain from lifting or twisting, 03:11:55.430 --> 03:11:57.330 a lot of them are office related. 03:11:57.330 --> 03:11:59.640 For example, we had one come in yesterday 03:11:59.640 --> 03:12:02.230 that was related to someone's finger, 03:12:02.230 --> 03:12:04.690 was bothering them either from mousing 03:12:04.690 --> 03:12:08.300 or doing other work, and so that is included in that number. 03:12:08.300 --> 03:12:11.440 So while there's days away restricted time, 03:12:11.440 --> 03:12:13.770 a significant number of those are really based 03:12:13.770 --> 03:12:16.560 on how we position our bodies to do our work daily 03:12:16.560 --> 03:12:18.610 in the field and in the office, 03:12:18.610 --> 03:12:22.400 and our team is acutely focused 03:12:22.400 --> 03:12:25.350 on doing ergonomic assessments to make sure 03:12:25.350 --> 03:12:28.720 that we are removing risk from the daily tasks 03:12:28.720 --> 03:12:30.310 that our co-workers perform. 03:12:30.310 --> 03:12:33.490 Just one example of that is we go out 03:12:33.490 --> 03:12:36.360 and we actually film our co-workers doing the work, 03:12:36.360 --> 03:12:38.550 and we take that video and we overlay it 03:12:38.550 --> 03:12:41.240 with technology that shows body position, 03:12:41.240 --> 03:12:44.390 and where the points of strain and pain might occur, 03:12:44.390 --> 03:12:45.650 and one of the things we were doing 03:12:45.650 --> 03:12:48.410 is we were going out on our poles and were using a nail 03:12:48.410 --> 03:12:50.690 and a hammer and we were putting up signage 03:12:50.690 --> 03:12:52.220 on our poles. 03:12:52.220 --> 03:12:53.490 So that body position was putting strain 03:12:53.490 --> 03:12:55.710 on people's elbows, similar to tennis elbow 03:12:55.710 --> 03:12:58.260 and other things you get in your forearm and wrist, 03:12:58.260 --> 03:12:59.790 and a simple change to procedure, 03:12:59.790 --> 03:13:01.583 to use a power drill and a screw, 03:13:01.583 --> 03:13:03.850 took that completely away. 03:13:03.850 --> 03:13:05.600 So paying attention to those little things 03:13:05.600 --> 03:13:09.000 will drastically improve our DART performance even further. 03:13:09.000 --> 03:13:12.540 If we look at a 5% improvement in ergonomic performance, 03:13:12.540 --> 03:13:15.840 we would drop below 1.0 for our DART performance. 03:13:15.840 --> 03:13:18.990 So we're on the right tack, we're on the right trend. 03:13:18.990 --> 03:13:21.560 I will say that our contractor safety 03:13:21.560 --> 03:13:24.240 is equally important to us. 03:13:24.240 --> 03:13:26.200 We consider our contractors co-workers, 03:13:26.200 --> 03:13:30.570 they're an extension of our 25,000 PG&E co-workers, 03:13:30.570 --> 03:13:33.080 bringing our total body to around 40,000 folks 03:13:33.080 --> 03:13:34.960 that are serving our customers daily, 03:13:34.960 --> 03:13:37.280 and we are focused on improving their performance 03:13:37.280 --> 03:13:39.530 by enrolling them into our safety stand 03:13:39.530 --> 03:13:42.190 that everyone, everything is always safe. 03:13:42.190 --> 03:13:44.300 We've spent a considerable amount of time 03:13:44.300 --> 03:13:46.640 doing safety observations of their work. 03:13:46.640 --> 03:13:48.770 We do about 400 of those a day, 03:13:48.770 --> 03:13:51.460 identifying at risk and high risk behaviors, 03:13:51.460 --> 03:13:53.370 correcting and coaching, and then obviously, 03:13:53.370 --> 03:13:55.770 following up with standardization process, 03:13:55.770 --> 03:13:57.760 communication broadly, to make sure 03:13:57.760 --> 03:14:00.120 anything we see gets corrected. 03:14:00.120 --> 03:14:02.060 Unfortunately this year, we've had three 03:14:02.060 --> 03:14:03.780 contractor fatalities. 03:14:03.780 --> 03:14:06.042 All of them were preventable. 03:14:06.042 --> 03:14:10.720 Breaks my heart that families sent their people 03:14:10.720 --> 03:14:13.417 to our job site to complete work for our customers 03:14:13.417 --> 03:14:15.100 and we didn't send them home, 03:14:15.100 --> 03:14:19.660 and we are focused and engaged to make sure 03:14:19.660 --> 03:14:22.440 that they live up to our standards and expectations 03:14:22.440 --> 03:14:24.480 on how we perform our work. 03:14:24.480 --> 03:14:26.220 I do appreciate your opening comments, 03:14:26.220 --> 03:14:29.170 President Batjer, you mentioned behind every number 03:14:29.170 --> 03:14:32.820 is a face, and I could not agree more with you. 03:14:32.820 --> 03:14:34.840 I would just pile on to that a little bit 03:14:34.840 --> 03:14:37.110 and say as we think about our stand 03:14:37.110 --> 03:14:40.013 that everyone and everything is always safe, 03:14:40.013 --> 03:14:43.060 that even goes beyond the person, 03:14:43.060 --> 03:14:45.780 and gets into the environment that we create. 03:14:45.780 --> 03:14:48.120 I share this story openly with our co-workers 03:14:48.120 --> 03:14:50.370 and our contractors that when I was a kid 03:14:50.370 --> 03:14:51.630 my father passed away. 03:14:51.630 --> 03:14:55.010 When I was eight, my mother dated a guy 03:14:55.010 --> 03:14:57.530 and that relationship became abusive, 03:14:57.530 --> 03:15:01.400 and there were days where there were physical signs 03:15:01.400 --> 03:15:03.463 of that abuse and there were days 03:15:03.463 --> 03:15:05.353 when there were no physical signs, 03:15:06.300 --> 03:15:10.210 but at no point, even the absence of signs 03:15:10.210 --> 03:15:12.323 of physical abuse, was my mother safe. 03:15:13.180 --> 03:15:16.200 She wasn't safe because the environment wasn't safe. 03:15:16.200 --> 03:15:18.534 And so as we look at our culture, 03:15:18.534 --> 03:15:20.270 and we look at our environment that we are creating, 03:15:20.270 --> 03:15:22.530 it goes beyond numbers, it goes beyond the people, 03:15:22.530 --> 03:15:24.560 and it goes to the environment, 03:15:24.560 --> 03:15:26.680 and everything will be safe, 03:15:26.680 --> 03:15:27.577 and so we're committed to that 03:15:27.577 --> 03:15:29.280 and we're making dramatic improvement, 03:15:29.280 --> 03:15:30.550 but that's a leadership challenge 03:15:30.550 --> 03:15:32.740 and it's one that we embrace and accept 03:15:32.740 --> 03:15:34.640 and plan to make sure we deliver upon. 03:15:35.670 --> 03:15:37.120 You can go to the next slide. 03:15:39.000 --> 03:15:41.090 I'll quickly cover the public safety performance 03:15:41.090 --> 03:15:42.810 that we're seeing. 03:15:42.810 --> 03:15:44.800 Our metrics are improved when we look at 03:15:44.800 --> 03:15:46.770 some of the critical ones. 03:15:46.770 --> 03:15:49.830 Our large overpressure evasion of our gas pipeline, 03:15:49.830 --> 03:15:54.250 that continues to improve and show benefits for safety 03:15:54.250 --> 03:15:55.500 of the public. 03:15:55.500 --> 03:15:57.143 I will highlight this one area, 03:15:58.136 --> 03:15:59.780 it's our wires down performance. 03:15:59.780 --> 03:16:02.940 We've had a significant number of what we call gray sky days 03:16:02.940 --> 03:16:04.970 which are just normal bad weather days, 03:16:04.970 --> 03:16:07.990 but they don't qualify for a major event day, 03:16:07.990 --> 03:16:10.490 and we've had a significant number of storm days, 03:16:10.490 --> 03:16:12.800 about 130% increase this year. 03:16:12.800 --> 03:16:14.670 That has contributed to a higher frequency 03:16:14.670 --> 03:16:17.970 of wires down, so I'll be very candid with you, 03:16:17.970 --> 03:16:21.050 our work plan this year was not sufficient 03:16:21.050 --> 03:16:23.760 to complete the work that we thought we needed to do 03:16:23.760 --> 03:16:26.000 in a timely and robust fashion, 03:16:26.000 --> 03:16:27.980 and I think breaking out our engineering planning 03:16:27.980 --> 03:16:30.530 and strategy organization from operations 03:16:30.530 --> 03:16:35.050 will help us get a work plan that is much easier for us 03:16:35.050 --> 03:16:39.090 to execute upon, and designing safety into our work, 03:16:39.090 --> 03:16:42.070 and to make sure that the things that we need to complete 03:16:42.070 --> 03:16:44.900 to improve asset health and the safety of our co-workers 03:16:44.900 --> 03:16:45.750 is improved. 03:16:45.750 --> 03:16:49.810 So wires down will continue to be a focus for us 03:16:49.810 --> 03:16:52.480 as we look to keep the public safe. 03:16:52.480 --> 03:16:54.100 You can tell that there is improvement 03:16:54.100 --> 03:16:57.460 really across the majority of those areas, 03:16:57.460 --> 03:17:01.498 even though that are sort of stagnant (indistinct) 03:17:01.498 --> 03:17:02.890 within the first quartile, 03:17:02.890 --> 03:17:05.560 particularly on the customer emergency response, 03:17:05.560 --> 03:17:07.880 and then the DCPP reliability and safety factor. 03:17:07.880 --> 03:17:10.070 That's really driven by not a safety issue, 03:17:10.070 --> 03:17:13.600 but by reliability of unit two which has had three outages. 03:17:13.600 --> 03:17:15.840 So that team continues to perform very well 03:17:15.840 --> 03:17:18.340 in the areas of safety, but reliability unit 03:17:18.340 --> 03:17:21.523 has pulled that down for this year. 03:17:22.871 --> 03:17:26.093 So I'll go to the last slide and then, yes, please. 03:17:26.093 --> 03:17:26.970 Sorry. 03:17:26.970 --> 03:17:29.710 First of all, thank you for sharing your story. 03:17:29.710 --> 03:17:30.680 Thank you. 03:17:30.680 --> 03:17:32.330 Yup. 03:17:32.330 --> 03:17:35.093 My question is how are you doing 03:17:39.400 --> 03:17:42.413 compared to the other IOUs? 03:17:44.740 --> 03:17:47.140 It's not (indistinct) to compare ourself to PG&E 03:17:48.425 --> 03:17:51.430 and others (indistinct)? 03:17:51.430 --> 03:17:55.690 And also are you tracking your workers compensation 03:17:55.690 --> 03:17:56.523 premiums? 03:17:58.340 --> 03:18:03.340 Another indicator of how you're doing on worker injury 03:18:03.340 --> 03:18:04.230 and support. 03:18:05.210 --> 03:18:07.150 Yes, we do track those. 03:18:07.150 --> 03:18:09.643 I don't have those statistics in front of me. 03:18:09.643 --> 03:18:12.050 I would say that our DART rate puts us toward 03:18:12.050 --> 03:18:14.723 the last quartile when it comes to safety. 03:18:15.807 --> 03:18:18.880 We can't do this technically, but if you were to pull out 03:18:18.880 --> 03:18:22.543 the ones that are considered ergonomic, office related, 03:18:23.420 --> 03:18:26.401 not significant in the field with the rolled ankles 03:18:26.401 --> 03:18:29.170 and the smashed fingers and those things, 03:18:29.170 --> 03:18:32.390 we would be performing much closer to the upper quartiles, 03:18:32.390 --> 03:18:34.593 but right now, we're in the lower band. 03:18:39.180 --> 03:18:40.424 Thank you. 03:18:40.424 --> 03:18:41.257 Okay? 03:18:41.257 --> 03:18:43.170 Thank you for the question, I appreciate it. 03:18:43.170 --> 03:18:45.190 And if you need me to follow up with any information, 03:18:45.190 --> 03:18:46.473 happy to take that back. 03:18:47.610 --> 03:18:48.590 Okay, last slide. 03:18:48.590 --> 03:18:51.206 Just wanted to highlight that I mentioned 03:18:51.206 --> 03:18:52.150 this is a leadership challenge, 03:18:52.150 --> 03:18:54.970 and our leadership team is fully engaged. 03:18:54.970 --> 03:18:57.210 We have a weekly operating review 03:18:57.210 --> 03:19:00.230 where we review our safety performance in the prior week. 03:19:00.230 --> 03:19:02.530 Everyone on the executive officer team, 03:19:02.530 --> 03:19:04.080 our senior vice presidents, 03:19:04.080 --> 03:19:06.690 several of the other vice presidents and directors, 03:19:06.690 --> 03:19:09.720 are in the room, and we go over what happened last week, 03:19:09.720 --> 03:19:13.700 how have our co-workers performed from a safety standpoint, 03:19:13.700 --> 03:19:17.690 what new and innovative standards, procedures, tools, 03:19:17.690 --> 03:19:21.230 are we trying to implement to reduce safety issues. 03:19:21.230 --> 03:19:22.350 I'll give you an example, 03:19:22.350 --> 03:19:26.420 during one of our WRs, we presented on the harnesses 03:19:26.420 --> 03:19:29.550 of our tree trimmers being accidentally cut, 03:19:29.550 --> 03:19:31.940 and that was the result of using a lightweight chainsaw 03:19:31.940 --> 03:19:35.045 that you can use with one arm and kind of swing it, 03:19:35.045 --> 03:19:36.950 and so we changed that policy and standard 03:19:36.950 --> 03:19:39.430 to use a heavier chainsaw that requires two hands 03:19:39.430 --> 03:19:42.730 that prevents cutting your harness more often. 03:19:42.730 --> 03:19:45.360 So fully engaged, we're looking at the numbers, 03:19:45.360 --> 03:19:48.760 we're asking very difficult and detailed questions, 03:19:48.760 --> 03:19:51.485 and then taking action when we need to. 03:19:51.485 --> 03:19:53.190 So that concludes how we're performing 03:19:53.190 --> 03:19:55.280 from public safety, co-worker safety, 03:19:55.280 --> 03:19:57.090 and how we're engaging the leadership team, 03:19:57.090 --> 03:19:59.421 and happy to take questions the last minute or so 03:19:59.421 --> 03:20:01.030 that we have. 03:20:01.030 --> 03:20:02.930 Just before we hop into questions, 03:20:02.930 --> 03:20:03.800 thank you Mr. Wright. 03:20:03.800 --> 03:20:05.945 I just want to make a notification 03:20:05.945 --> 03:20:09.237 that due to an issue earlier with the phone line 03:20:09.237 --> 03:20:13.510 at the public comments, we will need to redo the session, 03:20:13.510 --> 03:20:15.360 and we will be taking public comments 03:20:15.360 --> 03:20:18.260 after Commissioner questions. 03:20:18.260 --> 03:20:20.810 So with that in mind, I just want to make sure 03:20:20.810 --> 03:20:24.240 all panelists are mindful of the time 03:20:24.240 --> 03:20:28.513 seeing that we will need to hold a session shortly. 03:20:30.540 --> 03:20:33.120 Sorry (indistinct), I have a question, 03:20:33.120 --> 03:20:35.350 it didn't come up in the natural flow 03:20:35.350 --> 03:20:37.750 of the presentation, but I think it's important. 03:20:39.010 --> 03:20:43.240 So building a culture of safety ultimately 03:20:43.240 --> 03:20:45.230 is about an open communication. 03:20:45.230 --> 03:20:46.417 If you don't know about these things, 03:20:46.417 --> 03:20:47.683 you can't fix the issue. 03:20:48.730 --> 03:20:52.133 So to that end, I know PG&E has identified 03:20:52.133 --> 03:20:53.670 and committed a number of self reports 03:20:53.670 --> 03:20:55.280 over the past year. 03:20:55.280 --> 03:20:57.470 Many on missed inspections. 03:20:57.470 --> 03:21:00.290 All of these self reports in some way lead back 03:21:00.290 --> 03:21:04.240 to poor record keeping or poor data management. 03:21:04.240 --> 03:21:05.770 Knowing what equipment you have, 03:21:05.770 --> 03:21:07.890 where you have it, and what condition it is 03:21:07.890 --> 03:21:10.349 is fundamental to knowing where the risk is, 03:21:10.349 --> 03:21:12.870 where you hold it in the systems. 03:21:12.870 --> 03:21:15.440 Can you speak a little bit about what PG&E is doing 03:21:15.440 --> 03:21:17.880 to quickly address the record keeping, 03:21:17.880 --> 03:21:19.733 data management deficiencies? 03:21:21.220 --> 03:21:23.447 Yes, and thank you for that question, 03:21:23.447 --> 03:21:25.280 and Sameet can chime in as well. 03:21:25.280 --> 03:21:27.810 He's been helping lead this effort for a while, 03:21:27.810 --> 03:21:30.510 but we've moved over Christine Calcert 03:21:30.510 --> 03:21:33.330 to put a vice president leader over rebuilding 03:21:33.330 --> 03:21:36.250 our assets registry, and we've pulled together 03:21:36.250 --> 03:21:38.100 some information and at various times 03:21:38.100 --> 03:21:39.890 have shared that information, 03:21:39.890 --> 03:21:42.453 but we have an asset registry, we do. 03:21:43.570 --> 03:21:45.280 In some ways it's very detailed, 03:21:45.280 --> 03:21:48.500 where we can spot things that most utilities cannot spot. 03:21:48.500 --> 03:21:50.150 Like we can tell you the lean of a tree 03:21:50.150 --> 03:21:52.140 out of eight million of them. 03:21:52.140 --> 03:21:54.690 So in some ways it's highly sophisticated, 03:21:54.690 --> 03:21:57.140 but in some basic areas such as processes 03:21:57.140 --> 03:22:00.710 to bringing our adbuilt data, matching our SAP system 03:22:00.710 --> 03:22:02.800 to our GIS system of records to make sure 03:22:02.800 --> 03:22:04.640 that if the asset's really there, 03:22:04.640 --> 03:22:06.060 it's located in both places. 03:22:06.060 --> 03:22:07.910 One from a physical location, 03:22:07.910 --> 03:22:09.830 but also from a records standpoint. 03:22:09.830 --> 03:22:11.930 Getting those things from a conflation standpoint 03:22:11.930 --> 03:22:14.560 to line up is a big part of rebuilding that, 03:22:14.560 --> 03:22:16.350 and so we have a detailed roadmap 03:22:16.350 --> 03:22:17.560 that we shared with the board, 03:22:17.560 --> 03:22:19.250 that we staffed appropriately, 03:22:19.250 --> 03:22:21.900 and we plan to communicate on a very frequent basis 03:22:21.900 --> 03:22:24.310 with your office to make sure we stay accountable 03:22:24.310 --> 03:22:25.180 to delivering that. 03:22:25.180 --> 03:22:27.990 So there is a significant amount of work taking place there, 03:22:27.990 --> 03:22:30.890 and we do know it's very critical to being able to deliver 03:22:30.890 --> 03:22:32.220 on our compliance commitments, 03:22:32.220 --> 03:22:33.883 but also keeping our system safe. 03:22:36.400 --> 03:22:37.800 Sameet, anything additional? 03:22:39.479 --> 03:22:42.239 I think, Adam, you covered that well. 03:22:42.239 --> 03:22:43.240 The last piece I would add is 03:22:43.240 --> 03:22:44.381 in addition to GIS and SAP, 03:22:44.381 --> 03:22:46.282 Director Thomas Jacobs, 03:22:46.282 --> 03:22:49.124 we are also taking the lidar information that we captured 03:22:49.124 --> 03:22:51.200 for the high fire threat districts 03:22:51.200 --> 03:22:52.810 for the overhead distribution lines 03:22:52.810 --> 03:22:56.550 and realigning our GIS system to that, 03:22:56.550 --> 03:22:59.710 because that helps ground to what assets we have 03:22:59.710 --> 03:23:02.250 in the field, their geospatial location, 03:23:02.250 --> 03:23:04.520 which obviously ends up being a material input 03:23:04.520 --> 03:23:07.907 to how we think about the potential risk of fires 03:23:07.907 --> 03:23:10.449 and the consequence associated with those 03:23:10.449 --> 03:23:13.420 if they started from our equipment. 03:23:13.420 --> 03:23:16.870 So those are all the elements that the team is focused on, 03:23:16.870 --> 03:23:19.510 and as Adam mentioned, Christine is uniquely positioned 03:23:19.510 --> 03:23:21.340 to help lead this. 03:23:21.340 --> 03:23:23.730 Both her and I lived through this post San Bruno 03:23:23.730 --> 03:23:26.530 on the gas side and have built a very robust 03:23:26.530 --> 03:23:30.850 asset registry that has the single version of the truth, 03:23:30.850 --> 03:23:33.570 the system of record, and the right controls to ensure 03:23:33.570 --> 03:23:36.280 as field work gets done, that that information 03:23:36.280 --> 03:23:38.560 gets reflected in our system of record. 03:23:38.560 --> 03:23:41.110 And that's the same playbook that's being applied 03:23:41.110 --> 03:23:42.410 here on the electric side. 03:23:45.308 --> 03:23:46.308 Thank you. 03:23:49.490 --> 03:23:53.660 I just want to, and I too thank you, Adam, 03:23:53.660 --> 03:23:56.500 for sharing your very personal family story. 03:23:56.500 --> 03:23:58.593 It's heartbreaking, but thank you. 03:23:59.530 --> 03:24:02.386 And I also would like to please ask 03:24:02.386 --> 03:24:04.940 each of the representatives from the PG&E 03:24:04.940 --> 03:24:08.283 to please, we're sorry we have this phone line issue, 03:24:09.125 --> 03:24:11.620 and were surprised with no public comments 03:24:11.620 --> 03:24:14.120 because we always have public comments about PG&E. 03:24:15.820 --> 03:24:17.810 So I hope you will be able to stay. 03:24:17.810 --> 03:24:20.790 I know everybody's schedule is going to be impacted, 03:24:20.790 --> 03:24:24.538 but it's extremely important for you all to hear, 03:24:24.538 --> 03:24:26.970 if public calls in, what they have to say. 03:24:26.970 --> 03:24:27.863 So thank you. 03:24:29.880 --> 03:24:33.023 Thank you, President Batjer, for the reminder. 03:24:36.800 --> 03:24:38.700 We have any other follow up questions? 03:24:41.850 --> 03:24:43.850 I'm looking forward to the public Q&A. 03:24:45.580 --> 03:24:48.260 Thank you, everybody, for being mindful of the time, 03:24:48.260 --> 03:24:51.063 and the phone line issue. 03:24:52.090 --> 03:24:55.290 As a reminder, if you wish to make a public comment, 03:24:55.290 --> 03:25:00.290 dial into 800-857-1917 and enter passcode 5180519 03:25:04.780 --> 03:25:06.020 for the English line, 03:25:06.020 --> 03:25:11.020 and passcode 3799627 for the Spanish line. 03:25:12.320 --> 03:25:16.880 Unmute your phone and press *1. 03:25:16.880 --> 03:25:19.230 You will be placed into a queue 03:25:19.230 --> 03:25:22.490 and the operator will take your name and information. 03:25:22.490 --> 03:25:25.740 You will be called upon to speak in the order 03:25:25.740 --> 03:25:27.560 your call was received. 03:25:27.560 --> 03:25:29.730 You will have two minutes to speak. 03:25:29.730 --> 03:25:32.640 You will hear a bell sound when your time is up. 03:25:32.640 --> 03:25:35.580 Please be mindful of other speakers in the queue, 03:25:35.580 --> 03:25:37.740 and keep to your allotted time. 03:25:37.740 --> 03:25:39.240 I will now turn to the operator 03:25:39.240 --> 03:25:41.703 to open the public comment telephone line. 03:25:44.640 --> 03:25:46.042 Thank you. 03:25:46.042 --> 03:25:48.350 The public comment telephone line is now open. 03:25:48.350 --> 03:25:50.070 Again, if you like to make a comment, 03:25:50.070 --> 03:25:52.780 please unmute your phone, press *1, 03:25:52.780 --> 03:25:55.710 and record your name clearly when prompted. 03:25:55.710 --> 03:25:58.080 Our first comment comes from Will Abrams, 03:25:58.080 --> 03:25:59.080 so you may go ahead. 03:26:01.440 --> 03:26:02.510 Thanks very much. 03:26:02.510 --> 03:26:05.370 Thanks very much, President Batjer, Commissioners. 03:26:05.370 --> 03:26:07.750 Appreciated the presentation from PG&E. 03:26:08.940 --> 03:26:12.940 I also attended the (indistinct) webinar, 03:26:12.940 --> 03:26:16.324 and just wanted to make two points from attending that 03:26:16.324 --> 03:26:19.250 important community meeting. 03:26:19.250 --> 03:26:24.250 One was Mark Quinlan had presented part of that, 03:26:26.950 --> 03:26:29.140 and one of the things that came across 03:26:29.140 --> 03:26:33.390 was a lack of an awareness regarding the community wildfire 03:26:33.390 --> 03:26:35.380 protection plans. 03:26:35.380 --> 03:26:38.550 These plans stretch up and down and throughout 03:26:38.550 --> 03:26:42.380 PG&E territory, that really are the go-to plans 03:26:42.380 --> 03:26:45.570 for vegetation management and wildfire mitigation, 03:26:45.570 --> 03:26:49.180 and it's critically important that individuals 03:26:49.180 --> 03:26:52.050 within PG&E are aware of these plans, 03:26:52.050 --> 03:26:54.078 that they integrate with these plans, 03:26:54.078 --> 03:26:56.500 and I just wanted to make sure 03:26:56.500 --> 03:26:58.420 that PG&E was aware of the plans 03:26:58.420 --> 03:27:02.150 and working to make sure that they are integrated 03:27:02.150 --> 03:27:04.740 as best as possible 'cause certainly, 03:27:04.740 --> 03:27:07.470 vegetation management is something that doesn't exist 03:27:07.470 --> 03:27:08.870 in a vacuum. 03:27:08.870 --> 03:27:10.440 The other point that I wanted to make 03:27:10.440 --> 03:27:13.490 that also came across within that meeting, 03:27:13.490 --> 03:27:16.380 was that the sectionalization devices 03:27:16.380 --> 03:27:19.160 and location of the sectionalization devices 03:27:19.160 --> 03:27:22.720 are not being actively shared with local agencies. 03:27:22.720 --> 03:27:25.320 This is also critically important as we think about 03:27:25.320 --> 03:27:28.710 power shutoffs, as we think about how to gate 03:27:28.710 --> 03:27:30.960 the effects of power shutoffs. 03:27:30.960 --> 03:27:34.510 That local governments are actively engaged 03:27:34.510 --> 03:27:37.840 in those decisions about where and how to shut off power, 03:27:37.840 --> 03:27:41.290 and obviously, the balance between power shutoffs 03:27:41.290 --> 03:27:43.600 and wildfires, particularly given that we've seen 03:27:43.600 --> 03:27:47.020 some recent wildfires that occur at the same time 03:27:47.020 --> 03:27:48.640 as we have power shutoffs. 03:27:48.640 --> 03:27:50.800 So these issues are very critically important 03:27:50.800 --> 03:27:52.780 to make sure that they're addressed, 03:27:52.780 --> 03:27:55.498 and make sure that they are being addressed 03:27:55.498 --> 03:27:58.070 at the community level, within the communities, 03:27:58.070 --> 03:27:59.690 through these discussions. 03:27:59.690 --> 03:28:02.160 So I just wanted to bring those issues to your attention. 03:28:02.160 --> 03:28:04.710 Thanks very much for having this important meeting. 03:28:08.720 --> 03:28:10.410 Thank you, Mr. Abrams. 03:28:10.410 --> 03:28:12.163 Operator, next caller, please. 03:28:14.822 --> 03:28:15.840 And we have no additional parties 03:28:15.840 --> 03:28:18.410 in the public comments line at this time. 03:28:18.410 --> 03:28:20.330 But again, if you would like to make a comment, 03:28:20.330 --> 03:28:23.330 please press *1, unmute your phone, 03:28:23.330 --> 03:28:26.230 and record your name when prompted so I may introduce you. 03:28:34.090 --> 03:28:38.003 I think we'll give just a few moments for callers. 03:29:05.780 --> 03:29:07.450 Operator, are you able to confirm 03:29:07.450 --> 03:29:09.743 that there are no more callers? 03:29:10.910 --> 03:29:12.250 Correct, we have no callers 03:29:12.250 --> 03:29:14.750 in the public comment telephone line at this time. 03:29:15.750 --> 03:29:16.840 Thank you. 03:29:16.840 --> 03:29:18.760 With no more comments on the line, 03:29:18.760 --> 03:29:20.880 public comment period is closed. 03:29:20.880 --> 03:29:24.570 Thank you to Mr. Abrams for his comments. 03:29:24.570 --> 03:29:26.400 Since we have had issues with the line, 03:29:26.400 --> 03:29:27.970 I want to make sure that anybody else 03:29:27.970 --> 03:29:31.050 who has a comment, they are able to provide 03:29:31.050 --> 03:29:31.883 written comments. 03:29:31.883 --> 03:29:36.810 So please do send them to carolina.contreras@cpuc.ca.gov, 03:29:39.990 --> 03:29:40.823 thank you. 03:29:45.370 --> 03:29:49.330 Thank you, Commissioners, directors, and PG&E presenters. 03:29:49.330 --> 03:29:52.442 I will turn it over to President Batjer 03:29:52.442 --> 03:29:54.653 and the original dais for closing remarks. 03:30:01.960 --> 03:30:04.310 President Batjer, I think you're on mute. 03:30:04.310 --> 03:30:05.250 I am, sorry. 03:30:05.250 --> 03:30:07.150 Thank you, Carolina. 03:30:07.150 --> 03:30:08.670 Just want to thank everyone. 03:30:08.670 --> 03:30:12.040 My fellow Commissioners and the director, 03:30:12.040 --> 03:30:16.120 this has been a long day, but very important, 03:30:16.120 --> 03:30:20.793 in-depth information was imparted to us. 03:30:21.630 --> 03:30:26.400 It gave us the opportunity to have a good dialogue 03:30:28.300 --> 03:30:31.250 with both Bear Valley and PG&E. 03:30:31.250 --> 03:30:34.790 I appreciate the amount of time that you all have devoted 03:30:34.790 --> 03:30:36.670 to briefing us today. 03:30:36.670 --> 03:30:38.920 I appreciate also that you listened in 03:30:38.920 --> 03:30:42.513 on the Bear Valley presentation this morning. 03:30:43.370 --> 03:30:45.500 Appreciate the value of your time, 03:30:45.500 --> 03:30:49.121 and I think we've underscored some important things 03:30:49.121 --> 03:30:53.070 that the Commission holds dear, 03:30:53.070 --> 03:30:57.140 and we will continue to speak to you about them 03:30:57.140 --> 03:31:00.280 and hold you accountable for them. 03:31:00.280 --> 03:31:02.570 So I do appreciate it again, 03:31:02.570 --> 03:31:06.350 and I want to thank you all very much 03:31:06.350 --> 03:31:11.350 for also the response to my letter. 03:31:12.600 --> 03:31:15.410 It's being shared with all of the Commissioners, 03:31:15.410 --> 03:31:18.640 and more to come, but we look forward 03:31:18.640 --> 03:31:20.990 to a great deal of improvement, 03:31:20.990 --> 03:31:24.293 which you have pledged to do so today with fast trip. 03:31:26.330 --> 03:31:28.659 I'm never gonna call it ESPP, 03:31:28.659 --> 03:31:31.910 too many other alphabet soup running around. 03:31:31.910 --> 03:31:34.020 It's enough to have PSPS. 03:31:34.020 --> 03:31:37.420 So anyway with that, I thank you on behalf 03:31:37.420 --> 03:31:38.950 of my fellow Commissioners. 03:31:38.950 --> 03:31:41.170 Have a wonderful afternoon, 03:31:41.170 --> 03:31:46.170 and Thanksgiving is coming up upon us very quickly, 03:31:46.260 --> 03:31:49.570 I won't see or hear from probably most of you before then, 03:31:49.570 --> 03:31:52.310 so I wish you and your family and friends 03:31:52.310 --> 03:31:55.603 a most delightful and giving thanksgiving. 03:31:56.850 --> 03:31:58.377 Thank you all. 03:31:58.377 --> 03:31:59.379 Thank you. 03:31:59.379 --> 03:32:00.378 Likewise. 03:32:00.378 --> 03:32:01.376 Thank you. 03:32:01.376 --> 03:32:02.380 Thank you. 03:32:02.380 --> 03:32:03.379 Thank you, President Batjer. 03:32:03.379 --> 03:32:05.373 Is there any other closing remarks from the dais? 03:32:08.930 --> 03:32:10.660 Thank you, President Batjer, Commissioners, 03:32:10.660 --> 03:32:12.120 Director Thomas Jacobs, 03:32:12.120 --> 03:32:14.480 and thank you to Bear Valley Electric and PG&E 03:32:14.480 --> 03:32:16.620 for your presentations and your time. 03:32:16.620 --> 03:32:18.447 This meeting is now adjourned.