As residents in portions of 22 counties across Northern California prepare for their fifth widespread Public Safety Power Shutoff in the past 45 days, Senator McGuire and the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee held a special hearing to look at what actions can be taken to protect Californians. Senator McGuire released the following statement:
“This is the third strike for PG&E – the first was the San Bruno explosion and cover-up, the second was the massive wildfires of 2017 and 2018, and strike three is the debacle of a response to these power shutoffs. PG&E has failed us too many times. All options need to be studied and on the table – including breaking up the utility.”
Senator McGuire has been named Co-Chair of a Senate Working Group focused on energy and insurance stability. McGuire will be helping lead the legislative discussion on power shutoffs, stabilizing California’s insurance market and wildfire resiliency.
“Holding PG&E accountable will be one of the top priorities of the legislature this coming year. We must expedite grid hardening, grid modernization and vegetation management around PG&E’s lines, especially in the most fire critical regions, which is most of the North Coast. We must mandate a clear timeline for these critical improvements, we must protect seniors and the medically fragile, set new laws that require backup power for cell phone towers and we need to ensure the California Public Utilities Commission does their job and holds this utility accountable. Californians deserve so much better.”
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