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CC SR 20210817 H - SCE Undergrounding Letter
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 08/17/2021 AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar AGENDA TITLE: Consideration and possible action to authorize the Mayor to sign a letter to Southern California Edison (SCE) calling for the prioritization of funding for undergrounding projects. RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION: (1) Authorize the Mayor to sign a letter to SCE’s chief executive officer calling for the prioritization of funding for undergrounding projects. FISCAL IMPACT: None Amount Budgeted: N/A Additional Appropriation: N/A Account Number(s): N/A ORIGINATED BY: Jesse Villalpando, Emergency Services Coordinator REVIEWED BY: Karina Bañales, Deputy City Manager APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: A.Draft letter to SCE’s CEO to Prioritize Funding for Undergrounding Projects (page A-1) B.Rancho Palos Verdes VHFHSZ map (page B-1) C.April 11, 2019, Sacramento Bee article (page C-1) D.Cal Fire’s Listing of the Top 20 Most Destructive California Wildfires (page D- 1) E.SCE’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan Update Fact Sheet (page E-1) F.SCE 2021 WMP Update Executive Summary (page F-1) G.July 21, 2021, Associated Press article (Page G-1) BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION In recent years, California has seen an increase in unprecedented and destructive wildfires (including the current Dixie Fire which is now considered the largest single wildfire in California history), posing a worsening threat to lives, livelihoods, and communities. With nearly 10,000 fires consuming nearly 4.2 million acres , 2020 was the worst year on record, serving as a stark reminder that nearly all of the City of Rancho 1 CITYOF RANCHO PALOS VERDES Palos Verdes excluding a small portion located east of Western Avenue is designated by Cal Fire as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (Attachment B). This designation underscores the significant wildfire risk in the City, where in April 2019, a series of news stories on wildfire preparedness in California highlighted Rancho Palos Verdes as the most populated city in the state with 90% or more of residents living in a VHFHSZ (Attachment C). While the City and other local agencies have been proactive in developing wildfire mitigation measures and plans, recent events demonstrate more must be done. Electrical power lines pose a significant fire hazard if knocked down due to high winds or an earthquake. In a May 2019 news release, CalFire announced its conclusion that the November 2018 Camp Fire, which killed 85 people, destroyed 18,804 homes and structures, and burned over 150,000 acres, was ignited by faulty electric transmission lines. The Camp Fire is the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history. Electric utility infrastructure has historically been responsible for less than 10% of reported wildfires. However, according to Cal Fire’s listing of the “Top 20 Most Destructive California Wildfires,” published on August 9, 2021 (Attachment C) seven were caused by power line or electrical sources. Earthquakes and Fire Risk Southern California has a history of powerful and relatively frequent earthquakes, dating back to the magnitude 7.9 1857 Fort Tejon earthquake on the San Andreas fault, which generated substantial damage to the relatively few buildings that existed at the time. According to seismic research, large magnitude (8.0+) earthquakes occur on the San Andreas fault every 50 to 300 years, with an average interval of roughly 140 years. Other lesser faults have also caused very damaging earthquakes since 1857. Notable earthquakes in regions close to City include the 1933 Long Beach earthquake, the 1971 San Fernando earthquake, the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake and the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Los Angeles County is a hotbed of seismic activity due to the presence of over 50 active and potentially active fault segments, an undetermined number of buried faults, and multiple blind -thrust faults. All of these faults are capable of producing severe earthquakes, downed transmission lines, and therefore fires. The City of Rancho Palos Verdes faces a constant threat from fire following an earthquake. These often-spontaneous ignitions are caused by ruptured gas mains and service lines, damaged or fallen overhead transmission or distribution power lines, wooden poles, unbraced or inadequately braced gas or electric appliances, and equipment in general. Fire Prevention Through Power Line Undergrounding Undergrounding is the most comprehensive and effective method of reducing the impact of overhead utility wires and reducing the risk of significant disasters caused by fire, earthquakes, and earthquake-related fires. The biggest challenge to undergrounding wires is the cost. Estimates for utility burial can range from $500,000 to $3 million per mile, in comparison to $120,000 per mile for the erection of overhead lines. The cost is 2 high due to the expense of burying the utility wires in conduits, which is the best method of burying wires to ensure reliability and facilitate repairs, and due to the additional technology required to maintain the underground lines. Coordinating the burial of several utility wires, such as telephone and cable television wires that also use poles, is another expense, but necessary for the overall benefit. Historically, undergrounding has been done on a select, case-by-case basis, and largely for reasons other than wildfire risk reduction. Southern California Edison (SCE) SCE supplies all electrical power to the City and the remainder of the Peninsula. SCE operates two different types of overhead facilities within the City, namely transmission and distribution lines. The transmission line system provides high voltage service to a larger regional area. The distribution line system receives power from the transmission system and makes electricity available at a usable voltage to smaller service areas. In some areas, both transmission and distribution lines are co-located on the same poles. On February 2, 2021, SCE filed its annual update to its 2020-22 Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP) with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The plan outlines the measures SCE is implementing to reduce the risk of fire ignitions caused by its infrastructure to protect customers and communities in high fire risk areas. According to SCE's Wildfire Mitigation Plan Update Fact Sheet (Attachment E), SCE invested $1.3 billion in 2020 to expand existing programs, incorporate lessons learned, and test new technologies. In 2021-2022, SCE plans to invest an additional $3.5 billion. Ongoing Grid Design and System Hardening SCE Practices According to the SCE Wildfire Mitigation Plan, the following information highlights measures SCE is implementing to improve its electrical system to make the grid more resilient in high fire risk areas, improve reliability, and reduce wildfire. • Installation of covered conductors: Covered conductors are insulated material covering bare wire that significantly reduces the possibility of the power line sparking if contact occurs with an object. SCE plans to install an additional 1,000 miles of covered conductors in 2021. • Fire-resistant poles: SCE is installing a mix of composite poles and wooden poles with fire-resistant wrap, which reduces the risk of damaged poles during an emergency and allows SCE to safely restore power more quickly to customers. • Installation of fast-acting fuses: Fast-acting fuses interrupt electrical current quickly and reduce the risk of ignitions when there is an electrical fault, such as when a tree falls on a power line. SCE plans to install an additional 330 fast-acting fuses in 2021. 3 • Weather stations, wildfire cameras and fire spread modeling: SCE uses a variety of tools such as weather stations, wildfire cameras and fire spread modeling technology to monitor real time conditions in high fire risk areas and to help inform operational decision-making (none of which were installed in Rancho Palos Vereds). • High fire risk inspections: SCE annually inspects its overhead transmission, distribution and generation equipment in high fire risk areas to identify potential safety hazards. Ground inspections by field crews and aerial inspections using drones and helicopters are conducted to obtain a 360 -degree view of SCE’s equipment, where possible, for needed maintenance, repair or replacement. SCE plans to inspect an additional 163,000 distribution assets and 16,800 transmission assets in 2021. A summary of SCE's Wildfire Mitigation Plan progress toward meeting the plan's 2020 and 2021 goals for several key activities is included in this report as Attachment F. In regard to the undergrounding of power lines to reduce the risk of damaged or downed power lines igniting a wildfire, the SCE 2021 Wildfire Mitigation Plan aims to have approximately 15 miles of powerlines undergrounded in High Fire Risk Areas (HFRA) by the end of 2022. However, none of the proposed undergrounding will occur in Rancho Palos Verdes. In comparison, on July 21, 2021, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced a major new initiative to expand the undergrounding of electric distribution power lines in High Fire Threat Districts (HFTD) to further harden its system and help prevent wildfires. This new infrastructure safety initiative, announced by PG&E Corporation CEO Patti Poppe, is a multi-year effort to underground approximately 10,000 miles of power lines. PG&E's commitment represents the largest effort in the U.S. to underground power lines as a wildfire risk reduction measure. A recent Associated Press news article (Attachment G) noted that while PG&E has staunchly opposed undergrounding due to enormous costs in the past, recently hired CEO Patti Poppe told reporters that she “quickly realized after she joined PG&E in January that moving lines underground is the best way to protect both the utility and the 16 million people who rely on it for power,” saying, “it’s too expensive not to do it. Lives are on the line.” For the past two years, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes has been actively engaged with the League of California Cities in advocating to make it possible for more communities to use undergrounding for fire prevention by calling for changes to the state’s Rule 20 program, which regulates undergrounding projects. For the City Council’s consideration, Staff has prepared a draft letter to send to SCE President and CEO Kevin Payne to compel SCE to match or exceed PG&E's commitment to utility undergrounding and customer safety by prioritizing funding for undergrounding 4 projects (Attachment A). Due to the pertinence of this issue, the City’s advocacy on undergrounding, City Council Goal No. 6c, and the ongoing need to underground power lines for fire prevention, Staff recommends the City Council authorize the Mayor to sign the letter as drafted, or with revisions. ALTERNATIVES: In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative actions are available for the City Council’s consideration: 1. Identify revised language to add to the letter. 2. Do not authorize the Mayor to sign the letter. 3. Take other action, as deemed appropriate. 5 Rancho Palos Verdes The State of California and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy of data or maps. Neither the State nor the Department shall be liable under any circumstances for any direct, special, incidental, or consequential damages with respect to any claim by any user or third party on account of, or arising from, the use of data or maps. Obtain FRAP maps, data, metadata and publications on the Internet at http://frap.cdf.ca.govFor more information, contact CAL FIRE-FRAP, PO Box 944246, Sacramento, CA 94244-2460, (916) 327-3939. Jerry Brown, Governor, State of CaliforniaJohn Laird, Secretary for Resources,The Natural Resources AgencyKen Pimlott, Director,Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Government Code 51175-89 directs the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to identifyareas of very high fire hazard severity zones within Local Responsibility Areas (LRA). Mapping of the areas, referredto as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ), is based on data and models of, potential fuels over a 30-50year time horizon and their associated expected fire behavior, and expected burn probabilities to quantify the likelihoodand nature of vegetation fire exposure (including firebrands) to buildings. Details on the project and specific modelingmethodology can be found at http://frap.cdf.ca.gov/projects/hazard/methods.htm. Local Responsibility Area VHFHSZmaps were initially developed in the mid-1990s and are now being updated based on improved science,mapping techniques, and data. In late 2005 to be effective in 2008, the California Building Commission adopted California Building Code Chapter 7Arequiring new buildings in VH FHSZs to use ignition resistant construction methods and materials. These new codesinclude provisions to improve the ignition resistance of buildings, especially from firebrands. The updated very high firehazard severity zones will be used by building officials for new building permits in LRA. The updated zones will also beused to identify property whose owners must comply with natural hazards disclosure requirements at time of propertysale and 100 foot defensible space clearance. It is likely that the fire hazard severity zones will be used for updates tothe safety element of general plans. This specific map is based on a geographic information system dataset that depicts final CAL FIRE recommendationsfor Very High FHSZs within the local jurisdiction. The process of finalizing these boundaries involved an extensive localreview process, the details of which are available at http://frap.cdf.ca.gov/projects/hazard/btnet/ (click on "Continueas guest without logging in"). Local government has 120 days to designate, by ordinance, very high fire hazard severityzones within its jurisdiction after receiving the recommendation. Local government can add additional VHFHSZs.There is no requirement for local government to report their final action to CAL FIRE when the recommended zones areadopted. Consequently, users are directed to the appropriate local entity (county, city, fire department, or FireProtection District) to determine the status of the local fire hazard severity zone ordinance. California Teale Albers, NAD 1983Scale 1: 15,000at 36" x 36"September 2011 © 0 2Miles 0 3Kilometers This map was developed using data products such as parcel and city boundaries provided by local government agencies. In certain cases, this includes copyrighted geographic information.The maps are for display purposes only - questions and requests related to parcel or city boundary data should be directed to the appropriate local government entity. DATA SOURCESCAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZL06_1)CAL FIRE Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in LRA - Los Angeles (c19fhszl06_5) MAP ID: Rancho Palos Verdes Fire Hazard Severity Zones County Boundary Parcels City Boundary Local Responsibility Area State or Federal Responsibility Areas VHFHSZ Non-VHFHSZ VHFHSZ Non-VHFHSZ Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in LRAAs Recommended by CAL FIRE A-1 , ' / ,1/ -- / ,✓ , ' 11 J ' , I ' ' ! , I ' ' ' ' r ' ' I - ' ' \ -, I I , , I I .. ,. I., 1[-I-,■ •111r"f1 .•[!_ -, l • ' • •-·-• u ~:--, .,., _ •'-,;:i;,. ,,.., •. , I I Page 1 of 15California races to predict which town could be next to burn in a wildfire | Destined to Burn 9/9/2019https://www.chicoer.com/2019/04/11/california-races-to-predict-which-town-could-be-next-... B-1 NEWS > ENVIRONMENT California races to predict which town could be next to burn I Destined to Burn More than 350,000 Californians live in towns and cities in 'very high fire hazard severity zones' By RYAN SABALOW, PHILLIP REESE AND DALE KASLER I The Sacramento Bee PUBLISHED : April 11 , 2019 at 8 :23 am I UPDATED : April 16 , 2019 at 1 :43 pm Note : This is part of a special investigation series "Destined to Bum " analyzing the wildfire crisis California faces. The collaboration inclu des the Chico Enterprise-Record, Sacramento Bee and Associated Press. Impoverished towns in the shadow of Mount Shasta. Rustic Gold Rush cities in the Sierra Nevada foothills . High-dollar resort communities on the shores of Lake Tahoe. Ritzy Los Angeles County suburbs. They all could be the next Paradise . A McClatchy analysis reveals more than 350 ,000 Californians live in towns and cities that exist almost entirely within "very high fire hazard severity zones" - Cal Fire 's designation for places high ly vu lnerable to devastating w il dfires. These designations have proven eeri ly predictive about some of the state 's most destruct ive wildfires in recent years. includina the Camp Fire. the worst in state history. ADVERTISING Page 2 of 15California races to predict which town could be next to burn in a wildfire | Destined to Burn 9/9/2019https://www.chicoer.com/2019/04/11/california-races-to-predict-which-town-could-be-next-... B-2 Nearly all of Paradise is colored in bright red on Cal Fire's map -practically the entire town was at severe risk before the Camp Fire raged through last November, burning the majority of homes in its path and killing 85 people. Malibu, where the Woolsey Fire burned more than 400 homes last year, also falls within very high hazard zones. As does the small Lake County town of Cobb, much of which was destroyed by the Valley Fire in 2015. "There's a lot of Paradises out there ," said Max Moritz , a fire specialist at UC Santa Barbara. All to ld , more than 2 .7 million Californians live in very high fire hazard severity zones, from trailers off quiet dirt roads in the forest to mansions in the state s largest cities, according to the analysis , which is based on 201 O block-level census data . The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says its maps show places where wildfires are likely to be extreme due to factors in clud ing vegetation and to pography. The maps aren't perfect in their ability to forecast where a fire will be destructive . For instance , the Coffey Park neighborhood of Santa Rosa isn't in a very high hazard zone, but powerful winds pushed the Tubbs Fire into that part of the city, largely leveling the neighborhood in October 2017 . Coffey Park was built "with zero consideration for fire ," said Chris Dicus, a forestry-and fire expert at Ga! Pc!Y-San Lu~s-Ob:spc . "Fire '.fJaS-"in the mountain"' -there was no consideration that fire would cross (Highway) 101 ." Page 3 of 15California races to predict which town could be next to burn in a wildfire | Destined to Burn 9/9/2019https://www.chicoer.com/2019/04/11/california-races-to-predict-which-town-could-be-next-... B-3 Cal Fire is making new fire hazard maps -ready in a year or so -that will incorporate regional wind patterns and other climate factors . In the meantime , experts say the current maps, created about a decade ago, still provide an important guide to predict where wildfires could do the most damage, in the same way floodplain maps highlight areas that could be hit hardest during severe storms. The at-risk communities identified by McClatchy also should serve as a starting point for prioritizing how California should spend money on retrofits and other fire-safety programs , Moritz said . California's state-of-the-art building codes help protect homes from wildfire in the most vulnerable areas , experts say. But the codes only apply to new construction . A bill introduced by Assemblyman Jim Wood would provide cash to help Californians retrofit older homes. "This will go a long way toward these different municipalities (in showing) that they deserve funding ," Moritz said. McClatchy identified more than 75 towns and cities with populations over 1,000 where , like Paradise. at least 90 percent of residents live within the Ca l Fire "very high fire hazard severity zones." Page 4 of 15California races to predict which town could be next to burn in a wildfire | Destined to Burn 9/9/2019https://www.chicoer.com/2019/04/11/california-races-to-predict-which-town-could-be-next-... B-4 Very high fire hazard zones There are more than 75 communities in California where more than 90 percent of the population lives in a very high fire hazard severity zone, according to a Bee analysis . ■ Very high fire hazard sever ity zone Note : Analysis does not include .. The Bee profiled 10 of those communities for this story. fford Heights Rancho• Palos Ver des communities with fewer than 1,000 residents. Sources : Ca l Fire, U.S. Census NATHAN IEL LEVINE nlevi11e@sacbee .com (Nathaniel Levine-The Sacramento Bee) Here are snapshots of 10, and the unique cha ll enges they face : Page 5 of 15California races to predict which town could be next to burn in a wildfire | Destined to Burn 9/9/2019https://www.chicoer.com/2019/04/11/california-races-to-predict-which-town-could-be-next-... B-5 Shingletown : a miniature Paradise Population (20 10) -2,283. In Very High fire Hazard Severity Zone -2,283 Shingletown is less than one-tenth the size of Paradise but probably carries just as much risk. Li ke Paradise, the unincorporated community sits atop a ridge , and is covered in tall trees and thick brush -ingredien ts for a major wildfire . ·we grow trees like nobody's business up here ," said Tom Twist, a member of the Shingletown Fire Safe Council . Twist , who's lived in the community off and on since the 1970s, said that when the weather is warm he'll walk his property, pulling up seedlings in an almost futile effort to eliminate potential fuels. "I'll pull 20 or 30 seedlings a day out of the ground ," he said . "It's almost like when I walk over there , there 's 20 or 30 . When I walk back , there 's another 20 or 30." Just like Paradise , escaping the ridge in a fast-moving fire wouldn 't be easy; Shingletown 's main drag is wind ing , narrow Highway 44 . And , like in Paradise , the presence of an older popu lation wou ld make evacuation more d ifficult ; Shingletown 's median age is 61 , according to census figures . It's little wonder tha t when Gov . Gavin Newsom ordered Cal Fire to develop a list of urgent fire-safety projects , a plan to trim 1, 124 acres of vegetation along Highway 44 came up as the top priority out of 35 projects around the state . Locals say t hey're glad the state is paying attention to a problem they know too well. The community had to evacuate when the Ponderosa Fire , started by a lightn ing strike , hit in 2012 . The fire burned 27 ,676 acres -43 square miles - and torched 52 homes in the vicin ity. "We're intimately aware of the dangers up here," Twist said . Nevada City: picturesque and risky Population (20 10) -3,068. In Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone -3,064 since the uyette has I001<ed at the one-acre patch or untrimmed brus h behind her mother's Victorian-era home in Nevada City as more than just an unattractive nuisance . Page 6 of 15California races to predict which town could be next to burn in a wildfire | Destined to Burn 9/9/2019https://www.chicoer.com/2019/04/11/california-races-to-predict-which-town-could-be-next-... B-6 Now, the brush is ominous -an ignition source that could torch the home built in 1859 that her family has lived in for five generations . The same anxiety also applies to the cedars. pines and brush covering the hills around this foothill city of about 3,100 people , many of whom live or work in wooden buildings dating back to the the Gold Rush era . "It's very scary, especially since it's such a cute little town I've been living in my whole life," Guyette said recently as she walked down the city's historic Broad Street, which looks like it fell out of a photo from a museum exhibit. City officials agree that the wooded draws. steep hillsides. narrow residential streets , ancient homes and thick urban tree canopy that define the character of the city also make it particularly at ris k if a fire burns through . "Nevada City's single largest risk for human life and financial loss is fire ," Nevada City 's hazard mitigation plan reads . In recent decades, t he city also has had some near misses with fire, including one major close call. In 1988, heavy winds pushed th e 49er Fire th rough 52 square miles of western Nevada County, burning 312 buildings and dozens of cars. "At the time it was considered an anomalous event," said Billy Spearing of the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County. "It was not the norma l for them th en." With such fires becoming the new normal , Cal Fire is planning to cut a 1,802 acre fire break in southwest Nevada County in terrain that hasn't burned in a century, helping protect both Nevada City and the adjacent community of Grass Valley , home to more than 12,000. Nevada City also embarked on an online "Goat Fund Me" campaign to raise $25 ,000 to hire farmers to use their goats to eat dense brush in more than 450 acres of city-owned greenbelt. The goats recently chewed a swath through Pioneer Park near Margaret Rodda 's Vi ctoria n home, which sits on a steep draw above a creek. But she's still worried . "All it takes is a drunk with a cigarette," she said . Page 7 of 15California races to predict which town could be next to burn in a wildfire | Destined to Burn 9/9/2019https://www.chicoer.com/2019/04/11/california-races-to-predict-which-town-could-be-next-... B-7 The goats inspired Guyette. She said she might spend the $500 to put a herder's goats to work on the thorny thicket of blackberries behind her mother's house. ·we need to get rid of them ," she said . Colfax: Fire is on everyone 's minds Population (20 10) -1,963 . In Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone -1,963 On his first full day in office, Newsom visited the Cal Fire station in Colfax to announce new initiatives on wildfire safety. As he spoke to reporters , surrounded by first responders , he was standing in a city that could bum any summer. "The people who live here have a true understanding," said Colfax City Manager Wes Heathcock. "It's always on the back of people's minds, especially with the most recent fires, the Camp Fire . We have a similar makeup here." At nigh t in the summer, Aimee Costa , who lives on a hill above the elementary school , sometimes keeps her window open , the better to hear ominous sounds. "You're laying in bed , listening for that lick , that smack , that pop sound ," Costa said, describing the sound flames would make if they were chewing pine needles, brush and leaves. Page 8 of 15California races to predict which town could be next to burn in a wildfire | Destined to Burn 9/9/2019https://www.chicoer.com/2019/04/11/california-races-to-predict-which-town-could-be-next-... B-8 A former supply hub for gold mining camps, Colfax sits a few miles from the edge of the Tahoe National Forest in the lower-elevation Sierra. It straddles Interstate 80 and serves as the last major stop between the Sacramento metropolita n area and the La ke Tahoe region . Horses graze beside deer on large ranchettes in the rugged brushy canyons along the outskirts of the c ity. The terrain poses a major fire risk . In July 2015, the Lowell Fire erupted near Colfax and chewed up thousands of acres along the north side of the freeway , forcing evacuations in adjacent Nevada County. In the years since , Heathcock said the city has been working with state officials on fuelbreak projects , including a spot near the high school and elementary school , which has been eyed as an evacuation site . Gene Mapa , who lived in Paradise and escaped the Camp Fire with some family photographs -and nothing else -has relocate d to Colfax , where he already owned a second home. But he knows he hasn't escaped the fire risk ; hi s property just outside the city limits would be threatened by a windy firestorm like the one that engulfed Paradise. "With that wind , there would be no stopping it anywhere ," Mapa said . Kings Beach: Tourists seek fun , bring fire danger Population (20 10) -3,796. In Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone -3 , 796 Situated on the pristine north shore of Lake Tahoe, Kings Beach is one of the most heavily vis ited vacation spots in Northern California . That's a big part of the problem. Because so much of the population comes and goes , it becomes harder to get people to treat wildfire risk with the respect it deserves, said Erin Holland , a spokeswoman for the North Tahoe Fire Protection District. One of the d istrict's six stations is in Kings Beach . "It is definitely a challenge because we have so many homes that are vacation homes ," she said. "It's really a challenge to educa te those visitors .. They wan t to have a camp fire ." Page 9 of 15California races to predict which town could be next to burn in a wildfire | Destined to Burn 9/9/2019https://www.chicoer.com/2019/04/11/california-races-to-predict-which-town-could-be-next-... B-9 Tahoe's vulnerability to major fires was brought home dramatically in recent years . The Angora Fire in 2007 , wh ile it was confined to the south shore area , left physical and emotional scars on the entire basin after burning through 3 ,100 acres. Holland said getting the region's property owners and visitors to observe "defensible space" regulations is particularly difficult. Those ru les call for clearing brush 100 feet around buildings and include stricter ru les regarding vegetation immediately adjacent to structures. Violators can be subject to citations , but "the goal is to really educate people, to get people complying ," Holl and sa id . "We go the education route rather than the citation route ." Pollock Pines: Do the transplants get it ? Population (20 10) -6,877. In Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone -6,533 Just off Highway 50 , a few miles from the tourist haven of App le Hill. Pollock Pines lures transplants from coastal California , mainly retirees drawn to the lovely stands of trees in the foothill community at the edge of the Eldorado National Forest. Heather Campbell only wishes the newbies had a better understanding of what all that timber represents . Campbell , a retired U .S . Forest Service employee who's lived in Pollock Pines since the 1990s, is the head of the Pollock Pines -Camino Fire Safe Council. In the past few years her organization has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants , ma inly from the state 's "cap and trade" ca rbon trading program, to trim vegetation on the ridge line south of Highway 50 . That's all well and good , she said , but more needs to be done. And the people of Pollock Pines, including the newcomers, have to realize what's at stake . "Here , everybody allows a ll the saplings and brush to grow and they don't weed it out," she said . "All these roads a re incredibly dangerous. when it's so easy to take out pruners . Take out your pruners!" She said memories are still vivid of the Sand Fi re in 2014. That fire burned 4 ,200 acres and 20 homes and came dangerously close to forcing a maj or evacuation in Pollock Pines and surrounding communities . Page 10 of 15California races to predict which town could be next to burn in a wildfire | Destined to ... 9/9/2019https://www.chicoer.com/2019/04/11/california-races-to-predict-which-town-could-be-next-... B-10 "They were going to evacuate 9 ,000 people," she said . "They were predicting the fire to go to 27 ,000 acres. instead of the 4 ,000 they stopped it at." Arnold : Trees are falli ng in Big T rees coun t ry Population (20 10) -3,843. In Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone -3,843 In the communi ty that serves as gateway to Calaveras Big Trees State Park. residents didn't always applaud when officials began mapping plans to thin dense stands of trees to reduce fire risk. "Arnold resisted this for a long time because people love the ir trees ," said Steve Wilensky, a former Calaveras County supervisor who works with nonprofits to improve fire safety in the Sierra. After years of protests , Arnold's residents got a major wake-up call in 2015 . The Butte Fire , caused by power lines. took out 549 homes in nearby commun ities. Two people died . "If the weather hadn't changed , they'd be gone ," Wilensky said of Arnold . "You 've got a real paralle l with Paradise in some ways . It's a place that is really highly threatened." Arnold sits on a ridge , surrounded by a dense forest of drought-and beetle- killed trees . Powerful wind gusts can funnel fire up rugged brushy canyons . A key difference between Paradise and Arnold is that as many as 45 percent of the dwellings are vacation homes, which can sometimes make it a challenge to get out-of-town homeowners to do brush clearing , loca l officials said . Wilensky said momentum to reduce fire risk has bu ilt since the Butte Fire . More than $15 million in state and federal funds have gone to thinning dangerous overgrowth in the reg ion, Wilensky said . One project includes using bulldozer lines that were cut during the Butte Fire to expand a fire break that stretches to town . "Arnold is the anchor end of this project," Wilensky said . Wofford Heights: Apathy in a danger zone? Population (20 10) -2,20 1. In Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone -2 ,147 Page 11 of 15California races to predict which town could be next to burn in a wildfire | Destined to ... 9/9/2019https://www.chicoer.com/2019/04/11/california-races-to-predict-which-town-could-be-next-... B-11 The same powerful desert gusts that attract wind surfers to Kern County's Lake Isabella make t he lakeside community of Wofford Heights particularly at risk for wildfire . So does the adjacent Sequoia National Forest , which has been plagu ed by drought and tree-killing beetles. Yet some feel that the region isn 't doing nearly enough to combat the threat. "We could do a hell of a lot more than we're doing," said Judy Hyatt, who lived in the area for 15 years and served as presiden t of the region's fire safe council. The volunteer group disbanded in recent years from what she and others described as a lack of interest. In 2016, the Lake Isabella region suffered through the Erskine and Cedar fires , which burned more than 77 ,000 acres and more than 300 structures . An elderly couple was killed when they were trapped by the Erskine Fire . According to census figures, the median age of those living in Wofford Heights is 62 , and many live in places with poor escape routes . "Some of those mobiles up there , honest to God , I think they've dropped them out of the sky," Hyatt said. "The roads are so narrow, and it really just presents an obstacle and the only way to really get to it is by air. That is when people start to die." Hyatt said the loss of the nonprofit Kern River Fi re Safe Council s he once headed doesn't bode well for th e community. She said the council organized wood-chipping drives to encourage residents to remove wood debris and sought grants for fuel breaks and other thinning projects . She said too many locals have grown complacent. "Fire prevention is a nebulous thing ," she said . "It's hard to quantify, until there's a damned fire that takes out everything ." La Canada Flintridge: Is aggressive fire prevention enough? Population (201 O) -20,048. In Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone - 20~048 Page 12 of 15California races to predict which town could be next to burn in a wildfire | Destined to ... 9/9/2019https://www.chicoer.com/2019/04/11/california-races-to-predict-which-town-could-be-next-... B-12 Carol Settles and her family evacuated their home in La Canada Flintridge during the Station Fire in 2009 . But she isn 't terribly worried about a repeat performance -even though her home is on a dead-end street below a brushy hill side of the Angeles National Forest. Large electrica l transmission lines run along the wooded draw behind her home . "We've never seen a spark," Settles said , referring to the power lines. "We've never seen any of that." Best-known as home to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory on the outskirts of Pasadena, the upper middle-class city has an aggressive fire-prevention program . The Los Angeles County fire department checks properties in Settles ' area once a year to make sure vegetation has been cleared and hazardous landscaping hasn't been planted. Fines can be issued for non-compliance . Recently , one of Settles ' neighbors had to saw off t he top of a pine tree because it was too close to a transmission tower, she sa id . Los Angeles County's assistant fire chief, J . Lopez, said La Canada Flintridge ha s embraced rigorous fire-safety standards , which include annua l landscaping inspections and stringent fire-safe building codes , even for large home remodels. Lopez said La Canada Flintridge also chose to place the entire city inside a high fire hazard zone, going beyond the recommendation of Cal Fire. That decision translates into citywide enforcement of its fi re-res ilient bui ld ing codes. "That's a very progressive way to look at it ," Lopez said . But since 2008, on average only about a dozen new homes have been built in La Canada Fl intridge each year, meaning most of the housing stock was built before the rigorous fire sta ndards were in place. The city's hazard mitigation plan notes many of those older homes still have "combustible roofing , open eaves, combustible siding ," and they're on "steep , narrow, poorly signed " roads that make evacuations dangerous. Thomas Caswell , who's lived for four decades on a hilly, narrow, dead-end street not far from city hall , said he knows the greenbe lt behind his house where he watches possums . birds and other wildlife also makes the community vulnerable to fire . It's why he says he didn 't mind paying when the city told him he needed to hire a tree service to remove dying trees in his front yard . Page 13 of 15California races to predict which town could be next to burn in a wildfire | Destined to ... 9/9/2019https://www.chicoer.com/2019/04/11/california-races-to-predict-which-town-could-be-next-... B-13 Still , he knows such efforts probably wou ldn't do much good if the Santa Ana winds pushed a fire into the city. Fire officials said that La Canada Flin tridge could have burned in the Station Fire if the Santa Ana winds hadn't stopped blowing . The fire burned 89 homes in outlying communities and 160 ,577 acres of forested lands , the largest fire by land mass in Los Angeles County history. ·once it comes down the hill ," Caswell said , ·nobody is going to be safe." Rancho Palos Verdes: Few fears in an affluent suburb Population (201 0) -41,803. In Very High Fire Ha zard Severity Zone - 40,550 Rancho Palos Verdes holds a dubious honor: It's the most populated city in California to have 90 percent or more of its population living within a ·very high fire hazard severity zone ." But few residents seem to think their suburb is in the same league as Malibu , where hundreds of homes burned last fall just up the Los Angeles County coastline. "It's not li ke living in Malibu , definitely ," said Gregory Lash as he strolled through a public access walkway in the Trump National Golf Club with his w ife , Vivian , on the way to an oceanside park where a pod of dolph ins and whales were breaching . He added, moments later: "Hope that 's not naive." City officials say it's not. "This being a coastal community , we don't get the type of brush and that kind of fire behavior that you might get in somewhere li ke Paradise ," said Scott Hale, an assistant fire chief for Los Angeles County. The county leads firefighting efforts on the Palos Verdes Peninsula , whose four affluent communities all fall inside a high fire severity zone. Locals point out that over the years , the firefighters at the five stations on the peninsula have quickly knocked down the relatively small fires that popped up . Still , Rancho Palos Verdes ' haza rd mitigation plan lists wildfire as a bigger threat to the citv than earthquakes. tsunamis and landslides . Powerful winds that blow from the coast could funnel a fire up the greenbelts that cut through the peninsula's neighborhoods, many of which have opulent homes perched above canyons. Page 14 of 15California races to predict which town could be next to burn in a wildfire | Destined to ... 9/9/2019https://www.chicoer.com/2019/04/11/california-races-to-predict-which-town-could-be-next-... B-14 Much of that open space has been preserved by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, which manages more than 1,600 acres of land in and around the city. Residents such as Lash love the 42 miles of trails on conservancy lands , but all that undeveloped acreage could ignite , said Gabriella Yap, deputy city manager. "You 're trying to preserve that, but it also comes with fire risk," Yap said . The city's staff supports Southern California Edison 's plans to trim vegetation from under the lines that run through some of the open space to reduce fire threats , but the land conservancy is bristling at the loss of native habitats. "The environmental impact of that is really significant," sa id Adrie nne Mohan , the conservancy's executive director. Harbison Canyon: Will it burn a third time? Population (20 10) -3,84 1. In Very High Hazard Fire Severity Zone -3 ,841 Every 30 years or so, a massive fire blows th rough Harbison Canyon , 30 miles northeast of San Diego . The 1970 Laguna Fire destroyed much of the un in corporated town that sits inside the canyon and shares its name. Harbison Canyon was rebuilt again after the Cedar Fire burned through in 2003 , destroying 287 of the 388 homes. Ric k Halsey of th e C haparral Inst it ute said t he canyon is a painful example of how development has been allowed to continue practically unchecked for decades into some of California 's most fire-prone places . "You want to create a geographical hotspot for fire , you couldn 't put it in a better place," said Halsey, whose environmentalist organization was founded to fight calls for clearing hundreds of square m il es of wild lands following the Cedar Fire. "It's like a bowling alley for the Santa Ana winds ." That sort of talk makes longtime resident Mary Manning cringe . 7 Tips For Social Recruiting Join The 92% Of Recruiters Who Leverage Social Recruiting. Get eBook! Page 15 of 15California races to predict which town could be next to burn in a wildfire | Destined to ... 9/9/2019https://www.chicoer.com/2019/04/11/california-races-to-predict-which-town-could-be-next-... B-15 She worries that focusing on the canyon's fire risk creates the impression that the community she loves can 't be saved from the next catastrophe . She said he r community cou ld be made more safe if state and local officials would invest in infrastructure a nd fire prevention that matched the rates of development she 's seen over the years . For instance , the side streets in Harbison Canyon are narrow. Some, like Manning's , remain unpaved despite decades of bui lding . "There were five houses , now there are 35," she said of the street she's lived on since 1975 . Ma nni ng notes it was only two years ago that the local fire station became staffed 24 hours a day-14 years after the Cedar Fire . Inside the station , Dave Nissen , the Cal Fire official who oversees firefighting in the area , said there are a number of challenges to fighting a fire in the canyon , including the na rrow roads and hou ses stacked close tog ether. Ni sse n said firefig hters reduce the risks by inspecting lots every year to make sure they're not overgrown . On that front , Harb ison Canyon 's residents don 't seem to need too much prodding, judging from the roar of chain saws and weed trimmers echoing through the canyon on a recent spring weekday afternoon. Associated Press data reporter Angeliki Kastanis contributed to this article . Tags: Camp Fire, Destined to Burn , Newsletter , Wi ldfires Ryan Sabalow, Phillip Reese and Dale Kasler DATE COUNTY ACRES STRUCTURES DEATHS 1 CAMP (Powerlines)November 2018 Butte 153,336 18,804 85 2 TUBBS (Electrical)October 2017 Napa & Sonoma 36,807 5,636 22 3 TUNNEL - Oakland Hills (Rekindle)October 1991 Alameda 1,600 2,900 25 4 CEDAR (Human Related)October 2003 San Diego 273,246 2,820 15 5 NORTH COMPLEX (Under Investigation) August, 2020 Butte, Plumas, & Yuba 318,935 2,352 15 6 VALLEY (Electrical)September 2015 Lake, Napa & Sonoma 76,067 1,955 4 7 WITCH (Powerlines)October 2007 San Diego 197,990 1,650 2 8 WOOLSEY (Under Investigation)November 2018 Ventura 96,949 1,643 3 9 CARR (Human Related)July 2018 Shasta County, Trinity 229,651 1,614 8 10 GLASS FIRE (Under Investigation )September 2020 Napa & Sonoma 67,484 1,520 0 11 LNU LIGHTNING COMPLEX (Under Investigation) August 2020 Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo, Lake, & Colusa 363,220 1,491 6 12 CZU LIGHTNING COMPLEX (Lightning)August 2020 Santa Cruz, San Mateo 86,509 1,490 1 13 NUNS (Powerline)October 2017 Sonoma 54,382 1,355 3 14 THOMAS (Powerline)December 2017 Ventura & Santa Barbara 281,893 1,063 2 15 OLD (Human Related)October 2003 San Bernardino 91,281 1,003 6 16 JONES (Undetermined)October 1999 Shasta 26,200 954 1 17 AUGUST COMPLEX (Under Investigation) August 2020 Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, Tehama, Glenn, Lake, & Colusa 1,032,648 935 1 18 BUTTE (Powerlines)September 2015 Amador & Calaveras 70,868 921 2 19 CREEK (Under Investigation)September 2020 Fresno & Madera 379,895 856 0 20 DIXIE (Under Investigation)* July 2021 Butte, Plumas, Lassen, & Tehama 489,287 786 0 8/9/2021 Top 20 Most Destructive California Wildfires FIRE NAME (CAUSE) "Structures" include homes, outbuildings (barns, garages, sheds, etc) and commercial properties destroyed. This list does not include fire jurisdiction. These are the Top 20 regardless of whether they were state, federal, or local responsibility. *Numbers not final C-1 i 2021 WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE Southern California Edison’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan outlines the measures we are implementing to reduce the risk of fire ignitions caused by our infrastructure to protect our customers and communities in high fire risk areas. As we continue to implement the 2020-22 Wildfire Mitigation Plan, we have invested $1.3 billion in 2020 and are on track to spend an additional $3.5 billion in 2021-2022. Our 2021 annual update builds on the progress we’ve made by expanding existing programs, incorporating lessons learned and testing new technologies. Over time, these measures will reduce the need for Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) in high fire risk areas and minimize the number of affected customers. In 2021, we look forward to making significant progress in the following key focus areas: •Refining our high fire risk inspections strategy to include inspections in targeted areas based on emergent conditions, including fire weather conditions such as dry fuels. •Expanding our system hardening activities to include long-span remediation by installing line spacers on long power lines that are prone to conductor-to-conductor contact during windy conditions. •Improving fire agencies’ ability to detect and respond to emerging fires using satellite imagery and providing aerial fire suppression resources (e.g., helitankers) to fire agencies to help protect communities in SCE’s service area. •Establishing central data platforms for next-generation data analytics and governance. GRID DESIGN & SYSTEM HARDENING SCE continues to make improvements to its electrical system to make the grid more resilient in high fire risk areas, improving reliability and reducing wildfire risk. Covered Conductor (Insulated Wire): •The insulated material covering the bare wire significantly reduces the possibility of the power line from arcing or sparking if contact occurs with an object like a tree branch or metallic balloon. • We plan to install an additional 1,000 miles of covered conductor in 2021. Fire-Resistant Poles: •We are installing a mix of composite poles and wooden poles with fire-resistant wrap, which reduces the risk of damaged poles during an emergency and allows us to safely restore power more quickly to customers. Protective Devices: •Fast-acting fuses interrupt electrical current more quickly and reduce risk of ignitions when there is an electrical fault, such as when a tree falls on a power line during high winds. We plan to install an additional 330 fast-acting fuses in 2021. •We are also installing remote-controlled sectionalizing devices to segment or isolate portions of circuits during PSPS events to minimize the number of customers impacted. Undergrounding: • Underground wires can reduce the frequency of outages during storms and also reduce the risk of wildfires caused by electrical infrastructure. Although it can take much longer to construct and is more costly and difficult to maintain and repair, particularly in mountainous and rocky terrain, SCE is committed to determine locations where undergrounding can provide further meaningful wildfire risk reduction. •We identified 17 miles of undergrounding for 2021-22 in targeted high fire risk areas based on risk and feasibility. Microgrids • Microgrids, or self-contained electric grids, can provide around-the-clock energy for a limited time and can operate while tied to the larger electric system and separated or “islanded” from it. •SCE partnered with San Jacinto High School to launch a microgrid resiliency pilot. A second pilot site has been identified for a school in San Bernardino County to mitigate the impacts of PSPS for nearby communities. Updated: 2/16/2021D-1 ~E"i5iSO'N · Energy for What's Ahead ® HIGH FIRE RISK INSPECTIONS SCE annually inspects its overhead transmission, distribution and generation equipment in high fire risk areas to identify potential safety hazards. We prioritize the highest-risk structures identified by our advanced risk model. •Ground inspections by field crews and aerial inspections using drones and helicopters are conducted to obtain a 360-degree view of our equipment, where possible, for any needed maintenance, repair or replacement. •We plan to inspect an additional 163,000 distribution assets and 16,800 transmission assets in 2021. VEGETATION MANAGEMENT We continue our efforts to inspect, trim and remove trees to prevent vegetation from coming into contact with electrical equipment and potentially sparking a fire. Tall trees that could potentially fall into power lines beyond our standard pruning zones are also assessed and mitigated. •We inspect 1.4 million trees annually and prune nearly 900,000 of these trees. There are more than 700,000 trees in high fire risk areas. •In 2021, we plan to assess at least 150,000 hazard trees in high fire risk areas and remove them if deemed unsafe. SITUATIONAL AWARENESS The size of our service area in high fire risk areas and its diverse terrain requires a dense network of weather stations and wildfire cameras to monitor location-specific, real-time conditions that help inform operational decision-making. Weather Stations •Weather stations provide wind speed, humidity and temperature data that is updated every few minutes. The data allows more targeted de-energizations during PSPS events and is accessible to the public at sce.com/weatherstations. •We plan to install at least an additional 375 weather stations in 2021. Wildfire Cameras •Our high-definition wildfire cameras thoroughly cover our high fire risk areas and pan, tilt, zoom and perform 360-degree sweeps approximately every minute. •Fire agencies and the public can view the camera feeds to monitor wildfire conditions at alertwildfire.org. Weather and Fire Spread Modeling Technology •We are increasing our computing power to be able to model the atmosphere at a higher resolution in order to produce more granular weather forecasts for improved PSPS decisions. •We are evaluating fire spread modeling technology, which has the potential to determine impacts to communities from wildfires during extreme weather events. D-2 NEW TECHNOLOGIES SCE is always developing new approaches and collaborates with other utilities, academia and the energy sector to make our communities safer. Here are emerging technologies that we will continue to apply, develop or advance in 2021. Technologies such as Early Fault Detection (EFD) and Distributed Fault Anticipation (DFA) help detect potential electrical equipment issues early so we can make repairs before the equipment fails. •EFD uses radio frequency sensors placed on power poles to “listen” for abnormal radio frequency signals on power lines that indicate potential problems, such as frayed power lines. •DFA reads and monitors current and voltage signatures on circuits to better predict potential problems. These units are installed inside our substations and provide valuable data to also aid with reducing repeated events. Technologies such as Open Phase Detection (OPD) and Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiter (REFCL) can sense when electrical equipment fails and take action to prevent potential ignitions. •OPD can sense when a power line breaks or separates and turns off the power before it even falls to the ground. •REFCL systems can sense when a power line experiences a ground fault and immediately reduces the voltage on the line to minimize ignition possibility. Examples of ground faults include downed power lines and other causes that can produce sparks, such as wildlife or vegetation contacting power lines. Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning •We use computer software that leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to review high-quality images of our equipment captured during inspections to automatically identify equipment that may need maintenance, repair or replacement with more accuracy and speed. •We are beginning to use high-tech satellite imagery to detect plumes of smoke when fires start and compare them with other fire detection systems like our wildfire cameras. EFD DFA OPD REFCL PUBLIC SAFETY POWER SHUTOFFS We strive to reduce the size, frequency and duration of PSPS events as more wildfire mitigations are implemented, but PSPS remains a tool to mitigate wildfire risk during extreme fire weather conditions. • After PSPS events, SCE crews have found equipment damage and tree branches contacting lines that could have ignited fires, illustrating the importance of this critical tool of last resort. •We are actively engaging with customers, particularly vulnerable populations, so they are prepared for PSPS events and other outages. Community Resource Centers and Community Crew Vehicles are also available to support customers during PSPS events. •We offer rebates on portable back-up battery solutions, hotel discounts and other programs to help customers during PSPS and emergencies. We will also provide no-cost backup batteries and solar panels to eligible income-qualified customers who rely on medical equipment and live in a high fire risk area. To learn more about wildfire safety and PSPS, visit sce.com/wildfire. D-3 Wildfire Mitigation ActivitiesSCE SERVICE AREA 2020 Year-End Progress Report Data as of 12/31/20 Distribution Asset Inspections 2020 Completed/Target 199,000/105,000 assets inspected 190% completed Completed Since 2018 584,300 assets inspected Transmission Asset Inspections 2020 Completed/Target 35,500/22,500 assets inspected completed Completed Since 2018 86,100 assets inspected Covered Conductor 2020 Completed/Target 960/700 circuit miles installed completed Completed Since 2018 1,480 circuit miles installed Fire-Resistant Poles 2020 Completed/Target 6,090/5,200 poles installed completed Completed Since 2018 7,510 poles installed Fast-Acting Fuses 2020 Completed/Target 3,025/3,025 fuses installed 100% completed Completed Since 2018 12,900 fuses installed Sectionalizing Devices 2020 ompleted/Target 49/45 devices installed C completed Completed Since 2018 100 devices installed 109% Hazard Tree Management 2020 Completed/Target 99,500/75,000 trees assessed 133% completed Completed Since 2018 228,500 trees assessed Weather Stations 2020 Completed/Target 590/375 weather stations installed 157% completed Completed Since 2018 1,050 weather stations installed High-Definition Wildfire Cameras Cameras thoroughly covering our high fire risk areas were installed by 2020. Completed Since 2018 166 cameras installed Community Resource Centers 56 sites available Community Crew Vehicles 8 vehicles available 137% 117% 158% D-4 -■ -- ■ - - - 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Southern California Edison Company is dedicated to the safety of our customers and the communities we serve. In this report, we set forth our update to the Commission‐approved 2020‐2022 Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP). Our 2021 WMP Update builds on the successes of our WMP implementation to date, incorporates the lessons we learned during WMP deployment and reflects the continued progress we made in our analytical, engineering and process maturity in 2020. In recent years, Californians have increasingly experienced unprecedented and destructive wildfires that have threatened their lives, livelihoods and communities. 2020 was the worst year on record, with nearly 10,000 fires burning over 4.2 million acres and consuming about 4% of all land in California, which served as a stark reminder that evolving climate change brings more extreme weather and impacts. Prolonged periods of high temperatures and drought, record‐high winds and lightning storms, significant buildup of dry fuel, and continued development in the wildland urban interface are increasing the number of wildfires and making them more dangerous. Action, collaboration and partnership among utilities, regulators, communities, agencies and other stakeholders focused on reducing the probability and consequence of wildfires continue to be of paramount importance. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID‐19 pandemic, we met or exceeded nearly all the goals in our 2020 plan. We installed over 960 circuit miles of covered conductor, over 6,000 fire‐resistant poles and 590 weather stations while removing more than 12,200 hazard trees that could fall into power lines and lead to ignitions. Our 2021 WMP Update proposes: Additional grid hardening, Enhanced inspection and repair programs, Continuation of aggressive vegetation management, Increased situational awareness and response, and Augmented activities for Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) resilience and community engagement, particularly for underrepresented groups and our access and functional needs (AFN) customers. This WMP update also outlines how we have matured in our wildfire mitigation capabilities and our long‐ term plan to further advance our risk‐informed decision‐making, data management, grid hardening and community engagement before, during and after wildfire‐related events. While we have made considerable progress, we continue to look for opportunities to improve. We want to thank California’s leadership — lawmakers and various agency personnel — for addressing this critically important public safety issue. We are proud of our partnership with local governments, first responders and the general public, who have come together to further reduce the risk of potentially devastating wildfires. E-1 6 SCE’s Foundational Wildfire Mitigation Plan Progress Completed in 2020 Completed Since 2018 2021‐22 Forecasts Covered Conductor More than 960 circuit miles installed More than 1,480 circuit miles installed Install 1,000 circuit miles in 2021 and 1,600 circuit miles in 2022. Scope will be added if feasible. Undergrounding Identified 17 miles for 2021‐22 Performed detailed risk and engineering analyses and identified targeted scope Approximately 4‐6 miles in 2021 and 11 miles in 2022; examine ways to make undergrounding a more feasible long‐term wildfire mitigation solution High Fire Risk Inspections and Remediations Inspected more than 199,000 distribution structures and 35,500 transmission structures; performed corresponding repairs and replacements within due dates Completed more than 584,000 inspections on distribution structures and 86,000 inspections on transmission structures; performed corresponding repairs and replacements within due dates Risk‐informed ground & aerial inspection program to inspect over 160,000 distribution structures and over 16,000 transmission structures annually; option to inspect additional areas of concern Vegetation Management Maintained line clearance, completed approximately 99,500 hazard tree assessments and over 12,200 tree removals, cleared brush at base of over 230,000 poles Expanded line clearance to recommended distances where feasible, completed over 228,000 hazard tree assessments and 18,000 removals, expanded pole brushing to almost all high fire risk area distribution poles Continue expanded line clearances; focus on hazard tree assessments and timely removal; brush clearing at base of 200,000‐300,000 poles Weather Stations More than 590 installed More than 1,050 installed 375 weather stations per year. Additional scope being evaluated HD Cameras 5 installed 166 installed. Deployment complete across HFRA No additional scope currently Sectionalizing Devices 49 devices installed More than 100 devices installed Evaluating circuits that would benefit from further sectionalization Fast‐Acting Fuses 3,025 fuses installed More than 12,900 fuses installed Install 330‐500 fuses per year Backup Resiliency Programs Launched Critical Care Battery Backup Program and pilot programs including well water generator rebates, residential portable power rebate, resiliency zones and customer equipment resiliency microgrid (1 site) Progressed in understanding customer‐ and community‐specific needs and developed targeted programs to support critical care Medical Baseline customers and communities frequently impacted by PSPS Expand the Battery Backup program to Medical Baseline customers in high fire risk areas who are income qualified. Scale pilot programs based on learnings E-2 7 SCE’S WMP REAFFIRMS OUR COMMITMENT TO WILDFIRE MITIGATION AND PSPS RESILIENCE The primary objective of our WMP is to safeguard public safety. This update includes an actionable, measurable and adaptive plan for 2021 and 2022 to reduce the risk of potential wildfire‐causing ignitions associated with our electrical infrastructure in high fire risk areas (HFRA). At the same time, we are intensely aware of the impact of planned WMP work and PSPS events on our customers and communities, especially when compounded with the restrictions and disruptions from the COVID‐19 pandemic. Our WMP aims to strike the appropriate balance between mitigating the risk of wildfires and these inevitable challenges, and we are committed to enhanced transparency, communication, coordination and resiliency to help mitigate the hardships caused by de‐energization events. Other key objectives of our WMP include: Increasing the resilience of our infrastructure to help minimize service disruptions during fires, regardless of ignition source Improving fire agencies’ ability to detect and respond to emerging fires Improving coordination between utility, state and local emergency management personnel Reducing the impact of wildfires and wildfire mitigation efforts, including PSPS Effectively engaging the public about preparing for, preventing, and mitigating wildfires in our HFRA In 2020, we successfully concluded or operationalized several WMP activities.1 We have also added seven activities based on updated engineering assessments, ignition risk analysis and community feedback. Our 2021 WMP Update includes 39 activities that underscore our commitment to allocate significant resources to further reduce the risk of wildfires and support our communities.2 We highlight some of the key activities for each of our wildfire mitigation capabilities below that were, in part, shaped by the successes and lessons learned since we started our targeted wildfire mitigation efforts in 2018. Grid Design and System Hardening: Expanded Measures Are Expected to Further Reduce Wildfire Risk From Overhead Electric Systems Covered conductor deployment continues to be one of our most important wildfire mitigation activities. We have deployed nearly 1,500 circuit miles of covered conductor to date and plan to deploy over 1,000 circuit miles of covered conductor in 2021. By the end of 2022, we expect to replace over 4,000 circuit 1 A few activities such as quality control for detailed inspections in HFRA and vegetation management have been incorporated as part of our on‐going operations and are no longer included as WMP activities. Evaluation of new technologies continues to be included, but not as WMP activities since their ignition or PSPS risk‐reduction benefits have not yet been validated. To streamline our presentation, we have grouped some activities that work together to provide wildfire or PSPS mitigation benefits. An example is consolidating ground detailed inspections, aerial detailed inspections and repairs or replacements based on the results of these inspection programs, as they work hand‐in‐hand to address asset conditions that pose ignition risks. Please see Appendix 9.3 for a detailed comparison of previous and current WMP activities. 2 We have worked diligently to provide complete responses to the WMP requirements regarding these activities and other information. However, given the timing of ongoing final validation of 2020 data, such as financial and outage information, we note that the information provided in some instances should be considered preliminary. If there are any material changes based on further review, SCE will promptly notify the Commission of these changes. E-3 8 miles or approximately 40% of distribution primary overhead conductors in HFRA. Though wildfire risk reduction has been the primary criterion for prioritizing where covered conductor is installed, we are also assessing circuit segments where covered conductor installation can mitigate the need for PSPS de‐ energizations. Wood poles in HFRA are being replaced with fire‐resistant poles or poles with fire‐resistant wrapping as well. We are undergrounding circuit segments based on several factors, including their PSPS history, limited egress routes, terrain and community feedback. Though the 2021 scope is selective due to high costs and long construction lead times, we are examining ways to make undergrounding a more feasible long‐term wildfire mitigation solution. We are adding three new system hardening initiatives — remediation of long conductor spans at risk of conductor clashes, replacement of C‐Hooks installed on transmission structures and replacement of vertical switches — identified through engineering analysis, risk‐informed inspection in HFRA and learnings from recent wildfire events elsewhere in California. In addition, we are planning the deployment of a microgrid pilot to provide backup power during PSPS. Asset Management and Inspections: Structures Responsible for 99% of the Wildfire Risk Will Be Inspected We perform risk‐informed inspections and remediations in HFRA that go beyond compliance requirements in scope, frequency and approach. Asset conditions and location‐specific fire risks change often between multiyear compliance cycles for inspection. Even with annual inspections, potential ignition risks found each cycle, underscore this program’s efficacy. Detailed ground and aerial inspections are conducted to obtain 360‐degree views of overhead structures and equipment. Repairs or replacements based on safety, reliability or ignition risks identified, are completed within the pre‐ established compliance timelines. In 2021, nearly 60% of distribution and approximately 50% of transmission structures in HFRA will be inspected. The assets included in these inspections account for 99% of the wildfire risk in HFRA. In 2020, based on the emergent risks during the fire season, supplemental inspections were needed in targeted locations with high dry fuel‐ and wind‐driven risks to further reduce the probability of ignitions. For 2021, we are including the option for such targeted reinspection of assets based on observed risk factors associated with prevailing weather and fire conditions. We are also developing and implementing mobile inspection tools and data management systems to improve inspection data quality and reduce inspection cycle time. Vegetation Management: New Platform Will Increase Efficiency and Enable Advanced Analytics Given the importance of vegetation management to reduce the risk of wildfires, we are continuing our multipronged approach, to reduce vegetation contact with electrical lines and equipment by not only maintaining line clearances, but also by remediating trees that can fall into lines and removing brush around our poles. Furthermore, we are investing in an integrated software platform that will help streamline scheduling and processing of the enormous volumes of work, improve data management and facilitate advanced analytics and predictive modeling across all vegetation management activities. Situational Awareness and Weather Forecasting: Additional Weather Stations, Satellite Imagery and Advanced Technology Will Boost Capabilities We continue to advance our weather modeling and situational awareness capabilities to better understand wildfire risks and more precisely target PSPS de‐energization events to affect as few customers as possible, while still addressing dangerous fire threat conditions. Since program inception in 2018, we have installed more than 1,000 weather stations in our HFRA. In 2021, we will continue to E-4 9 progressively deploy hundreds of additional weather stations to further our predictive modeling capabilities regarding potentially dangerous winds and elevated fire potential. We are also implementing a host of technology advancements in 2021, such as a next‐generation weather modeling system and integration of satellite imagery to collect additional information on weather, fuels and fire activity. In addition to our weather‐related situational awareness initiatives, we are also seeking to improve the monitoring of potential issues on our system through advanced Early Fault Detection technologies. Grid Operations and Protocols: Resources Dedicated to Refining Circuit‐Specific Measures We are continuing to assess and adjust our operational protocols to prepare for extreme fire risk events, including circuit‐specific plans for sectionalization, equipment settings and patrols ahead of potential PSPS events. This includes a dedicated and trained incident management team (IMT), heightened efforts on community engagement and customer communication before, during and after events, as well as an expanded customer care program. Additional details about our PSPS‐related efforts are described in more detail below. Emergency Planning and Preparedness: Trained Workforce Is Ready to Restore Power and Assist Customers We remain prepared to serve our customers and help them face emergencies that disrupt their electrical service. In the event of a major emergency, we have a dedicated customer support team to assist impacted customers. Our highly qualified workforce is trained on protocols to restore power safely and quickly after de‐energization events. We have a process in place to learn about our performance, and improve on our responses. We discuss this in more detail below. Stakeholder Cooperation and Community Engagement: Strong Partnerships Increase Outreach to Hard‐ to Reach Customer Groups, Provide Aerial Resources for Fire Agencies We are working ever‐more closely with our customers, local and tribal government agencies, fire agencies, community‐based organizations (CBOs) and other utilities on emergency planning, incident management and outreach. In 2020, we: Conducted nine virtual community meetings Held PowerTalks with residential and business customers to provide information on outages and outage management Led resiliency workshops for water agencies, telecommunication companies and school districts Met with government and business associations to discuss their concerns and offer solutions Developed strong partnerships with approximately 50 CBOs to increase the effectiveness of our customer outreach, especially for hard‐to‐reach groups In 2021, we are targeting much of our engagement efforts on communities heavily impacted by PSPS and actively evaluating and refining our stakeholder coordination and customer outreach approaches based on feedback on 2020 events. We have instituted a formal feedback process to help us incorporate specific critiques and recommendations. Despite California’s investment in firefighting resources, 2020 underscored the strain put on fire agencies with the growth of large fires. After a successful limited‐scale partnership with the Orange County Fire Authority in 2020, we are partnering with the fire agencies in our service area to provide temporary E-5 10 mitigation of up to five aerial resources such as helitankers to bolster firefighting capabilities, primarily to protect electrical infrastructure during fires for service resilience to our customers.3 Risk Assessment and Mapping: Improved Risk Models and Incorporating PSPS Risks Will Help Prioritize Work Even More Effectively In 2020, we met some significant milestones in enhancing our risk analytics. We integrated our enterprise‐ level risk modeling approach with the asset‐ and location‐specific risk models, transitioned to a new ignition consequence modeling tool that uses expanded historical data at higher granularity and developed asset‐specific probability of ignition models for transmission and sub‐transmission assets in addition to the distribution asset models built previously. Furthermore, we supplemented our wildfire risk model to include PSPS as part of the overall risk, thus more accurately accounting for risks impacting our customers and risk reduction associated with our wildfire mitigation activities. These improvements enable us to drive consistent risk‐informed decision‐making at the enterprise and activity levels, help us more accurately estimate risk along the grid and risk to our communities and better target how much work to do where and when. Resource Allocation Methodology: Risk Analysis Along with Operational Considerations Help Us Direct Our Resources We have performed risk‐reduction and risk‐spend efficiency (RSE) calculations using the granular approach mentioned in Risk Assessment and Mapping above. This provides a more accurate understanding of relative risk buy down with any WMP activity and enables us to more consistently evaluate the relative risk‐reduction benefits of our portfolio of WMP activities. We are using the results of our risk analyses to make more informed decisions when validating selected wildfire mitigation activities and prioritizing resource allocation within a WMP activity. We note that RSE, while an important and valuable input, is not, and should not, be the only factor used to develop or execute a risk mitigation plan. The RSE metric does not account for certain operational realities, including planning and execution lead times, resource constraints, work management efficiencies, ability to target specific risk drivers and regulatory compliance requirements. We consider these additional factors while determining the type and volume of work undertaken to reduce wildfire and PSPS risks in a timely manner. Data Governance: Focus on Data Quality Will Enable Next‐Generation Geospatial and Risk Analytics and Automated Processing of Inspection Images We are enhancing our data quality and consistency, enabling next‐generation geospatial and risk analytics and automating data sharing and reporting capabilities by developing a centralized cloud‐based data repository and data platform that integrates information from disparate sources. This will also enhance our data management capability and enable automated processing of asset inspection images, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing human error. For example, just in 2020, our aerial inspections generated approximately 5 million images. Having centralized geospatial data eliminates the need to extract and consolidate data for each instance of data‐sharing and enables standardization and automation of reports. Going forward, we can store such large and growing volumes of data, increase the 3 Between Oct. 1 – Dec. 15, 2020, the leased Coulson‐Unical CH‐47 helitanker made 145 water drops (308,000 gallons) over four fires. E-6 11 accuracy and productivity of image analysis to determine repairs and replacements needed and enhance our risk modeling capabilities using higher quality asset condition information. SCE IS DETERMINED TO IMPROVE PSPS PROTOCOLS AND MITIGATE PSPS IMPACTS PSPS is a necessary mitigation to protect public safety under extreme conditions that we use as a last resort. We recognize and appreciate the impact of PSPS events on our customers. Keeping the lights on, and everything else electricity powers, is in our DNA, and we do not take lightly any decision to proactively de‐energize portions of the grid. Though the frequency and scope of PSPS events are expected to lessen as we execute our WMP activities, PSPS will have to remain available as a tool to mitigate wildfire risk during severe weather and high Fire Potential Index events. In 2019 and 2020, our post‐patrols found approximately 60 incidents of wind‐related damage that could have potentially caused ignitions, and there were likely many more that could not be observed after the events. Our highly trained PSPS IMT plans and executes our PSPS protocols designed to maximize effectiveness while reducing the negative impacts to customers, by limiting de‐energizations to specific circuit segments and facilitating the swift and safe restoration of power. In 20 20, we transitioned to a dedicated IMT model for knowledge continuity and operational consistency from event to event and to help focus on continuous improvement between events. By all accounts, 2020 was an extreme weather and fire season. In fact, five of the six largest wildfires in California’s history took place last year and average rainfall totals across Central and Southern California remained 50%‐75% below normal through mid‐January 2021. Such drought conditions, coupled with exceedingly low fuel moisture and very strong wind gusts, increased the risk for ignition and spread of catastrophic wildfires, putting us on alert for, and at times necessitating, PSPS events. Firefighting resources were strained in our service area and across the state, and the dry fuels accumulation increased the potential consequence of any ignition. The threats posed by these abnormal weather conditions meant that many customers were affected on multiple occasions, including holidays and while customers were trying to work and attend classes from home in compliance with stay‐at‐home orders. Despite the adverse conditions, 2020 demonstrated the extraordinary efforts of the women and men of our company to prepare for and conduct necessary PSPS to protect life and property, partner with communities, fire agencies and other stakeholders and support our customers in time‐tested, novel and sometimes individualized ways. Compared to 2019, we were able to reduce the average duration of PSPS events by 33% and customer minutes of interruption by 22%. Of the circuits de‐energized in 2019, 46% did not experience PSPS in 2020. We also considerably increased utilization of sectionalization devices to limit the scope of PSPS and the largest event in 2020 impacted 38% fewer customers than the largest event in 2019. We are investing in enhanced circuit mitigations, customer care, external communication, notification processes and technologies. This includes expanding circuit‐specific grid hardening and PSPS mitigation plans, especially for frequently impacted circuits. For example, our current plans for 2021 include installation of covered conductor on more than 100 circuit segments that were de‐energized during PSPS events. We are assessing potential expansion of this scope. We are also refining our PSPS thresholds E-7 12 informed by improved weather and fire modeling along with completed grid hardening. In 2020, we contracted with 56 Community Resource Centers, an increase of 300% over 2019, and deployed eight Community Crew Vehicles to provide information and services to customers during PSPS de‐energization events and will continue to provide this support in 2021. In this upcoming year, we are expanding our customer care portfolio to better support Medical Baseline cust omers and help with community resiliency zones. We are redesigning our grid protocols and customer notifications processes to address specific concerns and feedback from county partners and are collaborating with heavily impacted communities for education, outreach and critical infrastructure planning support to help other entities providing critical services be more resilient as well. Of the customers who experienced PSPS de‐energizations in 2020, approximately 27,000 fewer customers are expected to experience PSPS events in 2021 under the same weather conditions. Almost half of these customers are not expected to experience PSPS again. Notwithstanding improved PSPS operations, more of our customers experienced PSPS de‐energizations in 2020 largely due to weather, and our communication efforts did not meet the needs and expectations of our customers and agency partners. In light of recent feedback, we are taking a fresh and hard look at finding ways to further reduce PSPS de‐energizations and meet community and regulatory expectations in terms of sharing our PSPS decision‐making approach; keeping our customers informed more effectively; improving communication and coordination with regulators, local governments, fire agencies and other partners; and providing our customers, especially Medical Baseline and AFN customers, with more resiliency options and financial help. The action plan that was submitted on Feb. 12, 2021 provided details on the concrete steps we will take to deliver tangible improvements (see Section 9.11 for the PSPS Corrective Action Plan). We can and will do better going forward. FURTHER ADVANCEMENTS IN SCE’S WILDFIRE CAPABILITY MATURITY EXPECTED THROUGH 2025 We have made great strides in developing our wildfire mitigation capabilities, going beyond minimum regulatory requirements in several key areas, increasingly relying on data and advanced analytics to plan and prioritize resource allocation for wildfire risk mitigation and establishing robust operational processes for planning, preparedness and stakeholder engagement. For example, we have incorporated risk, as determined by predictive modeling of equipment failure and consequences, to schedule inspections. We are maintaining our advanced capabilities in several areas, including emergency planning and preparedness. One of the critical areas we are focusing on this year and the near future is better data management, advanced analytics and automation that will be foundational to our continued progress in grid hardening, asset management, vegetation management and grid operations among other activities. We continue to support the refinement and utilization of a wildfire mitigation capability maturity model. It can help identify, share and continually improve a suite of best practices and lessons learned to combat the growing risk of wildfires. Our responses to the survey questions for 2021 maturity reflect the progress we made in 2020 along with a clearer understanding of the Wildfire Safety Division’s (WSD) intent in these questions. Our assessment of our expected 2023 capability maturity assumes full deployment of the activities proposed in this WMP update. As outlined in our long‐term plan for wildfire mitigation, we expect to achieve high maturity across all categories by 2025. We agree with the WSD’s goal of E-8 13 transitioning from compliance‐based activities to risk‐informed planning and execution; it is therefore critically important to conduct an assessment of the current regulatory structure and processes for scope and funding approval of risk mitigation activities, to achieve higher levels of maturity. In 2020, the inaugural process for developing the maturity model and the compressed timelines for various WMP‐related regulatory activities did not afford incorporation of participant comments. We look forward to a public process working with the WSD to modify and refine this survey and the scoring mechanism for subsequent cycles to better align with a shared understanding of utility operations and the necessary evolution of wildfire mitigation capabilities in California. This is especially important as the capability maturity model is an important consideration for developing and executing our long‐term WMP, which requires significant resources, funding allocation and long execution lead times in some areas. SCE DRIVES IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH APPROPRIATE USE OF METRICS Metrics and underlying data are critical components for WMP development, execution and evaluation, but we continue to emphasize that the near‐term focus should be on efficient implementation of our planned activities, while the assessment of whether the activities are having the desired and expected impact on risk reduction should be measured over a longer time horizon. A clear distinction is necessary between metrics that can help monitor compliance with approved WMPs and those that can help evaluate the effectiveness of these approved plans and inform future WMP updates. As in 2019 and 2020, we provide annual program targets for each WMP activity, which establish goals to evaluate compliance. As stated in previous filings and submittals, tracking program targets for approved WMPs is the best means of determining progress and assessing WMP compliance in the near term. We previously proposed a few outcome‐based or effectiveness metrics that we believe our mitigations will help improve, and when normalized for weather and other exogenous factors and analyzed for trends, can be used to measure the efficacy of our wildfire mitigation work and inform any required modifications. These metrics include CPUC reportable ignitions, faults and energized downed wire events in HFRA along with the number of customers impacted, average duration of PSPS events and timeliness and accuracy of PSPS notifications. Prudent grid operations, maintenance and upgrades will not eliminate risk entirely, but over time and cumulatively, will result in an overall improvement in these outcome‐based metrics. These metrics, however, cannot be used to measure progress or compliance per approved plans in the short term. Other metrics such as safety incidents, acres burned or structures destroyed, though important to understand and drive California’s fire mitigation efforts, are impacted by factors and circumstances such as climate change, fire‐suppression efforts and fire response, that are largely outside of the utility’s control. Therefore, only applicable outcome‐based metrics should be selected for WMPs. We look forward to collaborating with the WSD, utilities and other stakeholders to agree on how the outcome‐based metrics should be appropriately measured and used to draw pertinent conclusions. E-9 14 WE WILL REMAIN ADAPTABLE IN 2021 TO IMPROVE AND ADDRESS EMERGENT ISSUES Our understanding of wildfire and PSPS risks and the efforts we need to undertake to effectively mitigate these risks has evolved over the last year based on new information and stakeholder feedback and analysis, as discussed above. The scope and cost forecasts for 2021 and 2022 in this update are therefore different from what we set forth in our 2021 General Rate Case (GRC) filed in August 2019 and our 2020 WMP submitted in February 2020. We remain flexible to incorporate the guidance in our pending 2021 GRC Decision and hope and expect that the cost recovery mechanism approved there will reflect the dynamic scope of activities envisioned by the WMP annual update and change order processes. We will continue to reevaluate asset‐ and location‐specific risks, benefits and mitigation needs, and will modify or adjust our plan accordingly to better utilize constrained resources and funds for risk reduction. Though regulatory and stakeholder expectations regarding wildfire mitigation continue to increase, we are always looking for operational efficiencies, and that aim — to prudently execute the appropriate scope of work — is no different for our wildfire mitigation activities. Finally, as evidenced in 2020, unexpected challenges such as the COVID‐19 pandemic may require us to change the work we do and how we do it, and we commit to vigilance and flexibility to meet emergent needs of our customers and the grid that serves them. CONCLUSION The 2020 wildfire season clearly demonstrated the continued urgency of wildfire prevention, response and emergency preparedness. Our employees work hard to help protect our customers and communities from the threat of wildfires. Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, we met or exceeded nearly all the goals in our 2020 plan. At the same time, we know there are areas for improvement and more work to be done. Our 2021 WMP Update builds upon our Grid Safety and Resilience Plan, previous WMPs and our 2021 GRC proposal, incorporating progress made and lessons learned regarding wildfire mitigation since 2018. It includes additional inspections and remediations in targeted areas based on emergent fire weather conditions, augmenting our system hardening activities to target higher‐risk conductor spans, switches and hardware, providing aerial fire‐suppression resources such as helitankers to fire agencies and establishing central data platforms for next‐generation data analytics and governance. It provides a plan that effectively demonstrates prudent operation of the grid and customer care with measurable and actionable targets. We are committed to finding opportunities to reduce the impacts of PSPS events on our customers. With another year of PSPS data to work with, we will continue to review opportunities to accelerate mitigations for circuits that are frequently subject to PSPS events so we can reduce the size, frequency and duration of these events. We will be expanding our battery backup program to include all income‐qualified Medical Baseline customers in addition to critical care customers. Community outreach will continue, especially to AFN customers, emphasizing both PSPS readiness and emergency preparedness. We look forward to continuing to work with state policymakers, local government officials, CBOs and other stakeholders to build a more resilient California. E-10 F-1 AP ~~M PG&E will spend at least $15 billion burying power lines By MICHAEL LIEDTKE Jul y 21, 2021 RELATED TOPICS Wildfires Trees Business Gove rnment and politics Fires California SAN RANJ:ON, Calif. (AP) -Pacific Gas & Electric plans to bury 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometers) of its power lines in an effort to prevent its fraying grid from sparking wildfires when electrical equipment collides with millions of trees and ot her vegetation across drough t-stricken California. Th e daunting project announced \Vednesday aims to bury about 10% of PG&E's distribution and transmission lines at a projected cost of S15 b illion to as much as S30 billion, based on how much the process currently costs. The utility believes it will find ways to keep the final bill at the lower end o f those estimates. Most of the costs will likely be shouldered by PG&E customers, whose electricity rates are already among the h ighest in the U.S. PG&E stepped u p its safety commitment just days after informing regulat ors a 70-foot (23-meter) pine tree that toppled o n one of its po"·er lines ignited a maj or fire in Butte County, the same rural area about 145 miles (233 kilometers) northeast of San Francisco where another fire sparked by its equipment in 2018 killed m ore than Bo people and destroyed thousands of homes. Since it started July 13 in a remote area of Butte County, the Dixie Fire has churned northeast through the Sierra Nevada. By Wednesday, the fire spanned a 133-square-mile (344-square- kilometer) area, forcing the Plumas County sheriff on Wednesday to order evacuations along the west shore of popular Lake Almanor. The backlash to PG&E's potent ial liability for the Dixie Fire prompted the company's recently hired CEO, Patricia "Patti" Poppe, to u nveil the plan for undergroun d lines several months earlier than she said she planned. Previous PG&E r egimes have staunchly resisted plans to bury long st retches of power lines because of the massive ex-pense involved. But Poppe told r eporters on Wednesday that she quickly realized after she joined PG&E in January that moving lines underground is the best way to protect both the utility and the 16 million people who rely on it for power. "It's too expensive not to do it. Lives are on the line," Poppe told reporters. PG&E said only that burying the lines will take several years. However, getting the job done within the nex't decade will require a quantum leap. In the few areas where PG&E has already been burying power lines, it ha s been completing about 70 miles (123 kilometers) annually. PG&E expects to eventually be able to bury more than 1,000 miles (1,6oo kilometers) of power lines annually, said its chief operating officer, Adam Wright. While \\'right likened the project to the Marshall Plan that helped rebuild Europe after World War II, Poppe invoked President Joh n F. Kennedy's 1962 pledge for the U.S. to land on the m oon. PG&E's path to this point has been strewn wi th death and destruction. After previous leaders allowed its equipment to fall into disrepair in a apparent attempt to boost profits and management bonuses, the utility's grid was blamed for igniting a series of devastating wildfires in 2017 and 2018 that prompted the company to file for bankruptcy in 2019. Th e biggest fire, in Butte County, wiped out the entire town of Paradise and resulted in PG&E pleading guilty to 84 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter last year just weeks before it emerged from one of the most complex cases in U.S. history. As part of its bankruptcy, PG&E set up a S13.5 billion trust to pay victims of its past wildfires, but that fund is facing a roughly S2 billion shortfall because half its money is supposed to come from Top Stories Topics v Video listen @ Craft toots Trump t ies in pOssible preview of bid for '" Fake COVl0-19 vacc1nat1on cards worry colleli!e officials SANTA N Markie Post, TV veteran actor of 'Nill.ht Coort,' dies at70 F-2 company stock t hat h as been a m arket laggard. Since getting out of bankruptcy, PG&E also has been rebu ked by California power regulators and a federal judge overseeing its criminal probat ion for breaking promises to reduce the dangers posed by tr~s n ea r its power line s. The utility has also been charged with another roun d of fire- related crimes t h at it denies committing. Poppe insisted things are getting better this year und e r a plan that calls for PG&E to spend S1.4 billion r emoving more t han 300,000 t ree s and t rimming anoth er 1.1 million. But she conceded the utility is "not making enough progress" since it 's only a fraction of that 8 million tr ees within striking distance of its pov,.,e r lines. But she also defended PG&E's handling of t he tree that may have caused the Di..xie Fire and it s response. T he tree looke d healthy and ,-..-as ab out 40 feet (12 meters) from power lines, she said, making it a low-risk d anger. When a PG&E t roubleshooter was se nt out to in spect a poten t ial proble m, he n ot iced the t ree had fallen and may have started a fire in a treacherous area t h at he t r ied to put out before fire fighters arrived. "His e fforts can be called no thing less than h eroic," Poppe said. CCFlt.._,....,...f-eed You~y like Rancho Palos Yercles: Stanup 15 Changing the Wl"j People These Cars r.Je so Lo.aded It's Hald to Be~eve They're so Ret.-e Cheap Craft louts Tru mp lies in possible preview of bid for gov FOffl'le!" 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August 17, 2021 Via Email Kevin Payne President and Chief Executive Officer Southern California Edison Company 2244 Walnut Grove Avenue Rosemead, CA 91770 SUBJECT: Prioritize Funding for Undergrounding Projects Dear Mr. Payne: The City of Rancho Palos Verdes writes to express our concern regarding Southern California Edison’s (SCE) overall approach to implementing necessary and appropriate wildfire prevention measures and to call on SCE to prioritize and significantly step up funding for critically-needed undergrounding for fire prevention. While we applaud utilities across the state for their efforts to reduce the frequency and severity of wildfires, we believe that more can be done to ensure reliable power and to mitigate the risk of catastrophic wildfires decimating local communities and unnecessary loss of lives. California's recent wildfires, including the current Dixie Fire which is now considered the largest single wildfire in California history, have been increasingly destructive, posing an ever-increasing threat to lives and communities. It is well known that electric utility equipment is a common source of fire ignition and has been responsible for some of the state's most destructive fires. Cal Fire determined that the 2018 Camp Fire, which claimed 85 lives, destroyed 18,804 homes and structures, consumed more than 150,000 acres, and is the most destructive wildfire in California's history, was started by faulty electric transmission lines. Moreover, seven of the top 20 most destructive wildfires in California history were started by power lines or electrical sources, according to Cal Fire. As you are undoubtedly aware, on July 21, 2021, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced a major new initiative to expand undergrounding of electric distribution power lines in High Fire Threat Districts (HFTD) to further harden its system and aid in wildfire prevention. This new infrastructure safety initiative, announced by PG&E Corporation’s CEO Patti Poppe, entails undergrounding approximately 10,000 miles of power lines over a multi-year period. PG&E's commitment is the largest in the United States for undergrounding power lines as a risk reduction measure. The City recognizes the significant expense associated with undergrounding utilities, and while the City supports the intent of SCE's recently filed annual update to its 2020 -22 Wildfire Mitigation Plan, particularly the utility's goal of unde rgrounding approximately 15 miles of powerlines by the end of 2022 (none of which will occur in Rancho Palos Verdes G-1 FRIC 1\1 FGRIA. MAYOR 01\VID 0. t:31\I\DL E:.Y. M 1WOI\ 1-)ls!O I E:.M JOHN Ci\Ull<SH!\NI<, COUNCILME:.Ml::lE:.1-1 l(EN flYnA, COlJNCILMEMBER BARBARA FERRARO. COlJN CILMEMBER Kevin Payne, President and Chief Executive Officer August 17, 2021 Page 2 or the Palos Verdes Peninsula), additional funding for underground in high -risk areas is required to protect both the utility and the community. Wildfires are both increasingly deadly and destructive, highlighting the situation's urgency, and we cannot afford another disaster of this magnitude. To quote PG&E CEO Patti Poppe, “It’s too expensive not to do it. Lives are on the line.” Due to the fact that undergrounding is the most comprehensive and effective method of mitigating the impact of overhead utility wires and reducing the risk of major fire disasters, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, which is almost entirely located in the state designated Very Severe High Fire Hazard Area, compels SCE to match or exceed PG&E's commitment to utility undergrounding and customer safety by addressing the underlying cause of the issue rather than relying on “band-aid” solutions. The City of Rancho Palos Verdes appreciates your consideration of our requests and looks forward to further discussing in the coming days how together we can continue to best protect Southern Californians. We appreciate your efforts in advance of what is likely to be another difficult wildfire season. Sincerely, Eric Alegria, Mayor cc: Rancho Palos Verdes City Council Ara Mihranian, City Manager Karina Bañales, Deputy City Manager G-2