On Friday, December 2nd, RCRC and CSAC hosted PG&E for an in-depth discussion on the utility’s vegetation management activities.
At the meeting, supervisors and staff from fourteen counties detailed their shared experiences and problems with PG&E’s vegetation management operations, contractors, and the impact that failure to remove felled wood is having on public safety, fuel load, and the creation and maintenance of defensible space. Locals were joined by a dozen state representatives from CalFire, the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety, and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
In attendance from PG&E were Peter Kenny, Senior Vice President for Vegetation Management and Electric System Inspections, Mike Seitz, Vice President of Vegetation Management, and Ron Richardson, Vice President for the North Coast Region. PG&E indicated they are trying to improve consistency and meet expectations among their various vegetation management programs.
In response to RCRC and CSAC’s letters to PG&E and the CPUC, PG&E indicated that it had resumed its wood haul program. PG&E noted that customers will not have to submit new complaints to have their felled wood removed; however, residents can contact wildfirewoodmanagement@pge.com, call 1-800-687-5720, or visit the Wildfire Wood Management Program webpage in the meantime.
RCRC, CSAC, and PG&E will reconvene in January to discuss progress PG&E has made on felled wood removal.
For more information, contact RCRC Policy Advocates John Kennedy or Leigh Kammerich.
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