At their meeting
this month, the Wildfire Safety Advisory Board approved
recommendations on the 2021 Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP)
Updates for Small and Multi-Jurisdictional Utilities (SMJU). The
Board adopted similar
recommendations for Large Investor-Owned Utilities last
month.
The Advisory Board was created by the Legislature in 2019 and is
comprised of seven independent expert advisors. The Board is
tasked with advising the Wildfire Safety Division within the CPUC
on wildfire safety measures, including plans written by
utilities, so the CPUC can more effectively regulate the safety
of investor-owned utilities. On July 1, 2021, the Wildfire Safety
Division, which houses the Advisory Board, will become the Office
of Energy Infrastructure Safety under the California Natural
Resources Agency.
The recommendations are intended to address electric utility
regulation and the prevention of wildfires caused by utilities.
The SMJU recommendations are grouped into four main topic areas:
