CA SB1312

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to revise Electric Tariff Rule 20 to authorize and fund undergrounding of electrical infrastructure in Tier 2 and Tier 3 high fire-threat areas for wildfire mitigation purposes.

Requires the commission to develop standards to measure the prudency of electrical corporations' public safety power shutoffs and fire risk mitigation capital expenditures on distribution or transmission infrastructure.

Mandates electrical corporations report to the commission within 10 business days after each deenergization event, and requires the commission to hold public hearings within 60 days to determine if shutoffs were conducted prudently, with authority to levy fines and penalties for imprudent conduct.

Requires electrical corporations to notify the commission, Office of Emergency Services, and Department of Forestry and Fire Protection at each stage of potential public safety power shutoffs and to report fire risk mitigation capital expenditures within one year of a shutoff.

Mandates electrical corporations identify at least 15% of infrastructure most likely to cause shutoffs or ignite wildfires by July 1, 2021, and make fire risk mitigation expenditures on 50% by July 1, 2023, 75% by July 1, 2024, and 100% by July 1, 2025, to prevent unnecessary shutoffs except in extraordinary circumstances.