PG&E shores up its grid for fire season

As temperatures rise along with wildfire risk, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is reporting steady progress on its new and enhanced mitigation plan designed to keep customers and communities safe during fire season. Despite the pandemic, physically distanced crews have remained in the field, making a variety of improvements to the utility’s infrastructure, company spokesperson Deanna Contreras said in a press release.

As of May 29, stronger poles, covered lines and targeted undergrounding across 105 line miles had been accomplished, part of a year-long plan to “harden” 241 miles of line. Vegetation across 939 miles had been inspected, pruned or removed, representing nearly 50 percent of the planned 1,800 mile total. And 116 advanced weather stations have been installed, along with 50 high definition cameras. The distribution grid has been divided to enhance operational flexibility, and 216 out of 592 devices targeted for the year are now operational. Line switches to redirect power have been installed at 23 locations, and plans to create up to 48 substations for temporary power generation have been created.

“Wildfire season is upon us, and the public can be assured of PG&E’s unwavering efforts to improve public safety and further reduce wildfire risk. The steps we are taking to keep our customers and communities safe are unprecedented and include everything from more robust vegetation management and hardening the grid to making our Public Safety Power Shutoff events smaller and shorter to making our website more resilient,” PG&E senior vice president Michael Lewis said in the press release.

To reduce the impact of potential Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) as well as the number of customers affected, PG&E is installing sectionalizing devices to redirect power, microgrids that use generators to help keep the lights on. Seeking to cut restorations times in half from 2019, with the majority of customers restored within 12 daylight hours after a severe weather incident, PG&E is nearly doubling its exclusive-use helicopter fleet from 35 to 65, and using two airplanes equipped with infrared cameras capable of inspecting transmission lines at night. It will also mobilize more field crews to speed up inspections, and “invest in more reliable and innovative equipment.” Should PSPS become necessary, PG&E intends to “utilize mutual assistance from other companies,” Contreras said.