December 2017 Southern California Wildfires

In December 2017, several major wildfires spread through Southern California, including the Rye Fire, the Thomas Fire, and Liberty Fire, and the Creek Fire.

CAL FIRE is the first responder and determines the sources of ignition of the fires and the way that the fires spread. The CPUC works closely with CAL FIRE, which determines the sources of ignition of the fires and the way that the fires spread. The CPUC's Safety and Enforcement Division conducts investigations to assess the compliance of electric and communication facilities with applicable rules and regulations in fire impacted areas. Investigation topics include, but are not limited to, maintenance of facilities, vegetation management, and emergency preparedness and response. The fires under CPUC staff investigation from December 2017, are the following wildfires in Southern California Edison's service territory: Rye, Thomas, Liberty, and Meyers.

On this webpage you will find CPUC information related to the fires.

Regulations and Information

• November 2, 2021: CPUC Safety Enforcement Staff Issue Proposal for SCE Penalties and Disallowances in Settlement Addressing 2017 – 2018 Wildfires
• July 12, 2018: CPUC Strengthens Utility Public Notice Requirements for De-Energizing in Emergencies
• March 22, 2018: CPUC To Evaluate Adoption Of Post-Disaster Consumer Protection Measures
• Jan. 11, 2018: CPUC Enacts Emergency Consumer Protections For December 2017 Wildfire Victims: CPUC Press Release
  • Read our fact sheet
• Edison Fire Incident Reports
• De-energizing
• Nov. 8, 2017: Proposal Issued on New Fire-Safety Regulations
• Memorandum of Understanding between the CPUC and CAL FIRE that deals with how the agencies coordinate on response to fires and investigations
• Memorandum of Understanding between the CPUC and Cal OES that deals with coordinating emergency planning, response recovery and mitigation functions between agencies.
• Electric and Fire Related Fines.
• 2014-2016 Fire Incident Data Collection
• Fire-Threat Maps and Fire-Safety Regulations Proceedings
• General Order 95 contains rules for the design, construction, maintenance, inspection, repair, and replacement of overhead utility facilities, including electric utility facilities, communication facilities, and cable television facilities. General Order 95, Rule 35 addresses vegetation management,  Rule 37, Table 1,addresses the above ground clearances of conductors and conductor clearances from other structures/vegetation, and Rule 38, Table 2, addresses the clearances between conductors 
• Public Utilities Code 316 and General Order 95, Rule 19 govern the preservation of evidence for investigation in accordance with Public Utilities Code.
• Order Instituting Rulemaking to Consider Specified Amendments to Rule 18 of General Order 95 (R.16-02-001)

Utility Resources

• Southern California Gas Company
• SDG&E
• Southern California Edison
• AT&T 

Prior Electric Safety Reports

• SDG&E 2017 De-Energization Reports
• General Order 165 Reports: Utility Annual Electric Distribution Inspection Reports
• Electric and Communication Facilities Audit Reports
• Safety and Enforcement Division 2017 Annual Report (see page 33 for Electric Safety and Reliability information)

Prior Fire and Utility Pole News

• June 29, 2017: CPUC to Examine Utility Pole Safety and Competition, Considers Creation of Pole Database  
• April 25, 2017: CPUC Issues Staff Citations Totaling $8.3 Million to PG&E For Butte Fire  
• Dec. 5, 2017: CPUC to Hold Public Hearings on SDG&E's Wildfire Cost Recovery Request  
• May 26, 2016: CPUC Fire Map Depicts Areas of Elevated Hazards in State; First Step in Creation of Tools to Help Manage Resources  
• March 8, 2016: CPUC Hosts En Banc on Utility Pole Safety  
• Sept. 19, 2013: CPUC Enhances Safety, Issues $51.5 Million in Penalties and Remediation Against SCE and NextG for Malibu Canyon Fire  
• May 20, 2013: CPUC Staff Enter Settlement Agreement Of $37 Million With Southern California Edison Over 2007  
• Sept. 13, 2012: CPUC Approves $12 Million Settlement with Telecommunications Companies Over 2007 Malibu Fire  
• Jan. 12, 2012: CPUC Acts to Reduce Fire Hazards Associated With Overhead Power Lines and Communication Facilities  
• April 22, 2010: CPUC Approves Witch, Rice, and Guejito Fire Settlements  
• Nov. 12, 2008: CPUC to Investigate 2007 Fires to Determine Whether Utility Companies Violated Safety Regulations

CPUC Resources

• The CPUC's Consumer Affairs Branch is available to assist consumers with billing and service questions and complaints involving their regulated utility providers. You may contact the Consumer Affairs Branch at (800) 649-7570 (M-F, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) or to submit a complaint, please visit our utility complaints page. 
• The CPUC's Public Advisor's Office provides procedural information to individuals and groups who want to participate in formal proceedings at the CPUC. In addition, the Public Advisor's Office provides programs and services to educate and assist the public, including special accommodations and interpreter services. You can contact the Public Advisor's Office at (866) 849-8390 or public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov.

Events

• Jan. 31, 2018: Fire Safety and Utility Infrastructure En Banc

Read about the October 2017 Northern California wildfires.