The 2022 update builds upon considerable
progress to further reduce the risk of fires caused by utility
infrastructure and the frequency and impact of PSPS
Wildfire mitigation work will increase grid
reliability and climate resilience, enhancing a strong foundation
for the clean energy transition
Visit Edison.com/wildfire-safety for more information regarding
SCE’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Southern California Edison today filed its annual update to its
2020-2022 Wildfire Mitigation Plan with the California Office of
Energy Infrastructure Safety. The 2022 plan has an ambitious
mission to continue to strengthen and adapt the grid to withstand
extreme weather events likely exacerbated by climate change,
including the installation of more insulated wire.
“SCE’s commitment to keep our communities safe remains
steadfast, and our plan this year demonstrates the tangible ways
that we continue to make the grid safer and more reliable as we
better support our customers,” said Jill Anderson, SCE executive
vice president of Operations. “It includes measures to reduce the
frequency and impact of Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). While
we only use PSPS as a last resort during extreme weather
conditions, we recognize that these outages are difficult,
particularly for frequently impacted communities and our most
vulnerable customers.”
Continued Work to Strengthen the Grid
SCE began implementing new wildfire mitigation activities in
2018. This latest update reflects the continued progress the
company has made in its analytical, engineering and process
maturity and incorporates lessons learned from prior years.
Through grid hardening, enhanced inspections, expanded
vegetation management and targeted PSPS, along with a suite of
other activities the company undertook, SCE estimates that it has
reduced the risk of damage from catastrophic wildfires by 65% to
70%, relative to pre-2018 levels. Year over year, the total number
of acres burned from wildfires associated with SCE equipment
decreased from 128,000 acres in 2020 to less than 500 acres in
2021. This was despite the multi-year drought and extreme wind
conditions experienced last year. This improvement could not have
occurred without the partnership and dedicated efforts of many
leaders throughout the state.
While it can never be fully eliminated, SCE expects to further
reduce risk with the work outlined in our 2022 Wildfire Mitigation
Plan update and reduce the size and scope of PSPS events. With work
completed last year, the company estimates that customers on the
most frequently impacted circuits experienced 70% less PSPS outage
time based on 2021 weather and fuel conditions.
SCE is updating its grid hardening strategy this year. Covered
conductor installation supplemented with inspection and vegetation
management continues to be one of the most valuable tools in
reducing ignition risk cost effectively and expeditiously. However,
SCE is evaluating the expanded use of undergrounding and additional
technology solutions for certain locations that pose very high
risks based on potential fire spread, burn history, limited egress
and extreme wind speeds.
One of the emerging technology pilots that has shown promise in
further reducing the risk of ignition is the Rapid Earth Fault
Current Limiter (REFCL). REFCL is a technology that detects a power
line has fallen to the ground and can almost instantly reduce the
energy released to the ground, which resembles the mechanism of a
ground fault circuit interrupter in people’s homes.
SCE is also exploring the use of artificial intelligence-based
technology to detect wildfires. The program uses satellite imagery
in conjunction with SCE’s high-definition camera network and it may
alert fire agencies about possible fire starts if the pilot is
successful.
Community Outreach and Partnerships
The company will continue to support the resiliency needs of
Medical Baseline and Access and Functional Needs (AFN) customers,
such as seniors, those with limited English proficiency, those with
disabilities and those who face transportation challenges. An
example of this is a new battery loan pilot program to support AFN
customers who rely on a medical device or assistive technology for
independence, health or safety.
Another program that will continue is SCE’s support to bolster
aerial fire suppression. Last year, the Los Angeles County Fire
Department, Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), Ventura County
Fire Department and other regional agencies partnered with SCE to
expand their capabilities with a Quick Reaction Force of the
world’s largest fire-suppression helicopters. The Quick Reaction
Force consisted of two Coulson-Unical CH-47 helitankers that can
each carry up to 3,000 gallons of water or retardant, a Sikorsky-61
that can carry up to 1,000 gallons of water or retardant, a
Sikorsky-76 helicopter and a mobile fire retardant base that can
actively mix up to 18,000 gallons of fire retardant per hour.
The helitankers function during the day and at night, which
typically is the best time to stop wildfires, as winds die down,
temperatures ease and humidity rises. Last year, the fleet made
2,192 total drops with 823 of them at night, which amounted to 2.9
million gallons of water and 139,000 gallons of fire retardant.
“As the scope and intensity of wildfire season continue to grow,
we are proud to seek out partners that are equally committed to
innovating new measures that save lives and protect property,” said
OCFA Fire Chief Brian Fennessy. “Southern California Edison is such
a partner, and our gratitude for their support — from the
helitankers of our Quick Reaction Force to fire-resistant poles and
a vegetation management program — is matched only by the impact of
their actions.”
SCE has instituted a formal feedback process to help address
specific critiques and recommendations. This includes the company’s
engagement effort with communities heavily impacted by PSPS events
and actively evaluating and refining stakeholder coordination and
customer outreach approaches based on feedback received after past
PSPS events.
“Our wildfire mitigation work will increase the reliability and
climate resilience of the grid,” Anderson said. “These grid
upgrades further strengthen a solid foundation for the clean energy
transition, supporting the electrification of transportation and
buildings needed to meet California’s climate change and air
quality goals.”
Last year, the implementation of the wildfire mitigation plan
cost $1.66 billion and the company expects to spend approximately
the same amount this year.
About Southern California Edison
An Edison International (NYSE: EIX) company, Southern California
Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a
population of approximately 15 million via 5 million customer
accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central,
Coastal and Southern California.
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Media Contact: David Song, (626) 302-2255 Investor Relations
Contact: Sam Ramraj, (626) 302-2540
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