Electrical corporations: deenergization events: elections.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law requires each electrical corporation to annually prepare a wildfire mitigation plan and to submit its plan to the commission for review and approval, as specified. Existing law requires the wildfire mitigation plan to include, among other things, protocols for disabling reclosers and deenergizing portions of the electrical distribution system that consider the associated impacts on public safety. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act is a crime. This bill would require an electrical corporation that initiates a deenergization event, as defined, in the 2 weeks preceding an election or in the month following an election to provide assistance to ensure that the deenergization event does not impair the ability of local elections officials to perform official duties. Because these provisions would be a part of the Public Utilities Act, the violation of which is a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.