role that PG&E played in wildfires

 role that PG&E played in wildfires

The California Public Utilities Commission stated through a report that the deadly wildfire that killed roughly 86 people in 2018 as a result of negligence from Pacific Gas and Electric(PG&E) company. After thorough investigation the state found out that this bankrupt power company had failed to do extensive maintenance and inspection of their faulty transmission lines that had ignited the wildfire California Public Utilities Commission stated through a report that the deadly wildfire that killed roughly 86 people in 2018 as a result of negligence from Pacific Gas and Electric(PG&E) company. After a thorough investigation, the state found out that this bankrupt power company had failed to do extensive maintenance and inspection of their faulty transmission lines that had ignited the wildfire. This lethal blaze was the deadliest fire ever witnessed in the state, which incinerated the Paradise town of North Carolina with the faulty transmission line being identified as the Caribou-Palermo one. Nonetheless, this incompetent company acknowledged the role that its equipment played in the Camp Fire and even apologized to the public about the incidence. This is not all; The civil liabilities that the company faced due to the adverse impact of these fires, amounted to roughly 30 billion dollars. This situation forced the company to file for bankruptcy. However, even after achieving 13.5 billion dollars settlement to the victims of the Camp Fire, the company still planned the most prolonged blackout in the history of California, which would leave roughly 2.7 million people without power. This paper, therefore, clarifies the role that PG&E played in these wildfires while majoring in the adverse impacts that these power shut down has on the several enterprises and the people of California State.

The equipment set in place by PG&E has led to about 19 significant fires in 2017 and 2018 along with the latest one being the Camp Fire that demolished the Paradise town. Even though people have severely scrutinized the power outages, the company has defended their decisions by claiming that they are reducing the risks due to these catastrophic wildfires. Ironically, the company is now showing much concern on their customers after the occurrences when the management ought to have been competent enough in doing inspection and maintenance. Others criticizing this move believe that these power outages are just a hoarse by the company to shift the fire burden onto the company. They also believe that the blackouts pose more risks to the response efforts and the lives of firefighters during such wildfires. The recent fire incidence in the California state was the Kincade Fire that begun on the night of October 23 of this year. This fast-spreading fire in the county of Sonoma forced the State administrators to declare a state of emergency in Sonoma and Los Angeles counties of California. This fire was further fueled and spread by the dry and windy weather, which adversely derailed the efforts by the firefighters to combat this rapidly spreading fire (Newburger, 2019). Though the company denied claims that their transmission lines had caused the fire, they still planned the second power blackout within less than a month to help curb this menace.

These safety power outages initiated by PG&E are tortured decisions due to the fact they are done preemptively by such a large utility. About 800000 PG$E customers across California lost power through these planned power shutoffs when the Kincade fire broke out. Though the offer substitute fire-prevention procedures, they come with severe losses and risks. Losing power is a huge hassle for every citizen of California, particularly for those who rely on medical facilities that regularly operate on electricity. Besides, meteorologists can track the weather pattern to identify when the next wildfire is expected so that these power outages can be well articulated and planned appropriately. These outages have resulted in business making huge losses and crucial infrastructure being under stand-offs. PG&E is a utility that is charged with the mandate to supply power, not because power is a modern need but also essential in cases of life and death. The neighboring mountain towns of Golden State are a perfect illustration of the effect that this power has on people. These towns consist of several retirement communities where the elderly reside. Such people heavily depend on electrical medical devices and are highly susceptible to stroke caused by excessive heat when the air conditioning stops working. That is not all; even though most health care facilities have power back-ups, such outages could go for so long and therefore causing many inconveniences to the provision of medical care. This scenario is worse in the ICUs that employ advanced medical technology.

Most communication systems rely on electricity to function. Cutting off power preemptively is more like reducing the whole state into literal silence unless for the old folks who will still be using batteries. Lack of communication equipment means that information on any fire outbreak cannot be disseminated to the citizens, therefore posing a massive risk in their lives. Most people are more likely to be caught unawares by these wildfires, and this lack of communication can further hamper the evacuation procedures. Fast dissemination of fire alarms means that people will evacuate faster, unlike in cases whereby the information on fire only has to be spread through physical means due to cutting off communication devices like TVs and internet routers. People still face significant threats when there are power outages, and wildfire erupts. Firefighters rely on water to put off these wildfires in most cases. Power blackouts result in electric water pumps going offline, which consequently impairs the efforts by the firefighting departments.

The PG&E endorses that the residents of the state should prepare adequately for these power outages. This is by stocking up on water, food, and other power sources. However, this is another hassle to people with fixed earnings and with restricted movement, who are now forced to put costly spontaneous efforts to ensure their safety. These power outages leave the people in unnecessary anxiety attacks. One is forced to leave the garage open just in case the fire outbreaks they can quickly flee. The people are further left with no choice but to depend on loud humming generators across the streets, which also can serve as catalyzers to these blazing flames. This is very ironical since generators also pose threats to the spreading of the fire, something that PG&E is making preemptive efforts to prevent (Nast, 2019).

After the significant power outage by PG&E that Sonoma County encountered on October 9, 2019, the Economic Development Board(EDB) of this county carried out a business survey throughout the county to assess the impact that the outage had on the local businesses. The report indicated that about 63.2 % of at least 500 respondents had lost power. Of these enterprises that lost power, 61% did not open their businesses. About 6% of these businesses that suffered this outage operated without power for more than 24 hours on that fateful day. Moody’s Analytics gave preliminary estimates on the economic output that Sonoma County lost between the October 9 to October 11 of this year. This economic output that excluded wages was estimated to have cost between $50 to $70 million for these two days only. This power outage affected both small and big business enterprises within the county. The business community of Sonoma also witnessed several customers revoking reservations and bookings after notice of this outage. This outage led to the deterioration in the status of most businesses in the region, with customers losing reliance, which was mainly fueled by the embarrassing media revelation.

With PG&E indicating that these power shut-offs are more likely to become a norm due to the prevailing hazardous weather conditions, small businesses are likely to suffer more. Hotels and restaurants have recorded enormous food spoilage during power outages. For small hotels, they are either forced to either purchase generators whose prices have been escalated during such outages. Furthermore, the cost of buying ice for the freezers is extremely hiked at such times, which most of them cannot afford. They are therefore forced to throw away a large chunk of their daily menu since most residents are hardly attracted to such joints during that time. Grocery stores also face huge losses due to spoilage caused by these power shut-offs. However, some business tends to bloom under this anxiety-filled days of power outages when they would have usually experienced languid days (Kelleher, 2019). These businesses include the stores that deal with batteries, generators, flashlight, and other necessary items to face the outages. However, these businesses strain to sever the long queues of impatient locals that want to get stock for these uncertain days. Businesses also face a massive blow of reduced security across the state with bad people using these moments to be involved in burglary and theft. However, the significant bit is the fact that most businesses are forced to always shutdown their operations, especially those without power backups. The sad reality that most businesses affected by these power shut-offs face is the fact that PG&E does not compensate its customers for the losses made over the black-outs. This nuance decision to plunge customers in darkness is acclaimed by the PG&E to prevent sparking fires in these fire-favoring weather.

These Public Safety Power Shutoff(PSPS) has affected a large number of Bay Area with more than half of PG&E customers residing in this area. The area is continuously under red flag warning due to the prevailing stronger winds and dry vegetation in the area. The residents of the Bay Area are always on the look-out for fire alarms and fire breaking news, which continually disrupt the daily economic routine of this region. The overall land value of the most region of California state has rapidly declined due to these outages. Not only have these power outages destroyed the efforts made by PG&E to sort out its bankruptcy issues, but also resulted in their shares dropping drastically. The PG&E is forced to handle a vast number of traffic during these power shutoffs, which mainly consist of intolerant customers filing complaints or either seeking information on areas susceptible to these fire outbreaks. The saddening bit to the economy of California State is the fact these power shutoffs can, in some cases, extend up to a whole week. Not only a whole week of darkness but a whole week of canceled lectures in the university and closing tunnels hence increased traffic jams in the affected. The power shutoffs take longer days in some cases because the PG&E is charged with the role to inspect all the transmission lines that could have possibly been tampered with by the falling trees during these windstorms. These power shutoffs in California are referred to as a mere microcosm of the equality problems that are related to the rapid climate change; individuals who contribute a very small portion to the climate change are the ones who feel the impact of these outages. The changing weather conditions have reduced California to a state of razing flames, constantly forcing utilities, customers, and state officials to more difficult choices like PSPS.

However, PG&E cannot be blamed for all the wildfires that occur in California; neither can one dismiss their efforts in preventing other fire incidence. California itself is designed to burn. The state has always put off natural wildfires instead of allowing the fire to devour the rapidly growing vegetation that later serve as increased fuel to subsequent fire outbreaks(Nast, 2019). California state is facing housing problems, and people are forced to live against the wildlands, hence literally residing in the line of fire. The cost of evacuating these people would be prohibitive for the government. Even if the mountain towns resorted to using solar energy to light their premises, this bold move would still be wildly costly and can only be managed in an ideal world. Whether it is the tornadoes on the Coast of the Atlantic Ocean or the raging wildfires of California, households, and enterprises should adequately get ready for life-threatening climate happenings that they have never faced previously. PG&E can reverse the effects that these power shutoffs have on the economy by presenting more exceptional preparation in forthcoming incidences (Kelleher, 2019). This preparation can include a detailed schedule for the outages, subsidized generator prices, and enhanced security to see businesses through these longer shutoffs. These necessary can smoothen the situation for the small local business in the state since they are the most affected by these outages compared to the well prepared more prominent corporations.e. This lethal blaze was the deadliest fire ever witnessed in the state which absolutely incinerated the Paradise town of North Carolina with the faulty transmission line being identified as the Caribou-Palermo one.

Nonetheless, this incompetent company acknowledged the role that its equipment played in the Camp Fire and even apologized to the public about the incidence. This is not all; The civil liabilities that the company faced due to the adverse impact of these fires, amounted to roughly 30 billion dollars. This situation forced the company to file for bankruptcy. However, even have to achieve a $13.5 billion settlement to the victims of the Camp Fire, the company still planned the most prolonged blackout in the history of California, which would leave roughly 2.7 million people without power. This paper therefore gives clarification on the role that PG&E played in these wildfires while majoring on the adverse impacts that these power shut down has on the several enterprises and the people of California State.

The equipment set in place by PG&E has led to about 19 major fires in 2017 and 2018 alone with the latest one being the Camp Fire that demolished the Paradise town. Even though the power outages have been severely scrutinized by people, the company has defended their decisions by claiming that they are reducing the risks due to these catastrophic wildfires. It is ironical that the company is now showing much concern on their customers after the occurrences when the management ought to have been competent enough in doing inspection and maintenance. Others criticizing this move believe that these power outages are just a hoarse by the company to shift the fire burden onto the company. They also believe that the blackouts pose more risks to the response efforts and the lives of fire fighters during such wildfires. The recent fire incidence in the California state was the Kincade Fire that begun on night of October 23 of this year. This fast spreading fire in the county of Sonoma forced the State administrators to declare a state of emergency in Sonoma and Los Angeles counties of California. This fire was further fueled and spread by the dry and windy weather which adversely derailed the efforts by the firefighters to combat this rapidly spreading fire (Newburger, 2019). Though the company denied claims that their transmission lines had caused the fire, they still planned the second power blackout within a period of less than a month to help curb this menace.

These safety power outages initiated by PG&E are actually tortured decisions due to the fact they are done preemptively by such a large utility. About 800000 PG$E customers across the California lost power through these planned power shutoffs when the Kincade fire broke out. Though the offer substitute fire-prevention procedures they come with severe losses and risks. Losing power is a very big hassle for every citizen of California, particularly for those who rely on medical facilities that constantly operate on electricity. Besides, meteorologists can track the weather pattern to identify when the next wildfire is expected so that these power outages can be well articulated and planned for appropriately. These outages have resulted into business making huge losses and crucial infrastructure being under stand-offs. PG&E is a utility that is charged with the mandate to supply power; not because power is a modern need but also essential in cases of life and death. The neighboring mountain towns of Golden State is a perfect illustration on the effect that these power has on people. These towns consist of several retirement communities where the elderly resides. Such people heavily depend on electrical medical devices and are highly susceptible to stroke caused by excessive heat when the air conditioning stops working. These is not all, even though most health care facilities have power back-ups such outages could go for so long and therefore causing a lot of inconveniences to the provision of medical care. This scenario is worse in the ICUs that employ advanced medical technology.

Most communication systems rely on electricity to function. Cutting off power proactively is more like reducing the whole state into literal silence unless for the old folks who will still be using batteries. Lack of communication equipment means that information on any fire outbreak cannot be disseminated to the citizens, therefore posing a huge risk on their lives. Most people are more likely to be caught unawares by these wildfires and this lack of communication can further hamper the evacuation procedures. Fast dissemination of fire alarms means that people will evacuate faster unlike in cases whereby the information on fire only has to be spread through physical means due to cutting of communication devices like TVs and internet routers. People still face major threats when there is power outages and wildfire erupts. Firefighters rely on water to put off these wildfires in most cases. Power blackouts results into electric water pumps going offline which consequently impairs the efforts by the firefighting departments.

The PG&E endorses that the residents of the state should prepare adequately for these power outages. This is by stocking up on water, food and other power sources. However, this is another hassle to people with fixed earnings and with restricted movement, who are now forced to put costly spontaneous efforts to ensure their safety. These power outages leave the people in unnecessary anxiety attacks. One is forced to leave the garage open just in case the fire outbreaks they can easily flee. The people are further left with no choice but to depend on loud humming generators across the streets, which also can serve as catalyzers to these blazing flames. This is very ironical due to the fact that generators also pose threats to the spreading of the fire, something that PG&E is making preemptive efforts to prevent (Nast, 2019).

After the major power outage by PG&E that Sonoma County encountered on October 9, 2019, the Economic Development Board(EDB) of this county carried out business survey throughout the county to assess the impact that the outage had on the local businesses. The report indicated that about 63.2 % of the at least 500 respondents had lost power. Of these enterprises that lost power 61% did not open their businesses. About 6% of these business that suffered this outage, operated without power for more than 24 hours on that fateful day. Moody’s Analytics gave preliminary estimates on the economic output that the Sonoma County lost between the October 9 to October 11 of this year. This economic output that excluded wages was estimated to have costed between $50 to $70 million for these two days only. This power outage affected both small and big business enterprises within the county. The business community of Sonoma also witnessed several customers revoking reservations and bookings after notice of this outage. This outage led to the deterioration in the status of most businesses in the region, with customers losing reliance which was particularly fueled by the undesirable media revelation.

With PG&E indicating that these power shut-offs are more likely to become a norm due to the prevailing hazardous weather conditions, small businesses are likely to suffer more. Hotels and restaurants have recorded enormous food spoilage during power outages. For small hotels, they are either forced to either purchase generators whose prices have really been escalated during such outages. Furthermore, the cost of buying ice for the freezers are really hiked at such times which most of them cannot afford. They are therefore forced to throw away large chunk of their daily menu since most residents are hardly attracted to such joints during that time. Grocery stores also face huge losses due to spoilage caused by these power shut-offs. However, some business tends to bloom under this anxiety-filled days of power outages when they would have normally experienced extremely slow days (Kelleher, 2019). These businesses include the stores that deal on batteries, generators, flashlight and other necessary items to face the outages. However, these businesses strain to sever the long queues of impatient locals that want to get stock for this uncertain days. Businesses also face a huge blow of reduced security across the state with bad people using these moments to be involved in burglary and theft. However, the major bit is the fact that most business are forced to always shutdown their operations especially those without power backups. The sad reality that most businesses affected by these power shut-offs face is the fact that PG&E does not compensate its customers for the losses made over the black-outs. This nuance decision to plunge customers in darkness is acclaimed by the PG&E to prevent sparking fires in these fire-favoring weather.

These Public Safety Power Shutoff(PSPS) has affected a large number of Bay Area with more than half of PG&E customers residing in this area. The area is constantly under red flag warning due to the prevailing stronger winds and dry vegetation in the area. The residents of Bay Area are constantly on the look-out for fire alarms and fire breaking news which continually disrupt the daily economic routine of this region. The overall land value of the most region of California state has rap-idly declined due to these outages. Not only has these power outages destroyed the efforts made by PG&E to sort out its bankruptcy issues but also resulted into their shares dropping drastically. The PG&E are forced to handle a huge number of traffic during these power shutoffs which mainly consist of intolerant customers filing complains or either seeking information on areas susceptible to these fire outbreaks. The saddening bit to the economy of California State is the fact these power shutoffs can in some cases extend up to a whole week. Not only a whole week of darkness but a whole week of canceled lectures in the university and closing tunnels hence increased traffic jam in the affected. The power shutoffs take longer days in some cases because the PG&E is charged with the role to inspect all the transmission lines that could have possible been tampered with by the falling trees during these windstorms. These power shutoffs in California are referred to as mere microcosm of the equality problems that are related to the rapid climate change; individuals who contribute very small portion to the climate changes are the ones who feel the impact of these outages. The changing weather conditions has resorted California to a state of razing flames; constantly forcing utilities, customers and state officials to more difficult choices like PSPS.

However, PG&E cannot be blamed for all the wildfires that occur in California, neither can one absolutely dismiss their efforts in preventing other fire incidence. California itself is designed to burn. The state has always put of natural wildfires instead of actually allowing the fire to devour the rapidly growing vegetation that later serve as increased fuel to subsequent fire outbreaks(Nast, 2019). California state is facing housing problems and people are forced to live against the wildlands, hence literally residing in the line of fire. The cost of evacuating these people would be extremely expensive for the government. Even if the mountain towns resorted to using solar energy to light their premises, this bold move would still be wildly costly and can only be managed in an ideal world. Whether it is the tornadoes on the Coast of Atlantic Ocean or the raging wildfires of California, households and enterprises should adequately get ready for life-threatening climate happenings that they have never faced previously. PG&E can reverse the effects that these power shutoffs has on the economy by presenting greater advance preparation in forthcoming incidences (Kelleher, 2019). This preparation can include detailed schedule for the outages, subsidized generator prices, and enhanced security to see businesses through these long shutoffs. These necessary can smoothen the situation for the small local business in the state since they are the mostly affected by these outages compared to the well prepared bigger corporations.