1 minute
Today, Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) issued the following statement after the California Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee held an oversight hearing to discuss the 2019 Public Safety Power Shutoff events. Several members of the California Senate Republican Caucus participated in the oversight hearing, including Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Tehama), Senator Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita), and committee members Senator Ling Ling Chang (R-Diamond Bar), and Vice Chair Senator John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa).
"These power outages and dangerous situations should not be the 'new normal' in California. Senate Republicans shared the horrific stories of those impacted by these events and demanded answers from the state's utility companies.
"In this day and age, Californians depend on reliable electricity for all aspects of life. Millions of Californians sat in the dark during these occurrences which placed lives at risks, closed businesses, and caused multiple traffic collisions. If the Democrats are truly serious about preventing future power shutoffs, a special legislative session should be called so we can create solutions for this immediate crisis, instead of waiting until January," said Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove.
Today's oversight hearing discussed the impact of PSPS events and necessary steps to protect the safety of California residents. In 2019, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) reported 14 PSPS events with the bulk occurring in September and October.