1 Utility Wildfire Risk Mitigation A California Perspective August 16 2019 Koko Tomassian PE Sr Utilities Engineer Safety and Enforcement Division KokoTomassiancpuccagov California Wildfires ID: 771539
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1 Utility Wildfire Risk Mitigation:A California Perspective August 16, 2019Koko Tomassian, P.E.Sr. Utilities EngineerSafety and Enforcement DivisionKoko.Tomassian@cpuc.ca.gov
California Wildfires2
AgendaUnderstanding the ProblemThe 5 W’sCPUC ResponseCPUC Fire-Threat MapUtility fire ignition data collection and reportingRisk-based decision-making framework in GRCs 3
Understanding the Problem 4
Before Solving a Problem, We Must First Understand ItNeed to get the complete pictureBefore discussing “How” to implement effective mitigation measures, we must ask the 5 W’s:Who?What?When?Where?Why?5
When?When an ignition occurs is of critical importanceWeather information:Wind speeds and gustsTemperatureHumidityEnvironmental information:Fuel load conditions (i.e. fuel moisture content) 6
Where?CPUC Fire-Threat Map & High Fire Threat District (HFTD)Collection & reporting of utility fire ignition dataIncorporation of a risk-based decision making framework in GRCs7
CPUC Response 8
CPUC Fire-Threat Map & the HFTD9
CPUC Fire-Threat Map Land Coverage in California10
Regulatory & Mitigation Efforts in HFTD AreasIncreased vegetation clearance requirementsIncreased inspection frequencies and shortened repair timeframes Utilities targeting conductor and equipment replacement programs to HFTD areasWeather station installations on circuits in HFTD areas For more information visit: www.cpuc.ca.gov/firethreatmaps 11
Reporting of Utility Ignition DataAdopted in 2014 by D.14-02-015Reported annually on April 1st by:PG&ESCESDG&EReportable Ignitions:Utility asset provides heat source for ignitionSelf-propagating of material other than utility facilityTravels > 1m from ignition pointUtility has knowledge of fire occurrenceFirst reports submitted on April 1, 2015, covering the latter half of 2014Over 2,500 ignitions reported to-date 12
Plot of Suspected Initiating Events2014 – 2018 by Utility13
Object Contact Events by Object Type14
Equipment/Facility Failure Events by Equipment Type15
Informative Takeaways from Utility Ignition Data Analysis1675% of ignitions result in fires ≤ 0.25 acresOnly 1% of ignitions result in fires > 1,000 acresNearly 97% of all reported ignitions occurred on the distribution systemOver 77% of all reported ignitions occurred in Q2 or Q3
17Thank You! For further information related to any information presented today, feel free to contact me at: Koko Tomassian, Sr. Utilities EngineerSafety & Enforcement Division213-576-7099Koko.Tomassian@cpuc.ca.gov www.cpuc.ca.gov