Undercurrents

The California Public Utilities Commission approved a statewide fire threat map highlighting areas with higher and extreme risks from utility associated wildfires. The state fire threat map, approved Jan. 19, ranks fire hazards to people and property. It also aims to implement new CPUC fire-safety rules, including on utility vegetation management.

The new rules require each investor-owned electric utility to file by Oct. 31, 2018, an annual report outlining a fire-prevention plan that specifies how to avoid fires caused by power lines and other overhead equipment in identified high threat areas.

The fire threat maps, approved by the Commission’s Safety & Enforcement Division, were developed by a group of utility mapping experts and a team of independent consultants in response to the destructive wildfires in California in recent years.

The CPUC will hold a fire safety and utility infrastructure En Banc on Jan. 31, 2018, to further discuss fire threats in the state and measures needed to mitigate fire hazards related to utility infrastructure. ﮞ ﮞ ﮞ ﮞ ﮞ

The Energy Imbalance Market Governing Body Jan. 23 unanimously opposed changes to its governance process proposed by the California Independent System Operator.

On a 5-0 vote, the EIM board rejected revisions to the guidance policy dealing with who decides what about EIM market issues and how board members are selected.

EIM member Kristine Schmidt strenuously objected to the two proposals on grounds they lacked transparency and constituted overreach by CAISO management.

The proposed revision to guidance policy attempted to clarify when decision making by the EIM board is “primary,” “hybrid”—that is involving issues impacting more than one market tariff provision—or “advisory.”

EIM member Val Fong, former head of Alameda Municipal Power, noted that the definitions of the three terms were murky, at best.

CAISO said that proposed revisions to the guidance policy would clarify that its management could decide whether to work with the heads of the EIM governance and board of state regulators bodies “to resolve a potential decisional classification challenge before the chairs proceed with the dispute resolution process.” CAISO’s meeting memo stated that its management “often may be in the best position to address any such concerns, with an opportunity to attempt to do so without the need for further meetings and to avoid further delay.”

The proposed change to the nomination committee would have given that committee discretion as to whether to use an independent executive search firm to identify qualified candidates. It also would have made changes to EIM board member re-nominations.

The EIM body tabled the proposals and asked the CAISO management for additional explanations on the two revisions. ﮞ ﮞ ﮞ ﮞ ﮞ

The California Energy Commission must decide whether to exempt a proposed 98.7 MW backup diesel-powered generating system from its licensing process. The CEC’s siting authority kicks in for plants 50 MW or larger, though exceptions are permitted.

The system, which would consist of 48 diesel engines, would be built at a new data center in Santa Clara. It would run when the grid ceases to provide power and also to periodically test and maintain the engines. The diesel engines would be equipped with particulate filters.

Vantage Data Centers is building the new server farm near a Home Depot in Santa Clara. The area is served by Silicon Valley Power.

Vantage asked the Energy Commission for an exemption from its licensing process at the end of last year.

The commission plans to schedule its consideration of the waiver next month. —Elizabeth McCarthy & William J. Kelly

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Undercurrents

William J. Kelly

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