wildfire safety inspections...fire-threat areas through ground, climbing or ... following the...

Wildfire Safety Inspections CPUC SED MEETING

June 18, 2019

2 Following the wildfires in 2017 and 2018, some of the changes included in this presentation are contemplated as additional precautionary measures intended to further reduce future wildfire risk.

Wildfire Safety Inspections

As part of our enhanced wildfire safety efforts, implemented following the 2017 and 2018 wildfires as additional precautionary measures intended to further reduce wildfire risks, we are conducting accelerated safety inspections of electric infrastructure in areas of higher wildfire risk (Tier 2 and Tier 3).

• This work is being done as part of our Community Wildfire Safety Program, and is in addition to our routine inspections and maintenance programs.

• We are conducting comprehensive inspections of electric towers, poles and substations in high fire-threat areas through ground, climbing or helicopter inspections and, in some cases, by using drones.


Initial Inspections Scope

~50,000 Transmission Structures

~200 Substations

across 5,500+ miles

~685,000 Distribution Structures across 25,200 miles

The Wildfire Safety Plan included detailed inspections in high fire-threat areas for the following:

Note: the numbers shown above are the estimated program scopes included in PG&E’s approved Wildfire Safety Plan. Progress to date and other data provided on the following slides are shown against the final determined program scope.


Progress to Date

96% TRANSMISSION VISUAL INSPECTIONS:

COMPLETE ~47,571 out of ~49,760 structures

99% DISTRIBUTION INSPECTIONS:

COMPLETE ~685,159 out of ~694,250 poles

77% TRANSMISSION AERIAL INSPECTIONS:

COMPLETE ~38,257 out of ~49,760 structures

100% SUBSTATION INSPECTIONS:

COMPLETE 222 out of 222 substations

Note: results from our inspections are subject to an ongoing review and quality assessment process and may change. Data as of 5/31


Enhanced Inspections

• Visual inspections include ground or climbing inspections

• Crews comprised of up to 4 people • Enhanced aerial inspections are

conducted by helicopters or drones to complement and further enhance the ground and climbing visual inspections

• Visual inspections include ground inspections

• Involves a one-person crew • Inspection team monitors poles by

helicopter to determine if ground inspection crews can access the area

Detailed inspections of electric infrastructure including looking at cross-arms, insulators and footings, among other critical electrical components and equipment.

TRANSMISSION STRUCTURES DISTRIBUTION POLES


Inspection Enhancements

• Accelerating and implementing an enhanced inspection and repair process: • Leveraging results of the detailed and enhanced inspections to inform

asset strategy

Risk-based approach using Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) associated with potential fire ignition components

Developed new electronic inspection forms and job aids for inspectors to capture findings

Implemented dedicated review teams with experience in system maintenance, engineering and maintenance planning to evaluate conditions for necessary repairs and timing

Implementing a process safety lens using multiple layers of control related to quality


Inspection Review Teams

Inspection findings were documented and reviewed by dedicated teams with experience in system maintenance, engineering and maintenance planning to evaluate conditions for necessary repairs and timing.

• These teams help to further improve prioritization while establishing a greater level of consistency and accuracy.

• This process includes reviewing millions of high-definition photographs taken from the ground and as workers climb towers as well as via drones and helicopters.

• Those photographs are evaluated by experts who rate the severity of the condition found by assigning a priority level, which sets the repair process in motion.


We evaluate inspection results to determine repair needs and associated timing. If any issues are found during the accelerated inspections that pose an immediate risk to public safety, we take action right away to address the issue.

• When inspections determine that repairs are needed, but there is not an immediate safety risk, we strive to follow our preventative maintenance procedures, consistent with state guidelines for high fire-threat areas.

• Repairs depend on what we observe in the field, but could range from installing new signs or electrical components to replacing poles or towers.

Electric System Maintenance and Repairs


Progress to Date and Findings – Transmission TAG TYPES

A B E F IDENTIFIED 97 4,152 ~47,500 ~1,400

OPEN 18* 1,371 ~43,000 ~1,350 CLOSED 79 2,781 ~4,500 ~50

Note: the above includes approximately 4,600 tags that are pending review and does not include tags identified through ongoing inspections (post 5/31) or subsequent work activities

*Open A tags are on de-energized lines

A

Clearance between jumper and crossarm

Damaged crossarm Guy wires not bonded and not sectionalized Rusty guy wires

B E F


100% “A” tags repaired

or made safe*


Progress to Date and Findings – Distribution TAG TYPES

A B E F IDENTIFIED 945 3,746 ~192,200 ~9,900

OPEN 42 2,337 ~189,600 ~9,600 CLOSED 903 1,409 ~2,600 ~300

Cracked crossarm Conductor repair (bird caged)

Duration pole Guy wire adjust

Note: the above includes approximately 106,569 tags that are pending review and does not include tags identified through ongoing inspections (post 5/31) or subsequent work activities; there were an additional 5,428 “B” tags written for locations where initial inspections could not access the assets

A B E F

Note: results from our inspections are subject to an ongoing review and quality assessment process and may change. Data as of 5/31 A previous version of this slide reflected the status of some tags as of 6/11, data has been corrected to show status as of end of day 5/31


or made safe


Timing Requirements for Repairs

TAG TYPE TAG TYPE PRIORITY DESCRIPTION

A The condition is urgent and requires immediate response and continued action until the condition is repaired or no longer presents a potential hazard.

B Corrective action is required within 3 months from the date the condition is identified (per ETPM and EDPM).

E Corrective action is required within 12 months from the date the condition is identified (required within 6 months if tag creates potential fire ignition risk within HFTD Tier 3*).

F

TRANSMISSION DISTRIBUTION

Corrective action is recommended within 24 months from the date the condition is identified (required within 12 months if tag creates potential fire ignition risk within HFTD Tier 2, and within 6 if tag creates potential fire ignition risk within HFTD Tier 3*).

Corrective action is recommended within 5 years from the date the condition is identified.

* Requirement from CPUC Fire Safety OIR Decision (D. 17-12-024)

Note: Distribution team is also documenting specific field conditions that will be analyzed for future hardening and reliability projects. For example, areas where there is evidence of animal activity (nesting or damage), tree connects, etc.


Proposed Timing of Repairs

• The unprecedented volume of wildfire risk reduction work outlined in PG&E’s Wildfire Safety Plan, along with other challenges, including inclement weather, the availability of qualified personnel, scheduling of transmission, and access and environmental permitting requirements, have prevented PG&E from achieving all of the Plan’s targets, despite our best efforts.

• We will prioritize safety-driven work, including corrective actions presenting immediate fire risk, which will delay completion of other corrective actions that present reduced or no fire or safety risks.

o As part of this effort, completion dates for E and F tags will extend beyond regulatory timeline

• We are using a risk-based approach to prioritize the existing repairs, which includes:

o Assessing the specific location of the repair

o Determining whether the condition poses a potential fire ignition risk

o Evaluating mitigation measures for tags that will extend beyond regulatory timeline

• We will continue to provide updates to the Commission as we progress.


Permitting for Repairs

We’re working with local jurisdictions when an encroachment permit is necessary • PG&E’s permitting team is reviewing WSIP maintenance

locations by priority to determine whether permits are needed

• Several programmatic permits have been acquired with various agencies to allow work to proceed to construction in shorter timeframes and with a more consistent approach

• Currently, the team has reviewed more than 38,000 tags to ensure we are meeting permitting requirements

• We’ve secured WSIP permitting agreements for 62 out of 78 impacted agencies

• For distribution repairs, we’ve received more than 5,500 permits

• For transmission repairs, we are working primarily under annual permits

• We continue to work with local jurisdictions to share information, discuss work schedules and respond to any questions


• Where possible, we are bundling the work to minimize customer impact.

• We are also looking at opportunities to perform repair work without de-energizing the lines, when it is safe to do so.

• For repairs in residential backyards, we attempt to make contact with the customer and leave a doorhanger with more information.

• If we need to de-energize the line to safely complete the work and there will be an impact to customers, we will follow our standard planned outage notification process to notify customers in advance.

Repairs: Customer Outreach


Long-Term Distribution System Hardening Strategy

Replacing equipment to further reduce risk to our system and tailoring upgrades based on terrain and weather conditions using more granular analysis of fire-prone regions.

Installing stronger and more resilient poles and covered power lines, targeting undergrounding and line removals across approximately 7,100 line miles of highest fire-risk areas; targeting 150 miles in 2019.

Looking to address the majority of distribution “F” tags and some “E” tags through longer term system hardening efforts. This includes bundling repairs with future hardening and reliability projects and prioritizing accordingly.


Inspections Going Forward

• The learnings, enhanced inspection processes and new technologies, including use of drones and high-resolution imagery capture, from the nearly completed Wildfire Safety Inspection Program are being incorporated into PG&E future inspection plans.

• Combined with a risk-based asset inspection cycle that is expected to exceed the minimum compliance inspection cycle, the inspection tools are being incorporated into a plan to support PG&E’s ongoing efforts to minimize the wildfire risk faced by the communities we serve.

Thank You

APPENDIX


Substation Notifications

TAG TYPES

A B E

IDENTIFIED 103 628 ~2,200

OPEN 0 0 ~1,500

CLOSED 103 628 ~700



or made safe

Note: Five tags originally identified as priority “B” had exemptions approved before May 31st, in alignment with PG&E’s substation maintenance procedure, that removed them from the “B” tag count shown above. Those five tags are now reflected as “E” tags and being worked as soon as feasible.

wildfire safety inspections...fire-threat areas through ground, climbing or ... following the...

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