Sen. Dodd Introduces Utility Safety Bill

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, introduced legislation today to improve the safety and reliability of California utility companies.

“We must hold utilities accountable for operating safely and reliably by tying their compensation to achieving these goals,” Sen. Dodd said. “A performance-based model will discourage the type of reckless behavior responsible for devastating wildfires and power outages, while promoting responsible practices that have been sorely lacking. We need to be innovative to force accountability and achieve acceptable performance.”

Senate Bill 947 directs the California Public Utilities Commission to evaluate a regulatory framework to condition a utility’s future revenues on meeting a set of safety, reliability and cost efficiency goals. The proposal would create financial disincentives for causing wildfires and shutting off power to customers as a form of wildfire prevention. The framework could also help ensure utilities achieve environmental goals.

Currently, 19 states use some form of performance-based utility policy.

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Senator Bill Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Yolo, Sonoma, Solano, Sacramento and Contra Costa counties. More information on Senator Bill Dodd can be found at www.senate.ca.gov/dodd.