1、CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i California Wildfires and Bulk Electric System Reliability Richard J. Campbell Specialist in Energy Policy October 28, 2019 Introduction Many regions of the United States are susceptible to wildfires during droughts, with l
2、ightning being a frequent cause. California has been particularly affected in recent years. Since 2000, California has experienced 15 of the 20 most destructive wildfires in the states history. However, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, electric utilities in Cal
3、ifornia were responsible for several of these wildfires. In 2007, San Diego Gas and Electric was blamed for several wildfires in San Diego County, and in 2017, Southern California Edison was blamed for the Thomas wildfire. One of the largest California wildfires was the Camp Fire in 2018, which was
4、attributed to faulty electric transmission and distribution lines equipment belonging to the Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). The 2019 California wildfires have resulted in a statewide emergency declaration. Earlier this year, PG&E announced a new wildfire mitigation plan in response to California S
