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☆ Atmospheric River Storm Leaves Over 600,000 Still Without Power in California
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - More than 600,000 homes and businesses were still without power in California early on Monday, according to data from PowerOutage.us, after an atmospheric river storm pounded the state with heavy rainfall and hurricane-force winds. The storm is the second Pineapple Express weather system, or atmospheric river storm, to hit the state in the past week and arrived just as Los Angeles welcomed celebrities for the music industry's Grammy awards. According to PowerOutage.us, the utility with the most outages was Pacific Gas and Electric Co (PG&E) with over 500,000 customers without power. PG&E is a unit of California energy company PG&E Corp."Since the start of the storm 24 hours ago, PG&E crews have restored more than 565,000 customers who lost power. Approximately 570,000 customers remain out of power," PG&E said on its website.

Persons: PowerOutage.us, Gavin Newsom, Harshit Verma, Brijesh Patel, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Reuters, Pacific Gas and Electric Co, E Corp, The U.S, National, California's Locations: California, PowerOutage.us, Angeles, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, The, Bengaluru

☆ Katherine Blunt — Reporter at The Wall Street Journal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Katherine Blunt | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Katherine BluntKatherine Blunt has covered power, renewable energy and utilities for The Wall Street Journal since 2018 and is based in San Francisco. Much of her work has focused on wildfires, drought and other challenges facing utilities in the West. Her coverage of PG&E was a finalist for the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting and earned a Gerald Loeb award, the highest honor in business reporting. She is the author of “California Burning: The Fall of Pacific Gas and Electric and What it Means for America’s Power Grid.” Prior to joining the Journal, Katherine was a business reporter at the Houston Chronicle. Before that, she covered transportation for the San Antonio Express-News.

Persons: Katherine Blunt Katherine Blunt, Gerald Loeb, Katherine Organizations: Wall Street, National, “, Pacific Gas and, Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express Locations: San Francisco, West, “ California

☆ California regulator allows PG&E rate hike for wildfire mitigation
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The state's biggest utility, PG&E, serves more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. The APD set the 2023 revenue requirement at $13.52 billion, reflecting an 11% increase from 2022. According to the regulator, customers would see an increase of $32.62 on their bills, compared with PG&E's request of $38.73. One of the main wildfire mitigation efforts PG&E has been undertaking is undergrounding, or burying power lines. This lessens the need for public safety power shutoffs — a last resort during dry, windy conditions to reduce the risk of sparking a wildfire.

Persons: Seher, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: California Public Utilities Commission, Pacific Gas, E, Thomson Locations: Northern, Central California, powerlines, Bengaluru

☆ Why burying power lines is an effective, but very expensive way to prevent wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Katie Brigham | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Five years ago, PG&E's equipment sparked the deadly Camp Fire, which destroyed the town of Paradise, California, and killed 85 people. But just a year later, in the same county, PG&E's equipment started another catastrophic fire, prompting the utility to announce its extensive undergrounding plan. The utility has undergrounded 350 miles of power lines so far this year, and more than 600 miles since 2021. While Martin says moving power lines underground reduces ignition risk by 98%, it comes at a steep cost. The bill would be footed by PG&E's customers, who already face some of the highest rates in the nation.

Persons: Jamie Martin, Martin, Katy Morsony, Morsony, Daniel Kirschen, Kirschen Organizations: Pacific Gas and, undergrounding, California Public Utilities Commission, Reform, University of Washington Locations: California, Maui, Paradise , California

☆ California regulator proposes $45 mln penalty for PG&E over 2021 Dixie fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A firefighter continues to hold the line of the Dixie Fire near Taylorsville, California, U.S., August 10, 2021. REUTERS/David Swanson/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 10 (Reuters) - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on Monday proposed a $45 million shareholder-funded penalty against Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) for its connections to the destructive 2021 Dixie wildfire. The proposed penalty, pending CPUC Commissioner's approval, consists of a $2.5 million fine to the California General Fund, $2.5 million payment to tribes impacted by the fire for remediation, and $40 million for capital expenditures to transition records to electronic format. CPUC enforcement staff is recommending this penalty under an Administrative Consent Order (ACO) and Agreement, as per a release on the state regulator's website. Reporting by Anjana Anil and Swati Verma in Bengaluru; editing by Miral FahmyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: David Swanson, Anjana Anil, Swati Verma, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, California Public Utilities Commission, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, California General Fund, Thomson Locations: Taylorsville , California, U.S, California, Bengaluru

☆ Maui government files lawsuit, accuses Hawaiian electric company of causing Lahaina wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Maui County is seeking damages from HECO that may total tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, according to John Fiske, an attorney representing the county in the lawsuit. “Our primary focus in the wake of this unimaginable tragedy has been to do everything we can to support not just the people of Maui, but also Maui County. We are very disappointed that Maui County chose this litigious path while the investigation is still unfolding,” a spokesperson from Hawaiian Electric told CNN in a statement. Hawaiian Electric Company is a for-profit company that serves 95% of Hawaii’s customer base and trades on the New York Stock Exchange. This isn’t the first time a utility company has been blamed for its alleged role in a powerful wildfire in recent years.

Persons: “ inexcusably, John Fiske, “, ” Jim Kelly, Fiske, ”, CNN’s Anna, Maja Rappard, Natasha Chen, Afshar Organizations: CNN, Hawaiian Electric Company, National Weather Service, Watch, Hawaiian Electric, New York Stock Exchange, Pacific Gas Locations: Maui County, HECO, Maui, Hawaiian, California, Lahaina, Kula, Olinda

Many wildfires in the United States occur when poles owned by utilities or other structures carrying power lines are blown down, or when branches or other objects land on power lines and cause them to produce high-energy flashes of electricity that can start fires. Image Nearly a week after the wildfire tore through Lahaina, state and local officials have not determined a cause for the blaze. Like most other utilities, Hawaiian Electric operates under the scrutiny of public commissioners who have to approve its spending plans. Power lines have caused catastrophic wildfires in California in recent years, prompting lawsuits that have led to multibillion-dollar payouts by the state’s utilities. Hawaiian Electric in a regulatory filing last year detailed measures aimed at reducing the risk of its equipment causing fires.

Persons: Hurricane Dora, “, ”, James Frantz, Frantz, There’s, Max Whittaker, Shahriar Pourreza, Shelee Kimura, ” Ms, Kimura, Pourreza, Michael Wara, Philip Cheung, Bob Marshall, Jim Kelly, Ken Pimlott, Anne Lopez, Mr, Wara, Kellen Browning, John Keefe, Susan C, Beachy, Alain Delaquérière Organizations: Wildfire, National Weather Service, Frantz Law, Hawaiian Electric, The New York Times, Guggenheim Securities, Maui Electric, Pacific Gas, Pacific Gas and Electric, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Pacific Disaster Center, Stanford University, The New York Times Lightning, Western, NASA, Whisker Labs, Labs, California Department of Forestry, Stanford, U.S . Energy Information Administration Locations: Lahaina, West Maui, Maui, California, United States, Northern California, Paradise, Hawaii, Western United States, Maui County, Germantown, Md, San Francisco

☆ Hawaiian Electric’s stock plunges again after S&P downgrades its credit rating
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Hawaiian Electric Industries’ stock plummeted another 10% Tuesday after S&P Global downgraded the company’s credit rating to junk. In a statement, S&P Global said the wildfires have placed the company at a higher risk, and that it there is a potential for further credit downgrades. More lawsuits could arise, further jeopardizing the company’s credit rating depending on how successful the plaintiffs are. S&P said that the class action lawsuits could increase risk for the company and deteriorate its credit quality. S&P also placed HEI and its entities on CreditWatch with negative implications, which means the utility’s credit rating could be further downgraded in the near future.

Persons: ”, ” Moody’s, Moody’s, HEI “, Jim Kelly, ” Kelly, HEI, Josh Green Organizations: New, New York CNN, Hawaiian Electric Industries, P Global, Hawaiian Electric, Pacific Gas and, Electric, CNN, Hawaii Gov, HEI Locations: New York, California, Hawaii, Maui, Lahaina, Hawaii’s, HEI

☆ Hawaiian Electric stock plunges 40% after lawsuit alleges it failed to shut power off ahead of the Maui wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The suit alleges that Hawaiian Electric Industries “chose not to deenergize their power lines during the High Wind Watch and Red Flag Warning conditions for Maui before the Lahaina Fire started,” despite knowing the risks of sparking a fire in those conditions. The company and subsidiaries “also chose not to deenergize their power lines after they knew some poles and lines had fallen and were in contact with the vegetation or the ground,” the suit alleges. He added that Hawaiian Electric does not have a formal shut-off program in place, and precautionary shut-offs have to be arranged with first responders. Despite this, Hawaiian Electric (HE) did not enforce a public safety power shutoff, a temporary pause of service to certain areas due to increased fire risk. These included an $11 billion insurance settlement, as well as $1 billion paid to affected local governments.

Persons: ”, “, Jim Kelly, ” Kelly, CoreLogic, Josh Green, Hawaii’s, – CNN’s Andy Rose Organizations: New, New York CNN, Electric Industries “, Hawaiian Electric, CNN, Hawaii Gov, National Weather Service, Western Fire Chiefs Association, Electric, Pacific Gas and Locations: New York, Maui, Lahaina, Hawaii, Honolulu, California

☆ Billionaire investor Loeb cuts bearish bets to avoid short squeezes
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Nell Mackenzie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SALT brings together public policy officials, capital allocators, and hedge fund managers to discuss financial markets. REUTERS/Steve MarcusLONDON, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Billionaire investor Daniel Loeb has reduced the size of short bets on single named companies to limit the vulnerability of his hedge fund, Third Point, to short squeezes, he said in a letter on Tuesday. "The short-selling environment is much more challenging than it has been historically," said Loeb in the letter. Almost half of Loeb's net long exposure includes companies that will benefit from developments in artificial intelligence, the letter said. Elsewhere at Third Point, Loeb's corporate credit team returned a net 8.7% for the quarter after market instability in the March banking crisis created opportunities for the fund, Loeb said.

Persons: Daniel S, Loeb, Steve Marcus LONDON, Daniel Loeb, Ferguson, Nell Mackenzie, Amanda Cooper Organizations: Third, REUTERS, Pacific Gas and, Microsoft, HK, Offshore Fund, Web Services, Google, Thomson Locations: Las Vegas , Nevada, allocators

☆ Pacific Gas and Electric says it can meet California power demand this summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 21 (Reuters) - Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) on Friday said it is prepared to meet increased electricity demand in California this summer with new energy supply amid an ongoing heat waveThe company said it is bringing online new resources like battery energy storage, including an additional 700 megawatts (MW) than it had last summer. At the time, PG&E said it had just 6.5 MW of battery energy storage connected to the power grid. By September, it expects to have 1,700 MW online, or enough to meet the demand of 1.2 million homes at once, it said. PG&E said it is modifying programs that offer financial incentives for residential and business customers who reduce energy use during peak demand. PG&E also said it expects to have adequate hydropower to help meet peak summer demand periods.

Persons: Ashitha, Deepa Babington Organizations: Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Thomson Locations: California, Bengaluru

☆ I'm Ford's global director of sustainability, and I think adopting electric vehicles could strengthen, not strain, the power grid
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Cynthia Williams | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

While the answer isn't simple, Ford is introducing solutions to turn this grid anxiety into grid confidence. The power of V2GWe are working on turning every Ford EV into a virtual power plant that can be part of a collective power-grid solution. This solution could help mitigate energy shortfalls during peak usage hours when the power grid would be strained. Ford's collaborations with Duke Energy and Pacific Gas and Electric are great examples of how V2G technology can revolutionize the way we consume and distribute energy. We're doing our part at Ford to make these solutions realities — for both the power grid and our customers.

Persons: We've, we've, We're, Cynthia Williams Organizations: Service, Ford Motor Co, Associated Press, Ford EV, Virtual Power Plant Partnership, Ford, Duke Energy, Pacific Gas, EV

☆ Morgan Stanley's best stock picks to play the transition to clean energy
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The transition to clean energy won't be equal across sectors, according to Morgan Stanley Research. The Wall Street bank broke down segments of the energy transition that will benefit and others that will be challenged by the transition to clean energy. For this list, CNBC picked stocks Morgan Stanley thinks stand to benefit from the move toward clean energy, with a special focus on shares with overweight and equal weight ratings. The stocks in this list fall into one of four categories: — Energy storage and fuel cells. "Not all incumbent utilities will gain from the energy transition," Byrd wrote Wednesday.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Stephen Byrd, Stocks, Byrd, Morgan Stanley's Organizations: Morgan Stanley Research, CNBC, Products, Chemicals Inc, Linde PLC, Air Products, Chemicals, Energy, Occidental Petroleum, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Oil, Pacific Gas and, Edison International Locations: California, U.S

☆ Why Blackouts, Power Outages Are Becoming More Common
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Taylor Dorrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Power outages have increased 64% from the early 2000s, and weather-related outages — many driven by the worsening climate crisis — have increased 78%. A record-breaking blizzard in Buffalo, New York, this winter caused power outages throughout the city, resulting in the deaths of 47 residents. In 2021, a heat wave led to power outages and the deaths of hundreds in the Pacific Northwest. While regional organizations might use fees to penalize companies for power outages, it's now much harder to pinpoint and hold a person or entity responsible. In the meantime, the climate crisis will continue to wreak havoc on an aging grid system that puts profits over reliability.

LOS ANGELES, March 22 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of storm-weary Californians were without power and under evacuation warnings on Wednesday as the latest storm packing wind-blown rain and snow threatened to bring more flooding to the rain-soaked state. Any more rain that we get today is only going to cause more flooding or worsen the flooding that is ongoing," said Bill South, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Hanford, California. [1/3] Floodwaters from the Tule River inundate the area after days of heavy rain in Corcoran, California, U.S., March 21, 2023. Total snow accumulations of up to 4 feet (1.22 m) and locally up to 5 feet, were in the forecast, the weather service said. California's harsh winter has caused widespread property damage and upheaval for thousands of residents, with more than 20 deaths attributed to the storms.

☆ 2022 was one of the top 10 hottest years on record and the warmest La Nina year on record, according to government scientists
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

New data from the U.S. government shows that 2022 was one of the top 10 hottest years on record, with data going back to 1880. And of particular note, 2022 was the warmest year on record when there was a La Nina trade winds pattern, which is a weather event that has a cooling effect on global temperatures. According to both NOAA and NASA scientists, global temperatures were about 1.6 degrees Fahrenheit above their respective baseline averages from the 20th century. 2022 had a La Nina weather pattern, which generally lowers global temperatures compared to what they would have been in a normal weather pattern year. El Nino and La Nina refer to opposite weather patterns determined by trade winds that blow in the Pacific ocean.

☆ Over 220,000 still without power due to California storm
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 10 (Reuters) - More than 220,000 homes and businesses were still without power on Tuesday, as severe flooding hits California after a massive storm last week, according to data from PowerOutage.us. According to PowerOutage.us, the utility with the most outages was Pacific Gas and Electric Co (PG&E) with over 190,000 customers without power, followed by Sacramento Municipal Utility District at 22,900. A tree blocks a roadway after it fell in high winds during a winter storm in West Sacramento, California, U.S. January 8, 2023. REUTERS/Fred GreavesPG&E is a unit of California energy company PG&E Corp (PCG.N). At least a dozen fatalities have been attributed to several back-to-back storms that have lashed California since Dec. 26.

☆ California storm leaves over 120,000 still without power
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 9 (Reuters) - More than 120,000 homes and businesses were still without power in California early on Monday, according to data from PowerOutage.us, after a massive storm last week that disrupted road travel with flash floods, rock slides and toppled trees. At least 12 fatalities have been reported from weather-related incidents in California in the past 10 days, Governor Gavin Newsom told a news conference. According to PowerOutage.us, the utility with the most outages was Pacific Gas and Electric Co (PG&E) with over 73,000 customers without power, followed by Sacramento Municipal Utility District at 50,000. PG&E is a unit of California energy company PG&E Corp (PCG.N). Reporting by Rahul Paswan and Brijesh Patel in Bengaluru; editing by David EvansOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Pacific storm leaves over 60,000 still without power in California
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 6 (Reuters) - More than 60,000 homes and businesses were still without power in California early Friday, according to data from PowerOutage.us, after a massive Pacific storm unleashed high winds, torrential rains and heavy snow across the state. At least two fatalities have been reported since Wednesday due to the storm, which knocked out power to tens of thousands of homes and disrupted road travel with flash floods, rock slides and toppled trees. Last night, Pacific Gas and Electric Co (PG&E) said it had restored power to more than 400,000 customers in the last 30 hours. Around 55,000 customers were still without power in PG&E's territory on Friday morning, according to PowerOutage.us. PG&E is a unit of California energy company PG&E Corp (PCG.N)Reporting by Brijesh Patel in Bengaluru, Editing by William MacleanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ 10 of the best companies to work for if you want to advance your career―some jobs pay more than $100K/yr
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Gili Malinsky | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The company was among the best for career stability and growing talent. It ranked among the best companies for career launchpad, career stability and advancement without a degree. MicrosoftTech giant Microsoft came in among the top companies for career stability, growing talent and advancement without a degree. It ranked among the best companies for career launchpad, career stability and advancement without a degree. It ranked among the best companies for career launchpad, career stability, growing talent and advancement without a degree.

☆ Watchdog CPUC seeks $155 million in fines against PG&E over Zogg wildfire
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 26 (Reuters) - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) watchdog on Tuesday proposed fines of $155.4 million against shareholders of utility Pacific Gas and Electric Co (PG&E) (PCG.N) for alleged violations related a 2020 wildfire in the state. PG&E was last year charged with manslaughter and other felonies by prosecutors in Shasta County over the Zogg fire, which killed four people, destroyed 204 structures, and burned more than 56,000 acres. read moreThe proposed penalties follow an investigation by the CPUC's Safety and Enforcement Division into the fire, which found that PG&E failed "to remove trees marked for removal as a result of poor recordkeeping." PG&E said in a statement that it was reviewing the proposed order, adding that it had already have resolved civil claims with Shasta County and "reached settlements with most individual victims and their families". Reporting by Deep Vakil; editing by John Stonestreetin BengaluruOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Electric vehicles will become power plants on wheels by providing backup power for homes and the grid
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Electric vehicles in the coming years will be capable of powering homes and the grid. Backup power from EVs can help during storms and support electric grids strained by extreme weather. A new business unit, GM Energy, has a line of electric-vehicle chargers that can also feed power back to homes and the electric grid. "There's a value stack in EV batteries: supporting the grid, serving as backup power for your home, and also reducing greenhouse-gas emissions." The Ford F-150 Lightning also has bidirectional charging, which proved useful after Hurricane Ian pummeled southwest Florida's power grid.

☆ GM is starting an energy storage subsidiary to take on the Tesla Powerwall
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The new business unit, called GM Energy, will consist of Ultium Home, Ultium Commercial and Ultium Charge 360 divisions. Ultium Home and Ultium Commercial will, as their names imply, supply energy storage for homes and businesses, respectively. GM Energy will also be involved with hydrogen fuel cells and solar energy products, GM said in its announcement. GM Energy will work with California’s Pacific Gas and Electric on a pilot program to test the concept using GM electric vehicles starting in 2023, GM said in the announcement. The new subsidiary is also working with solar energy provider SunPower, which will install solar panels on customers’ homes, GM said.

The commercial operations are already underway, while home energy systems will be available starting next year as the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV goes on sale. Travis Hester, vice president of GM's EV growth operations, said the new business unit offers customers and energy grids "resiliency." PG&E is working with GM Energy on a pilot test of a "bi-directional charger," which allows an EV to provide power to a home during a blackout. The EVs charge at night when rates are low and potentially provide energy back to the grid during peak hours. It also has partnered with Sunrun as a preferred installer of home energy systems.

☆ Duke Energy is one of the top leakers of a gas that is 25,000 times more polluting than carbon dioxide, EPA records show
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Phil Mckenna | Inside Climate News | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +22 min

The emissions were equal to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of more than 59,000 automobiles, according to the EPA’s greenhouse gas equivalency calculator. Under such a scenario Duke Energy would likely have years of low emissions punctuated by a single year of high emissions. While other utilities have participated for decades in a voluntary program with the EPA to reduce SF6 emissions to next to nothing, Duke Energy has not. Brooks said Duke Energy is also targeting its most leaky equipment for faster replacement. The figure is roughly half of 1% of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, far smaller than yearly emissions of carbon dioxide, the primary driver of climate change.

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