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☆ 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

McLaren has sold about 40 custom snow globes since the writers went on strike, at $299 a piece, through his Etsy shop. Since the writers strike began, 3,124 people joined or reactivated their Cameo accounts, the company said. When the actors strike began, she signed on to help them sell images to photo agencies, including celebrity-fueled rallies and picket lines in the strikes. Her husband's salary as an engineer helps, but it doesn't get them all the way there in paying their bills. ___For more on the ongoing actors and writers strikes, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/hollywood-strikes/

Persons: Ryan Meyer's lifeblood, Meyer, ”, Joe's, “ We've, ” Meyer, “, Jesse McLaren, “ Jimmy Kimmel, “ They’ve, McLaren, “ I’ve, “ I’m, ” Keith McNutt, It's, Autumn Monroe, ” Monroe, Monroe, Vince Vaughn, Shadi, Petosky, I’ve, ” Petosky, Bethany Layla Johnson, Briza Covarrubias, doesn't, Covarrubias, we're Organizations: “, Entertainment, Writers Guild of America, Alpha Kappa Alpha, “ Parks, Recreation, Netflix, WGA Locations: Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York, Manhattan, York, hollywood

☆ Hawaiian Electric takes expert help but says goal not to restructure
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Homes damaged by fire are seen in Lahaina on the island of Maui in Hawaii, U.S., August 14, 2023. REUTERS/Jorge Garcia Acquire Licensing RightsAug 18 (Reuters) - Hawaiian Electric Industries (HE.N) is seeking expert advice amid growing scrutiny over its role in the Maui wildfires, but the largest power supplier in the US island state said on Friday that the goal was not to restructure the company. The company did not clearly outline the purpose for which it was seeking expert advice. "Like any company in this situation would do, and as we do in the normal course of business, we are seeking advice from various experts," it said in a filing. It did not include around 2,600 homes and businesses that were destroyed, which represent less than 1% of its customers.

Persons: Jorge Garcia, Arshreet Singh, Arunima Kumar, Arun Koyyur Organizations: REUTERS, Hawaiian Electric Industries, Moody's Investors Service, Thomson Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, Honolulu, California, West Maui, Bengaluru

Homes damaged by fire are seen in Lahaina on the island of Maui in Hawaii, U.S., August 14, 2023. The company said in its filing that shutting off power was not part of its high-wind management protocol. Analysts have said Hawaiian's situation is reminiscent of that of PG&E Corp (PCG.N) and wildfires in California. PG&E filed for bankruptcy protection in 2019, and subsequently restructured, citing potential liabilities exceeding $30 billion stemming from California wildfires that were blamed on its equipment. As of Thursday, about 1,900 customers in West Maui remained without electricity, Hawaiian said.

Persons: Jorge Garcia, Wells, Jonathan Reeder, Arshreet Singh, Arunima Kumar, Shreyashi Sanyal, Caroline Valetkevitch, Arun Koyyur, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Hawaiian Electric Industries, Electric, Moody's, E Corp, Thomson Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, Honolulu, American, California, West Maui, Bengaluru, New York

The new lawsuit, first obtained by NBC News, alleges that Hawaiian Electric helped set the stage for the monstrous wildfires last week. The plaintiffs allege years of inaction and negligence by the utility company, and argue that the firm should have had plans in place to shut down power systems before fierce winds blew across Hawaii. "Hawaiian Electric is not just responsible and they weren't just negligent," said Mikal Watts, a lead attorney on the case. Hawaiian Electric Company declined to comment on the pending lawsuits, saying that would violate an internal policy. Darren Pai, a spokesperson for the company, said Hawaiian Electric was aware of the allegations but remained focused on restoring power to Maui.

Persons: Mikal Watts, Darren Pai, Watts, Pai Organizations: NBC News, Electric, Hawaiian Electric Company, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission Locations: Lahaina , Hawaii, Hawaii, Maui, California, Lahaina

☆ 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

Those winds also battered power lines on the island, and dramatic videos show lines swaying and being toppled in the gusts. Now, some locals are casting blame on Hawaiian Electric, the state’s biggest utility, for not shutting off power to high-risk areas – and claiming that its power lines could have sparked the deadly fire. State officials were well aware of the danger posed by downed power lines during hurricanes. A 2021 state report noted that “downed power lines” and “residential and wildland fires” were hazards related to hurricanes. Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said Thursday that power lines that were “still energized” had fallen on the roads.

Persons: Shane Treu, Treu, ” Treu, kindling, Lisa Treu, –, ”, “, Hurricane Dora, “ inexcusably, Jim Kelly, ” Kelly, Kelly, Richard Bissen, Yuri Iwamura, hydrants –, Cole Millington, Millington, Bradford Ventura, Adam Weintraub, ” Weintraub, Jill Tokuda, Keahi Ho, John Stufflebean, Josh Green, Anne Lopez, ” Green, “ It’s, Dora, Abby Frazier, Dora inched, Josh Stanbro Organizations: CNN, Hawaii Army National Guard, Hawaii National Guard, Reuters, Electric, National Weather Service, Hawaiian Electric Company, Public Utilities Commission, Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, Maui, Volunteers, Getty, Facebook, Bradford, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Democrat, New York Times, Maui County Department of Water Supply, Times, Government, Hawaii Gov, Clark University Locations: Mauna, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, County, California, Paradise, West Maui, Maalaea, AFP, “, Maui County, United States, Massachusetts

☆ A 72-year-old woman in Phoenix got her power cut over a $51 bill when it was 107 degrees — and she died. Her memory is behind efforts to stop future deaths.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Stephanie Pullman, 72, died after her power was shut off over a $51 late bill. Pullman's death in 2018 led to changes in how power companies deal with overdue bills in the summer. A recent heatwave in Arizona has the governor asking power companies to put policies in writing. The medical examiner's office said Pullman died from "environmental heat exposure " combined with cardiovascular disease after the shutoff. Electric utilities can choose to pause disconnections from June 1 through October 15 or pause them on days forecasted to be above 95 degrees Fahrenheit or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Persons: Stephanie Pullman, Stacey Champion, Pullman, Patrick T, Fallon, Katie Hobbs Organizations: Service, Arizona Public Service, Getty, Arizona Corporation Commission, APS, Tucson Electric Power, ACC, National Weather Service, Gov Locations: Arizona, Wall, Silicon, sweltering Arizona, Phoenix, Mohave, Santa Cruz, Maricopa County, shutoffs

☆ We can’t air-condition our way out of America’s heat crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —Extreme heat in the summer has become America’s brutal new reality. It would also include building code changes that require multi-family homes provide cooling the same way they do heating. Heat waves and mirage create an impressionistic scene on Sierra Highway during a scorching day on Saturday, July 15, 2023. Cities are warmer than their surrounding areas, a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect, and they need to be better designed to keep people cool, researchers say. They were designed 40 years ago when summer temperatures were much cooler,” Mark Wolfe said.

Persons: haven’t, ”, Mark Wolfe, hasn’t, ” Wolfe, Myung J, Chun, Rushad Nanavatty, National Weather Service hasn’t, Kelly Turner, “, Turner Organizations: New, New York CNN, National Energy Assistance, ’ Association, Southland, Los Angeles Times, RMI, Cool Coalition, United, US Department of Energy, Centers for Disease Control, Low Income, Energy Assistance, nonpayment, LIHEAP, CDC, National Weather Service, Solutions, UCLA, Environmental Protection Agency Locations: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, United Nations, Washington, DC, Arizona, Maricopa, Yuma, York City, Miami, Dade County

☆ Amazon is inundated with shoppers desperately trying to cool off
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

On Amazon, sales of air conditioners increased 248% during the 30 days ending July 14, according to data from Jungle Scout, a data and analytics platform for Amazon sellers. Searches on Amazon for “single room AC units” and “portable misting fans” also spiked triple digits during the period, according to Jungle Scout. On Wednesday morning, a sun shade for car windshields was listed as the best-selling product on Amazon’s automotive page. In the Northeast, where the wildfire smoke was worst, air purifier sales jumped 119% in June. The cost of home energy bills this summer will increase by 11.7% to an average of $578, up from $517 last summer, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association.

Persons: ”, windshields Organizations: New, New York CNN, Scout, National Energy Assistance, Association, Louisiana — Locations: New York, United States, East Coast, Circana, Texas, Louisiana

☆ Power shutoffs: Sweltering Americans have fewer protections this summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Despite the growing concern of heat-related illnesses and climate change, people have far fewer protections from power shutoffs during the summer than they do in the winter. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, has about $6 billion in funds for fiscal 2023, which runs through September. The association is calling on Congress to provide an additional $3 billion for cooling assistance this summer, which would help about 6 million households. And it is asking utilities to voluntarily suspend shutoffs this summer for those behind on their bills. Florida Power & Light, for instance, has a longstanding policy that it won’t disconnect customers if it’s 95 degrees or higher.

Persons: David Konisky, ”, Konisky, Mark Wolfe, That’s, Wolfe, it’s, Bianca Soriano, Soriano Organizations: New, New York CNN, National Weather Service, Center for Energy, National Energy Assistance, Association, Energy, Indiana University, Centers for Disease Control, Income, Energy Assistance, Lawmakers, US Energy Information Administration, Louisiana —, Florida, Customers Locations: New York, United States, Washington, DC, Delaware, Nevada, Colorado , Missouri, New Jersey, Texas, Louisiana, Florida

☆ Meta exec calls Apple Watch Ultra 'infuriating' because of accidental shutoffs
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Andrew Bosworth, Meta's CTO, shared his thoughts on the Apple Watch Ultra during his Instagram Q&A. The exec, who goes by Boz, said he's frustrated at how the watch keeps shutting off mid-workout. A Meta executive has some qualms with the Apple Watch Ultra, the iPhone maker's most advanced smart watch to-date. Andrew Bosworth, the chief technology officer of Meta, was asked to share his thoughts on Apple's smart watch during a Q&A he hosted on his Instagram. The $799 Apple Watch Ultra is the company's most advanced smart watch to-date.

Persons: Andrew Bosworth, Boz, he's, It's, Apple's, Bosworth, Apple, Christopher Allbritton, Allbritton, Antonio Villas, Boas, Song Organizations: Apple, Morning, Apple Watch, CNN

☆ How to stay warm in the winter without breaking the bank
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-29 | by ( Kristen Rogers | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Here are 25 ways to stay warm this winter — with or without indoor heating — that won’t break the bank. How to warm your bodyPortable electric warmers are one way to temporarily keep parts of the body warm. “If you warm the core you can warm the hands and feet. It is harder to warm the core by warming the hands and feet.”Be careful that you don’t burn yourself, Benjamin said. Physical activities like indoor exercise or dancing can help you warm up, but don’t get to the point where you’re sweating, Smith said.

Persons: Georges Benjamin, JohnEric Smith, Benjamin, “, don’t, Smith, ” Smith, Snuggles, ” Benjamin, johns Organizations: CNN, American Public Health Association, Mississippi State University Locations: United States, kinesiology

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