To: Board of Supervisors
From: County Administrative Office
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) License Agreement with Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E)
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Ratify the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) License Agreement signed by the County Administrative Officer (Licensor) on October 26, 2019 with Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E), a California corporation, for use of the Humboldt County Library located at 1313 3rd Street, Eureka, California, Assessor’s Parcel Number 001-212-013; and
2. Delegate authority to the County Administrative Officer to sign potential future PG&E license agreements after review and approval by the Risk Manager and County Counsel.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund
DISCUSSION:
In accordance with the Pacific Gas and Electric Company Amended 2019 Wildfire Safety Plan, Public Safety Power Shutoffs or “PSPS” are utilized by PG&E in accordance with the California Public Utilities Commission, Safety & Enforcement Division, 2018 Electric Safety and Reliability Branch Resolution ESRB-8 “to protect public safety.”
Given the anticipation that PSPS events will become more frequent due to extreme weather events, PG&E is actively exploring and developing additional services and programs to support customers during PSPS events, including partnerships with key community organizations, and services aimed to help their most vulnerable customers/communities. This includes the deployment of mobile customer service centers (CRCs) to support customers during emergencies in pop-up locations throughout areas where the highest level of impacted customers reside.
The County of Humboldt owns property, known as the Humboldt County Library, located at 1313 3rd Street, Assessor’s Parcel Number 001-212-013, in the City of Eureka.
PG&E, desires to partner with the County in connection with a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) event, and to use the Humboldt County Library as a CRC, as well as operating a staging area to support the command, control, and coordination of any patrol, inspection, and restoration of electric facilities, in case of a PSPS event.
Activities may include setting up tents with tables and seating for customers to obtain water and snacks, charge phones, and receive information on outages; installing trailers, portable toilets, portable back-up generators, and fencing; parking mobile vehicle units and other vehicles; and staging equipment, supplies and materials.
It is recommended that your Board ratify this agreement, as it supports your Strategic Framework Core Roles and Priorities for New Initiatives by protecting vulnerable populations and facilitating public/private partnerships to solve problems. In addition, it is also recommended that your Board delegate authority to approve potential future agreements for CRCs to the County Administrative Officer upon review and approval by the Risk Manager and County Counsel.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
While the cost to setup and operate a PG&E Community Resource Center is at the expense of PG&E, there is county staff time associated with all PSPS events. In addition, PG&E is utilizing county property for the CRC at no charge.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Pacific Gas & Electric
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board discretion.
ATTACHMENTS:
License Agreement (Public Safety Power Shutoff)
EXHIBIT A - Map of Property
EXHIBIT B - Notices
EXHIBIT C - PG&E Statement of Self-Insurance Program
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
No previous Board action.