SDG&E files 2021 wildfire mitigation plan update, advancing commitment to fire safety and resiliency

SAN DIEGO – San Diego Gas & Electric has completed and filed its annual update to the 2020-2022 Wildfire Mitigation Plan, a strategic guide that describes SDG&E’s efforts to help reduce the potential for utility infrastructure-related fires and help protect the safety of SDG&E’s customers, employees and the communities it serves.

Submitted to the California Public Utilities Commission on Feb. 5, the Update builds upon SDG&E’s decades-long commitment to wildfire safety, addressing plan progress, regulatory and stakeholder feedback, and advancements in infrastructure-related wildfire mitigation and resiliency programs planned for the coming year.

Last year, SDG&E was able to further its 2020 wildfire mitigation initiatives and achieve a roughly 30% reduction in the number of customers impacted by Public Safety Power Shutoffs, when compared to similar 2019 events. Initiatives completed last year included the development of a new circuit segment risk assessment model; strategic undergrounding of critical facilities in the backcountry; construction of multiple microgrids; a variety of customer generator programs; and the inclusion of covered conductors.

“We recognize that our wildfire preparedness efforts are not without significant impacts to our customers, who have shown incredible patience and understanding as we advance our collective goal to protect public safety,” said Caroline Winn, chief executive officer of SDG&E. “The pandemic and last year’s extreme weather events not only magnified our responsibility to bring forth solutions that help reduce those impacts, which we will work every day to do, but they also reinforced our commitment to build a more resilient electric system to safeguard our region.”

In 2021, SDG&E will continue to advance many of the initiatives that began in 2020 such as PSPS mitigation efforts and expanded outreach to vulnerable communities and make additional enhancements to data collection and analysis. These enhancements will allow for more granular risk assessments and help prioritize infrastructure hardening projects and resource allocation in the future.

Since 2007, SDG&E has invested more than $2 billion in a variety of safety measures to prevent catastrophic wildfires. The company’s commitment to community safety and resiliency has made it a recognized leader in utility wildfire mitigation. To learn more about SDG&E’s commitment to wildfire preparedness and safety, visit https://www.sdge.com/our-commitment-wildfire-safety.

SDG&E is an innovative San Diego-based energy company that provides clean, safe and reliable energy to better the lives of the people it serves in San Diego and southern Orange counties.

The company is committed to creating a sustainable future by providing its electricity from renewable sources; modernizing natural gas pipelines; accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles; supporting numerous non-profit partners; and investing in innovative technologies to ensure the reliable operation of the region’s infrastructure for generations to come.

SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy. For more information, visit SDGEnews.com.

Submitted by San Diego Gas & Electric.