1. Summary

This decision denies without prejudice the petition to initiate a rulemaking proceeding that was filed by San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) pursuant to Pub. Util. Code § 1708.5.¹ The main purpose of SDG&E's proposed rulemaking proceeding is to consider whether new regulations are necessary to reduce the wildfire hazards of overhead electric lines in response to recent wildfires in Southern California. This decision finds that the proposed rulemaking is premature because the Commission's Consumer Protection and Safety Division (CPSD) and the California Department of Forestry and Fire (Cal Fire) have not yet completed their investigations of recent wildfires ignited by overhead electric lines. The Commission will respond appropriately to the recent wildfires after the investigations are complete and the causes of the wildfires, including the role of overhead electric lines, are better understood.

The Petition is also denied without prejudice because SDG&E did not provide specific text for proposed regulations that would be the subject of the rulemaking as required by Rule 6.3(b) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure. Because SDG&E did not provide any concrete proposals to consider, this decision concludes that it is better to await the results of the investigations so that the appropriate response to the recent wildfires can be formulated.

¹ The symbol "§"is used hereafter to designate sections of the California Public Utilities Code.