The California Public Utilities Commission announced Thursday that it has fined utility giant Southern California Edison $24.5 million for violations involving two 2011 incidents that left three people dead and more than 400,000 without power for as long as eight days.
In a case that occurred Jan. 14, 2011, three members of a San Bernardino family were electrocuted when an electrical conductor fell on their property during high winds. On Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 of that year, a windstorm uprooted trees and damaged utility buildings, which led to prolonged power outages in the San Gabriel Valley.
The commission first proposed the settlement in March, and it was finalized today. The money will come from Edison shareholders and not impact customer rates, Edison said in March. About $15 million will go to the state’s General Fund, while the remainder will be used toward preventive measures.
“The CPUC will continue its vigilance to ensure that the safety of Californians and the reliability of the electric network are top priorities,” Commissioner Catherine J.K. Sandoval said in a press release.
Edison endorsed the settlement.
“SCE believes the settlement is in the public interest and allows it to move forward with the utility’s principal mission of providing safe, reliable and affordable electric service,” Edison said in a written statement to the Business Journal.
