CPUC Regulatory Oversight of PG&E Mobile App Pilot Effort
PG&E Safety Reporting Mobile App Pilot (Rulemaking A.19-07-019, PG&E Application for Approval of its Mobile Application and Supporting Systems Pilot)
PG&E Mobile App Pilot Full Functionality Available to All Within PG&E Electric Service Territory
PG&E’s Mobile App allows users to submit a report of a potential electric safety hazard or view photos and safety reports submitted by others simply by pointing their web browser to PG&E’s Report It Mobile App. Report It is an all-in-one interactive map and portal which allows users to monitor and report conditions such as power outages. No download or visit to a Mobile App store is necessary.
PG&E customers can make safety reports of problematic electric infrastructure observed in the field via the Mobile App, if within range of internet service, from any smartphone or tablet device. PG&E’s Mobile App Report It homepage includes guidance and pointers on how to submit your report and how to make an informed distinction between energized overhead wires and telecommunications lines that support cable and phone service.
Additionally, one can fully observe and monitor existing safety reports submitted via PG&E’s Mobile App by clicking HERE.
Status of Regulatory Effort Overseeing the Mobile App Pilot
The Commission, with the approval of Decision D.25-01-008, closed this rulemaking, having addressed the issues for which the proceeding had been scoped.
Primary objectives achieved during this rulemaking include:
- PG&E’s launch and trial of both an Android- and Apple-based downloadable Mobile App versions to allow the public to report observed deficiencies in the field implicating the utility’s electrical assets; and
- Completion of an independent third-party evaluation to assess the rigor of PG&E’s approach and the effectiveness of the Mobile App as a tool to reduce safety risk surrounding operation of PG&E’s electrical assets
Additional work on the Mobile App effort lies ahead, including ongoing regulatory reporting and anticipated near-term modifications to the program. Specifically, D.25-01-008 directed PG&E to initiate expanded, enhanced regulatory reporting to enable Commission staff to more closely monitor the speed at which the utility is able to convert customer reports made on the Mobile App to corrective actions in the field made by PG&E to mitigate safety risk associated with electric utility assets.
Additional directives made by the Commission within D.25-01-008 include:
- Denying ratepayer reimbursement for Mobile App-associated program costs now borne by PG&E shareholders
- Denying PG&E’s request to recategorize the Mobile App effort from pilot to permanent status pending a stronger showing of safety risk reduction resulting from Mobile App program activities; and
- Authorizing PG&E’s request to shift its initial approach of maintaining two independently downloadable Mobile Apps supporting both Apple and Android smartphones to a simpler, less costly, and less arduous approach that moves the Mobile App effort to an online system more fully integrated with PG&E’s existing customer service platform and that is also compatible with all laptop and desktop computing devices
Regulatory Oversight in Support of the Mobile App Pilot Proceeding
The Commission’s directives within D.25-01-008 were informed by the public record for this proceeding including requests and arguments put forward by PG&E, such as within the utility’s straw proposal, comments, and supporting documentation, and the findings and recommendations of Safety Policy Division that encompass a Commission staff proposal.
As a precursor, the Commission, on December 14, 2024, issued a Proposed Decision, inviting public comment, presenting findings of fact, and proposing to establish new, enhanced regulatory reporting requirements for PG&E as the Mobile App effort is continued as a pilot program in modified form.
The regulatory rulemaking process, staffed by Safety Policy Division, was initiated on June 27, 2019, within Order Instituting Investigation I.19-06-015, which implicated electric utility responsibility in the 2017 Northern California Wildfires, and directed PG&E to "develop an open source, publicly available Mobile App" to enable the public to capture and transmit GPS-geocoded photos of potentially hazardous electrical hardware to the utility.
PG&E responded with its pilot Application filed on July 29, 2019, seeking Commission approval within a Decision and proposing a limited-term pilot program to commence in 2020.
The Commission acknowledged PG&E's application on November 14, 2019, within an Assigned Commissioner Ruling and Scoping Memo that set forth a proceeding schedule to include public workshops.
PG&E’s limited pilot concept to undertake the Mobile App safety reporting program was approved with modifications by the Commission within an October 8, 2020, Decision.
PG&E formally launched its pilot program by making its Mobile App publicly available August 6, 2021, in accordance with Commission requirements with a targeted emphasis on PG&E service territory having elevated wildfire risk, California High Fire-Threat District Tiers 2 and 3, (corresponding to High and Very High risk levels).
Consultant Evaluation Assessing Effectiveness and Value of PG&E Mobile App Pilot
At the Commission’s direction, PG&E retained an independent third-party evaluator to study and assess the merits of the Mobile App and submit recommendations to enable the CPUC to make an informed determination about appropriate next steps.
A consultant Evaluation Final Report was made available November 6, 2023, with the attachments listed below.
PG&E, on September 29, 2023, filed a Straw Proposal citing to the evaluation report and describing various options the utility favored as a path toward moving elevate the Mobile App from pilot status to a permanent program and to recover costs associated with the Mobile App effort.
The proceeding’s assigned Administrative Law Judge on July 3, 2023, made available a consultant evaluation draft report via Ruling. The ALJ Ruling requested public comments and included attachments to inform the evaluation process and PG&E’s response to the consultant’s finding and recommendations.
- Evaluation Draft Report by Consultant on PG&E Mobile App Pilot
- Consultant Slides in Support of Evaluation Draft Report
- PG&E Response to Recommendations in Evaluation Draft Report
- PG&E Slides in Support of PG&E Response to Consultant Recommendations
Additional Key Rulemaking Documents
Decision 20-10-003 DECISION APPROVING PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY’S MOBILE APPLICATION AND SUPPORTING SYSTEMS PILOT 10/08/2020
Decision 20-12-001 ORDER CORRECTING ERROR 12/02/2020
Decision 21-01-021 ORDER EXTENDING STATUTORY DEADLINE 01/14/2021
CPUC Regulatory Oversight of PG&E Mobile App Pilot Effort
- Commission Decision D.25-01-008, dated January 16, 2025
- PG&E Mobile App - Stakeholder Engagement and Public Outreach Workshops