CPUC Safety and Enforcement Division: June 2025 Highlights

At the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), protecting public safety and ensuring the reliability of utility infrastructure are central to our mission. Each month, the CPUC’s Safety and Enforcement Division (SED) compiles and analyzes enforcement, inspection, and monitoring activity across natural gas, electric, and wildfire safety programs. These efforts are carried out by three dedicated branches: the Gas Safety and Reliability Branch (GSRB), Electric Safety and Reliability Branch (ESRB), and Wildfire Safety and Enforcement Branch (WSEB).

Here’s how SED advanced utility safety in June 2025 through data-driven enforcement, proactive inspections, and targeted oversight.

Wildfire Safety and Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) Oversight

Wildfires pose significant risks to communities and critical infrastructure. In June 2025, WSEB was actively investigating 16 utility-related wildfires and monitored four PSPS events. Staff reviewed post-event reports from Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), and observed multiple PSPS exercises conducted by SCE, SDG&E, PacifiCorp, Bear Valley Electric Service, and Liberty Utilities. These functional and tabletop exercises help utilities test their readiness and improve coordination with state agencies.

Wrapping up an investigation, on June 16, 2025, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) paid a $7.14 million penalty for violations related to the Edgewood Fire, which CPUC staff determined was most likely caused by equipment failures and violations of CPUC General Order 95 rules.

Electric Safety and Reliability (ESRB)

In June 2025, ESRB continued its oversight of California’s electric and communication infrastructure. Staff conducted 18 audits across electric distribution, substations, transmission lines, communication infrastructure providers (CIPs), and power plants, issuing 11 audit reports.

ESRB also monitored 128 outages from natural gas and renewable energy plants, ensuring that forced and planned outages were properly reported and addressed. 

Incident oversight also remained a priority, with ESRB receiving nine electric facility incident reports and six power plant incident reports andclosing 11 electric incident cases during the month.

Meanwhile, ESRB’s summer reliability program expanded oversight to include large-scale energy storage systems, ensuring California is better prepared for peak demand and extreme weather.

Natural Gas Safety and Reliability (GSRB)

As of June 2025, the CPUC received 78 natural gas incident reports from service providers, with 55 investigations closed to-date. 

GSRB also handled seven new customer complaints, resolving four and continuing investigations into two active cases. Additionally, CPUC inspectors issued three inspection notices and two Notices of Probable Violation letters to Southern California Gas Company.

GSRB staff taking cathodic protection pipe-to-soil readings at a compressor station.

Mobile Home Park Utility Conversion Program (MHP)

The CPUC’s Mobile Home Park (MHP) Utility Conversion Program continues to deliver safety improvements by transitioning communities from aging master-metered systems to direct utility service. Since its inception, utilities have invested more than $1.57 billion and converted over 96,000 spaces statewide.

In June 2025, GSRB delivered an updated priority list of 1,525 mobile home parks, representing approximately 168,400 spaces, to participating utilities. This process ensures the highest-risk systems are prioritized for replacement.

Regulatory and Policy Developments

SED actively engaged in proceedings to modernize California’s energy safety framework. In June 2025, ESRB contributed expertise to two major Rulemakings:

Public Engagement and Accountability

Public reporting remains an essential tool for oversight. In June 2025, the CPUC received 21 whistleblower submissions and four safety hotline inquiries, reflecting strong public participation in utility safety oversight.

Through comprehensive investigations, rigorous enforcement, and forward-looking regulatory initiatives, the CPUC continues to enhance utility safety and reliability across California. These efforts are essential to protecting residents, workers, and critical infrastructure from the risks associated with wildfires, infrastructure failures, and service disruptions.

For more detailed information and access to full reports, visit CPUC SED Monthly Reports.

By Adam Cranfill, Information Officer