The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is responsible for monitoring the safety of the state’s energy infrastructure throughout the year. This oversight includes both routine safety inspections and staff investigations into specific incidents.
CPUC staff conduct scheduled inspections on various types of energy infrastructure, such as power plants, energy storage systems, electric transmission and distribution lines, substations, and natural gas pipelines. These inspections are designed to detect potential safety concerns, confirm adherence to state and federal regulations, and prevent incidents before they happen.
In addition to these regular checks, CPUC staff also carry out investigations following outages or safety events that meet certain reporting criteria. Staff may initiate reviews when additional circumstances warrant closer examination. The main goal of these investigations is to determine what occurred during an incident, assess whether established safety rules were followed, and recommend actions to reduce future risks.
During an investigation, CPUC personnel collect data and records, perform site visits or field inspections, interview utility employees and other involved parties, and evaluate compliance with relevant laws or standards. If immediate action is needed to address a problem found during an inspection or investigation, it is corrected at once; other issues are addressed by a set deadline with follow-up verification by CPUC.
The commission has authority to issue citations to utilities for certain violations discovered during these activities. In more serious situations, staff can request that the CPUC Commissioners open a formal investigation—a process that could result in penalties against the utility involved.
“Through inspections, investigations, and enforcement, the CPUC works to hold utilities accountable and support the safe, reliable delivery of energy throughout California.”
