As wildfire warnings continue to race through California, utility giants PG&E and Southern California Edison (SCE) are stepping up their fire-risk mitigation plans for workers to harden infrastructure and manage vegetation. At the same time, the state’s utility providers are facing continued public backlash about preemptive power outages, known as Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) as a fire-prevention strategy.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1245, which represents more than 12,000 frontline PG&E and utility workers, says 3,000 linesmen are currently working on tree trimming and vegetation clearance, up from an average of 1,200 workers, says Tom Dalzell, business manager for IBEW. He expects the pace and rate of work to continue as the new normal for years.