Wildfires raged across California this month due to strong winds that forced PG&E to leave around 1.5 million without power. A state regulator launched a probe on Monday into the unprecedented number of so-called Public Safety Power Shut-offs (PSPS) as wildfires threatened California residents.
"The state will not hesitate to step in and restructure the utility", Newsom said on Medium.com on Friday. "To that end, I have tapped my Cabinet Secretary, Ana Matosantos, to serve as the state’s Energy Czar to lead a dedicated energy team… and prepare a plan should the state need to intervene. All options are on the table".
Long and widespread blackouts highlighted PG&E's "culture of ineptitude" and resistance to change, the governor added.
California's Kincade Fire Spawns Huge Plume Visible from Space https://t.co/zFGw2ERj21 pic.twitter.com/tuR2XYTnQX
— Live Science (@LiveScience) October 31, 2019