Southern California Edison
Steve Powell is the CEO of Southern California Edison. Chris Rogers is a Partner and West Market Leader, Energy Providers Practice at Guidehouse.
The State of California is innovative and of great interest to those in the energy and utilities industry. There are so many issues to take on, from grid hardening and resiliency, to increased demand from data centers to wildfire mitigation including managing Public Safety Power Shutoffs, to changing culture around these big issues. No one ever dreamed that shutting down power would become a necessary lifeline, and that is a tough change in mindset for utility workers. But it's all being done and more.
To help understand how California utilities are grappling with these major transformations, Public Utilities Fortnightly's Executive Editor Steve Mitnick went to the top and talked with two leaders, joined by Chris Rogers from Guidehouse. PG&E CFO Carolyn Burke and Southern California Edison CEO Steve Powell have much to say on important issues.
PUF's Steve Mitnick: As a foundational part of Southern California Edison's strategy, how do the company's wildfire mitigation efforts fit in?
Steve Powell: I'll start with our overall wildfire mitigation approach. In California, having experienced catastrophic fires in the 2017 and 2018 timeframe, it made many in the state, including us, relook at our wildfire mitigation and broader grid resilience approach.