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PG&E’s Climate Vulnerability Assessment To Guide Planning for Current and Future Risks
On May 15, PG&E submitted its Climate Adaptation and Vulnerability Assessment (CAVA) to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) analyzing climate-driven impacts and risks on utility operations, assets and services over the next few decades.
The CAVA is part of PG&E’s work to stay ahead of California’s changing climate. The report will help guide the company’s strategic investments to strengthen our energy system to withstand projected changes in environmental or weather-related risks, and to work with customers to be ready for these challenges. PG&E developed the report in collaboration with representatives of the communities the company serves through the Resilient Together initiative, focusing on communities designated by the CPUC as most vulnerable to climate change impacts.
Utilities are required to file the assessments with the CPUC every four years.
Key CAVA findings
The CAVA contains detailed analysis about how projected climate-driven natural hazards, including heat, sea-level rise, wildfire, and others, may impact PG&E’s existing assets. Key CAVA findings include:
Average temperatures are increasing, and heat waves are becoming more frequent and extreme. Extreme heat poses a threat to the electric system. Rising temperature can increase energy demand as customers use more electricity to cool their homes and businesses. Additionally, upgrades may be necessary to protect the company’s infrastructure from heat damage and operational constraints.
- The risk of inland and coastal flooding is increasing. Increased precipitation and flooding as well as sea-level rise could affect some electric, gas and hydroelectric infrastructure. PG&E will continue to upgrade design, siting, and other system hardening requirements to protect equipment against impacts.
- Extreme wildfires continue to be a threat. Fire seasons are projected to increase in length and intensity as a result of a range of environmental factors, many of which are exacerbated by climate change. PG&E has reduced wildfire risk from company equipment by 94% based on the CPUC’s approved methodology, with plans to continue hardening the grid — for example, by replacing wood poles with more resilient structures and trimming or removing vegetation near critical equipment — that support continued safe and reliable service to customers.
CAVA impact on energy bills
The CAVA reinforces PG&E’s commitment to delivering a safe and resilient energy system at the lowest price for the company’s customers. Knowing what climate challenges likely lie ahead allows PG&E to prepare and plan investments to minimize costs and impacts on customer’s energy bills.
The CAVA has no direct impact on customer bills. Rather, it provides a technical framework for integrating the potential impacts of climate change into company decision-making about how best to manage the energy system for customers.