Photo courtesy of AP Images.
A new bill by State Senator Bill Dodd would see an independent group such as Cal Fire in charge of overseeing tree trimming around power lines.
Current law allows the power companies, like PG&E, to decide what vegatation around power lines to clear under standards set by California Public Utilities Commission. But Senator Dodd has said the “current standard is not working” and is proposing SB 247 which would have Cal Fire direct utilities on trees and vegetation to be removed and later inspect the work. Cal Fire has found PG&E equipment was found responsible for 17 wildfires that broke out in October of 2017 with a notable exception being the Tubbs fire.