First Wildfire Safety Advisory Board Meeting Held in Sacramento

SAN FRANCISCO, January 22, 2020 – The state’s Wildfire Safety Advisory Board held its inaugural meeting yesterday in Sacramento to discuss the group’s priorities and other administrative responsibilities.

At the meeting, the Board designated two members to serve as Chair and Vice Chair of the Wildfire Safety Advisory Board, as follows:

• Marcie Edwards as Chair: Marcie Edwards has been principal of MLE Consulting Inc. since 2017. She was general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power from 2014 to 2017, City Manager of the City of Anaheim from 2013 to 2014, and General Manager for Anaheim Public Utilities from 2001 to 2013. Edwards was Interim Chief Executive Officer for the California Independent System Operator in 2004. She held various positions at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power from 1976 to 2000, including Assistant General Manager for Marketing and Customer Service business units, bulk power business unit Director, energy control center Manager and Superintendent of load dispatching. Edwards earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of La Verne.
• Diane Fellman as Vice Chair: Diane Fellman was a public utility regulatory specialist at the California Public Utilities Commission from 2017 to 2018. She was Vice President of regulatory and legislative affairs for the Western Region at NRG Energy Inc. from 2010 to 2017, Director of regulatory and legislative affairs for NextEra Energy Resources Inc. from 2004 to 2010, and an attorney in private practice from 1986 to 2004. Fellman was legal counsel at the California Public Utilities Commission from 1983 to 1986 and a hearing officer and officer manager at the California Energy Commission from 1977 to 1983. Fellman earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

At the meeting, the Board was briefed on the Wildfire Safety Division of the California Public Utilities Commission, and reviewed the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act to ensure transparency of its work with the public. Board members are expected to make meetings Bagley-Keene compliant by conducting the meetings openly so that the public may remain informed.

Additionally, the Board tentatively scheduled its next meeting for Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Sacramento. The Board is developing the logistics for future briefings and subjects as part of its ongoing work.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend future meetings and provide input on agenda items, such as the Board’s priorities and utility wildfire mitigation plans.

Assembly Bill (AB) 1054, signed into law in July 2019, established the California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board, a board of independent expert advisors, to advise a new Wildfire Safety Division within the CPUC on wildfire safety measures, including plans written by utilities, so the CPUC can more effectively regulate the safety of investor-owned utilities.

More information on the Wildfire Safety Advisory Board is at www.cpuc.ca.gov/WSAB.

The CPUC regulates services and utilities, protects consumers, safeguards the environment, and assures Californians’ access to safe and reliable utility infrastructure and services. For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.