Panel advances bill to strengthen wildfire mitigation, PSPS coordination and undergrounding of abandoned lines

Senator (author) presented SB 256, the Enhancing Infrastructure for Wildfire Mitigation Act, to the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee. The bill, as described in committee testimony, would expand wildfire mitigation planning, require greater coordination with local emergency responders, mandate consideration of undergrounding during recovery, and require utilities to prepare removal plans for abandoned lines.

The sponsor described catastrophic local impacts from recent fires — including the Eaton and Palisades fires and losses in Altadena — and said California’s current voluntary undergrounding program and mitigation planning contain gaps. The author said investigators were examining whether a long‑deenergized, abandoned line contributed to the Eaton Fire and argued the bill would reduce future risk by ensuring obsolete infrastructure is properly decommissioned and by improving PSPS planning and communication.

Local officials, including an Altadena town council member who lost property in the Eaton Fire, provided first‑hand testimony urging passage. Supporters included county governments and local emergency managers. Utilities (San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, PG&E) thanked the author for removing an earlier proposed profit restriction and said they remain concerned about duplication of existing planning requirements, public disclosure of infrastructure vulnerabilities, and operational impacts if multiple mandates overlap.

Committee members pressed the author about safety and redundancy concerns and sought assurances the bill would avoid duplicative mandates and protect sensitive infrastructure data; the author said the priority is removing decommissioned lines and improving coordination with first responders. The committee advanced SB 256 to emergency management with a commitment to adopt amendments; the roll call indicates the bill moved forward for further work.

Why it matters: The bill attempts to close gaps revealed by recent wildfire investigations by requiring active consideration of undergrounding in recovery, better PSPS coordination and removal of abandoned infrastructure that could pose fire hazards.

Limitations: Utilities raised concerns about potential overlap with existing wildfire mitigation and emergency plans and the public disclosure of detailed infrastructure vulnerabilities. The committee indicated willingness to work with stakeholders on language to address those operational and security concerns.