Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utility Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
PG&E Says It Replaced Failed Unit, Will Replace Seven Like Models; CPUC and SFFD Outline Oversight and Response
Summary
Following a Bernal Heights underground transformer failure that injured two people, PG&E described inspections and replacement of the failed unit and said it will replace seven similar transformers citywide; CPUC opened an investigation expected within roughly six months and SFFD reviewed response and training protocols.
The committee held a public hearing on transformer safety after a September 27 underground transformer failure in Bernal Heights that injured two people. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) presented summaries of the incident, emergency response, inspections and oversight.
PG&E said it commissioned an independent third‑party investigation, conducted expanded infrared inspections and patrolled distribution equipment in the neighborhood. Company representatives reported inspecting the 125 underground transformers serving Bernal Heights, found no hazardous conditions in those post‑incident checks, and replaced one unit of the same model as the failed transformer. PG&E said seven units of the same manufacturer/model existed across San Francisco and that it was replacing them out of an abundance of caution; two had been replaced by the time of the hearing, and PG&E aimed to finish the remaining replacements by December 30. PG&E also stated that San Francisco work is part of a larger multi‑billion dollar infrastructure and safety investment program and that the preliminary third‑party review points to an internal mechanical failure while the final report is pending.
The CPUC’s Electric Safety and Reliability branch (ESRB) described its investigation process, which can include field visits, interviews, evidence review, data requests and engineering tests. CPUC staff said an investigation of the Bernal Heights incident is underway; because the incident involved injuries, the CPUC estimated the investigation could take up to six months to complete and said its final report may be made public upon completion.
SFFD staff described response protocols, joint training with PG&E (including donated training transformers and a CO2 trailer), deployment of specialized equipment (CGI meters, iPads with distribution maps), quarterly drills and integration with PG&E in unified communications. SFFD reported it handled about 1,476 gas and electric related calls in the prior year (roughly 1.1% of calls) and roughly 40 underground vault incidents over five years; the department urged residents to call 911 for immediate hazards and promoted the Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT) for preparedness.
Supervisors pressed the CPUC on whether it maintains a citywide inventory of transformers; CPUC staff said utilities retain those data but that the CPUC inspects utility records and audits utilities on a multi‑year cadence (roughly once every five years per region). Supervisors and residents expressed concern about staffing and independent verification of utility practices.
Supervisor Campos asked that PG&E and the CPUC share the third‑party report and the CPUC investigation results when available; the committee filed the hearing record without objection and asked for follow‑up reporting to the Board.
Key figures noted in testimony: PG&E said about 15,000 transformers exist in the City and County of San Francisco, the Bernal Heights area has 125 underground transformers, PG&E inspected 125 units after the incident and planned to replace seven same‑model transformers citywide (two already replaced) with a completion target of December 30; CPUC said its investigation target is approximately six months.
