California Regulators Lower Heat Threshold for Power Shutoff Ban to 90 Degrees After Rejecting Utility Plan

The California Public Utilities Commission voted 4-0 on Thursday to lower the temperature at which utilities must stop shutting off power to delinquent customers from 100 to 90 degrees. CalMatters reported that the commission rejected a proposal from the state's largest utilities and wrote stronger rules itself after the companies missed a May 1 deadline.

Regulators had concluded more than a year ago that existing protections were insufficient.

They ordered utilities to develop better safeguards, but the December proposal from the companies set the cutoff at Level 3 on the CalHeatScore index with a 100-degree backstop. The commission found the plan offered no meaningful change from prior practice. Consumer advocates had filed protests and emergency motions seeking a Level 2 threshold and a 90-degree backup.

The commission's resolution noted that extreme heat is already defined below 100 degrees in 41 of California's 58 counties, with examples including 85 degrees in San Francisco and 76.8 degrees in Del Norte County. The new rules apply only to shutoffs for unpaid bills. They do not affect outages from equipment failures, wildfire prevention, or other emergencies.

The region-specific standard is expected within six months. Director Linda Serizawa of the commission's independent Public Advocates Office said the vote would provide consumers with protection that takes effect when they need it most. PG&E, Edison, and SDG&E stated they are prepared to comply with the updated policies.