Marcie Edwards, of Castaic, has been named to the California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board. The mission of the board is to advise a new Wildfire Safety Division within the California Public Utilities Commission on wildfire safety measures, including plans written by utilities, so the CPUC can more effectively regulate the safety of investor-owned utilities.

Edwards has been the 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. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $400 per diem. Edwards is the only Republican named to the board.

The board as outlined in AB 1054, and the California Catastrophe Response Council, was established by AB 111, both signed into law in July.

AB 1054 also mandated that utilities tie executive compensation to safety performance, invest $5 billion in safety improvements without profit, and go through a new yearly wildfire safety review and certification process. It also requires new inspections of utility electrical equipment. Under the law, utilities must create a wildfire safety committee in their corporate board, and provide direct board-level safety reporting to the CPUC.

The California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board will advise the Wildfire Safety Division within the California Public Utilities Commission on wildfire safety and mitigation performance, including plans written by utilities, so they can develop an appropriate scope and process for assessing the safety culture of an electric utility.

The Advisory Board will meet at least quarterly throughout the state.

This action is the most recent that the Governor has taken to address the recent utility-directed Public Safety Power Shutoffs, which have left thousands of Californians without power or electricity.

The Governor has declared a statewide emergency due to the dangerous weather conditions. Governor Newsom announced the launch of a new state website, RESPONSE.CA.GOV this week, which serves as a one-stop portal for tools and resources available to Californians who have been impacted by wildfires and utility-directed power shutoffs, as well as community and business partnerships to support residents impacted by the wildfires and the shutoffs.

The Governor also announced that the state has secured Fire Management Assistance Grants to help ensure the availability of resources to fight the Getty Fire, as well as the Kincade and Tick fires – for which the Governor previously declared a state of emergency in Sonoma and Los Angeles counties.

This week and last week, the Governor met with emergency responders, volunteers, health officials, residents and state and local leaders in Los Angeles, Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Napa and Geyserville, and held briefings regarding the ongoing fire threats and the need to hold utilities accountable for the consequences of their power shutoff decisions.

The Governor has called on the California Public Utilities Commission to reform power shutoff rules and regulations as part of its investigation into the utility-led shutoffs. He has also announced a $75 million program for state and local governments to mitigate the impacts of power shutoffs and unveiled a series of new partnerships and new tools to help secure medically vulnerable populations during these events.