Inspection and Maintenance Standards
Utilities must patrol (walk, drive, or fly by for a visual inspection) their systems once a year (in urban areas and high fire threat areas in Southern California) or once every two years (in rural areas). Utilities must conduct detailed inspections every 3-5 years, depending on the type of equipment. For detailed inspections, utilities' records must specify the condition of inspected equipment, any problems found, and a scheduled date for corrective action. Since July 1, 1998, utilities are required to submit an annual report summarizing completed and missed inspections, equipment conditions observed, and repairs made. Utilities are required to conduct intrusive inspections of power poles (including taking samples for analysis) every 10 years (if not previously inspected) or every 20 years.
The following reports were required to be submitted on or before July 1, 2016 and contain inspection and maintenance information for 2015.
Additional Background Information:
Decisions 96-11-021 and 97-03-070 establish inspection cycles and record-keeping requirements for utility distribution equipment, within G.O. 165. This General Order was adopted by the CPUC on March 31, 1997, and applies to all electric distribution and transmission facilities (excluding those facilities contained in a substation) that come within the jurisdiction of the CPUC, located outside of buildings, including electric distribution and transmission facilities that belong to non-electric utilities. The requirements of this order are in addition to the requirements imposed upon utilities (General Orders 95 and 128) to maintain a safe and reliable electric system. G.O. 165 requires each utility to submit to the CPUC an annual maintenance report describing its inspection activities for the prior year, no later than July 1st every year.
For archived reports, please send a request to the CPUC Legal Division.