CPUC Regulatory Oversight of PG&E Mobile App Pilot Effort

PG&E Safety Reporting Mobile App Pilot (Rulemaking A.19-07-019, PG&E Application for Approval of its Mobile Application and Supporting Systems Pilot)

Proceeding Fact Sheet

PG&E Mobile App Pilot Full Functionality Available to All Within PG&E Electric Service Territory

PG&E’s Mobile App (called “Report It”), now available to all customers within PG&E’s service territory in the Android and Apple app stores, allows users to submit a report of a potential electric safety hazard or view photos and safety reports submitted by others.

PG&E customers can begin to make safety reports of problematic electric infrastructure observed in the field via the Mobile App once downloaded and opened on a smartphone or tablet device. Mobile App Report It homepage includes guidance and pointers on how to submit your report and how to make an informed distinction between energized overhead wires and telecommunications lines that support cable and phone service.

Anyone with a smart phone, tablet, or computer wishing to passively observe and monitor existing safety reports submitted via PG&E’s mobile app may do so without the need for a download by clicking HERE.

Regulatory Oversight Process Supporting the Mobile App Pilot

The Commission anticipates bringing this active rulemaking to a conclusion on or before March 6, 2025. In so doing, the Commission will make a decision on the Mobile App Pilot and its continuation in existing or modified form.

The Commission’s determination will be informed by the public record for this proceeding including requests and arguments put forward by PG&E, such as within the utility’s straw proposal, comments, and supporting documentation, and the findings and recommendations of Safety Policy Division that encompass a Commission staff proposal.

In the interim, the Commission, on December 14, 2024, issued a Proposed Decision, inviting public comment, presenting findings of fact, and proposing to establish new, enhanced regulatory reporting requirements for PG&E as the Mobile App effort is continued as a pilot program in modified form.

The regulatory rulemaking process, staffed by Safety Policy Division, was initiated on June 27, 2019 within Order Instituting Investigation I.19-06-015, which implicated electric utility responsibility in the 2017 Northern California Wildfires, and directed PG&E to "develop an open source, publicly available mobile app" to enable the public to capture and transmit GPS-geocoded photos of potentially hazardous electrical hardware to the utility.

PG&E responded with its pilot Application filed on July 29, 2019, seeking Commission approval within a Decision and proposing a limited-term pilot program to commence in 2020.

The Commission acknowledged PG&E's application on November 14, 2019, within an Assigned Commissioner Ruling and Scoping Memo that set forth a proceeding schedule to include public workshops.

PG&E’s limited pilot concept to undertake the mobile app safety reporting program was approved with modifications by the Commission on October 8, 2020, in Decision.

PG&E formally launched its pilot program by making its mobile app publicly available August 6, 2021, in accordance with Commission requirements with a targeted emphasis on PG&E service territory having elevated wildfire risk, California High Fire-Threat District Tiers 2 and 3 (High and Very High risk).

Consultant Evaluation Assessing Effectiveness and Value of PG&E Mobile App Pilot

At the Commission’s direction, PG&E retained an independent third-party evaluator to study and assess the merits of the mobile app and submit recommendations to enable the Commission to make an informed determination about appropriate next steps.

A consultant Evaluation Final Report was made available November 6, 2023, with the attachments listed below.

PG&E, on September 29, 2023, filed a Straw Proposal describing various options the utility favored as a path toward moving elevate the Mobile App from pilot status to a permanent program and to recover costs associated with the Mobile App effort.

The proceeding’s assigned Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) on July 3, 2023, made available a consultant evaluation draft report via Ruling.

The ALJ Ruling requested public comments and included attachments to inform the evaluation process and PG&E’s response to the consultant’s finding and recommendations.

Evaluation Draft Report by Consultant on PG&E Mobile App Pilot
Consultant Slides in Support of Evaluation Draft Report
PG&E Response to Recommendations in Evaluation Draft Report
PG&E Slides in Support of PG&E Response to Consultant Recommendations

Additional Key Rulemaking Documents

Decision 20-10-003 DECISION APPROVING PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY’S MOBILE APPLICATION AND SUPPORTING SYSTEMS PILOT 10/08/2020

Decision 20-12-001 ORDER CORRECTING ERROR 12/02/2020

Decision 21-01-021 ORDER EXTENDING STATUTORY DEADLINE 01/14/2021

PG&E Revised Pilot Implementation Plan

View the full CPUC Docket Card for A.19-07-019