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Preparing for emergencies and climate impacts

Gina BlusSustainable Communities

Feb. 28, 2013

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Emergency-related efforts

Protecting public and employee safety is the responsibility of every department and individual at PG&E, so dealing with emergencies is part of the job

• Prevention: training, electric reliability upgrades, gas PSEP, 811, public service messages (magnetic balloons, downed power lines), encroachments

• Preparedness: first responder workshops, Red Cross partnership (Causes.com pledge, Ready Neighborhoods campaign)

• Response: Emergency Operations Centers, mobile command vehicles, repair and restoration crews

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Pipeline safety enhancement plan

Pipelines– Replace 180+ miles of transmission pipeline – Strength test (hydrostatic pressure test) 780+ miles – Inspect 200+ miles with a "smart pig" or camera – Retrofit 200 miles to accommodate in-line inspections

Valves– Automate 220 valves on pipelines in highly populated and

earthquake-prone areas

Interim Safety Enhancement Measures – Continue validating the Maximum Allowable Operating

Pressure for all transmission pipelines until testing and/or replacment

– Reduce gas pipeline pressure in certain areas – Significantly increase patrols and leak surveys

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Climate-related efforts

• 35 years of mitigating climate impacts through energy efficiency, clean energy, education

• 5 years of tracking and anticipating the impacts of climate change– Temperature change– Storm frequency and intensity– Rainfall and runoff patterns, including snowpack– Firestorms– Sea level rise– Extreme weather events (freezing, flooding)

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Scary scenarios

less more less

sea level rise

seawater intrusion

flooding

high tides

ground movement

more

corrosion

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Goal: reduce operational risks

• Scientists focus on next 1-3 decades– Temperature change: impact on electricity demand – Storm frequency and intensity– Rainfall and runoff patterns: declining snowpack– Firestorms– Sea level rise: impact on infrastructure– Extreme weather events (freezing, flooding

• Cross functional team will focus on need for capital investment, coordination with regional efforts, etc.

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Primary activities to date

• Develop standard procedures for measuring temperature change, rainfall and runoff, and sea level rise; monitor annually

• Provide data to researchers; track reports and academic studies from local, national and global sources

• Model potential impacts; plan alternatives

• Include climate impacts in regular planning and upgrades, e.g. San Francisco Bay restoration, BayDelta Vision

• Learn from experience; update standards

• Work collaboratively with institutes and agencies

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Questions?

Gina Blus

Sustainable Communities Supervisor

Gina.Blus@PGE.com

415-973-8432