Blackouts

Environment

To help Californians endure fire-related power cutoffs, state ponders new rules for utilities

Authorities may ask utility companies to provide real-time outage updates, help create community centers where vulnerable people can seek refuge and practice better notification procedures. 

By Julie Cart • March 5, 2020

California Wildfires

Make up school time lost to climate disasters, fire country lawmaker says

California state Sen. Bill Dodd has introduced legislation to help schools make up instructional time and state dollars lost to closures for climate-driven emergencies such as wildfires. The increasingly pressing issue was the topic of a CalMatters series last year.

By Ricardo Cano • January 23, 2020

WhatMatters

Newsom’s new homelessness proposal, Democrats’ oil tax idea, and why people leave California

More money coming to fight homelessness. Uber changes rules for drivers in response to new law. Census data show why Californians are leaving state.

By Dan Morain • January 9, 2020

Capitol

Will fires, outages land California students in ‘disaster relief’ summer school?

Some 800,000 kids have lost as much as three weeks of class time this autumn. Public schools cherish local control in California, but they're asking the state to step in.

By Ricardo Cano • December 5, 2019

WhatMatters

Kamala Harris folds, Duncan Hunter pleads guilty, PG&E wants to hand out coolers

Kamala Harris ends presidential campaign. PG&E wants to give coolers to low-income residents during power shutoffs. Why it's hard to punish car burglars.

By Dan Morain and Jackie Botts • December 4, 2019

WhatMatters

Newsom, Democrats lose effort to force Trump to release taxes—and it wasn’t close

California loses battle for Trump's taxes. State to sue Trump administration over Delta water shipments. Power shutoffs leaves residents hungry.

By Dan Morain • November 22, 2019

California Divide

“We need the food that we lost.” Low-income families still reeling from blackouts

Pacific Gas & Electric turned off power to Ana Patricia Rios’ neighborhood in Sonoma County for eight days in October, three at the beginning of the month and five near the end. The mother of three young boys watched twice as nearly all of the food in her refrigerator spoiled. She threw out at least […]

By Jackie Botts • November 22, 2019

WhatMatters

Lawmakers challenge PG&E, as utility warns of more mass power shutdowns

PG&E comes under fire at Capitol. State, L.A. sue Juul Labs over e-cigarette practices. Kamala Harris sinks in presidential polls.

By Dan Morain and Judy Lin • November 19, 2019

WhatMatters

Senate to focus on power shutdowns, as fire weather returns

Senate to scrutinize power shutdowns. Lack of emergency-evacuation system hinders fire victims. State to shun some carmakers.

By Dan Morain • November 18, 2019

WhatMatters

Gavin Newsom and PG&E + Trump and carmakers + Katie Hill’s goodbye

Anger toward PG&E runs deep. Can microgrids help solve state's power woes? Trump administration pressured carmakers to take his side in emissions fight.

By Dan Morain • November 1, 2019