Commonwealth Club: PG&E Chief Patti Poppe & State Sen. Scott Wiener on Affordability, Outages, and Returning Power to the People

Due to a scheduling conflict, Senator Wiener will not be able to join the program. After PG&E pled guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter in the 2018 Camp Fire, Patti Poppe was brought on as the utility’s new CEO. Her stated mission: to fix it. Now, rising electricity prices, repeated power outages, and the growing impact of climate change have put PG&E in the crosshairs of the public and legislators. Again. Just last month, California lawmakers rejected a bill that would have shielded the utility from liability if their equipment sparks another fire. In response. PG&E announced it would defer roughly $2 billion in capital investments planned for 2027 as it works to strengthen its finances and, in Poppe’s words, “reinvent” the company. That means plans to connect new housing projects, clean energy initiatives, and some technology upgrades will be put on hold..   In a climate-changed world, is the investor-owned utility model still sustainable? Is PG&E putting too much emphasis on profits at the expense of maintenance? And how does PG&E plan to balance its financial interests with the need for affordable power, a reliable grid, and climate resilience? Join Climate One for an engaging, in-person conversation with PG&E CEO Patti Poppe, followed by a reception and opportunity to continue the discussion with other members of your community.