Energy/Utilities

Problems with investor-owned utility companies (PG&E, AT&T, Cal-Am, etc)

Contact CPUC Consumer Affairs Branch – 800-649-7570

The California Public Utilities Commission’s Consumer Affairs Branch (CAB) can help resolve many complaints with investor-owned utilities (IOUs) — AT&T, PG&E, California American Water Company, Frontier, etc. — including bill issues, service outages, and telephone line quality. They can expedite your complaint to a higher level of the company’s customer service, and this attention, plus the CPUC’s awareness of the problem, can quickly resolve issues.

(NOTE: the CPUC does not have jurisdiction over municipal utilities such as Marina Coast Water)

Energy

Powerline EMFs

“The Health Effects of EMF, ELF and Magnetic Fields from Powerlines and Electricity“

Watsonville powerline expansion
https://pajaronian.com/pge-begins-major-power-system-upgrade-in-south-santa-cruz-county/
https://www.watsonville.gov/DocumentCenter/View/28422/PGE-Watsonville-Capacity-Project-Phase-1-NR

Smart Meters

Overview: Fire and Electrical Hazards from ‘Smart’, Wireless, PLC, and Digital Utility Meters, 2017
https://smartmeterharm.org/fire-and-electrical-hazards-report/

Analysis: Smart Meter and Smart Grid Problems – Legislative Proposal, 2012
https://smartmeterharm.org/2012/12/14/report-smart-meter-problems-dec-2012/1-smart-meter-problems-dec-2012-final/

http://www.smartmeterharm.org
http://www.emfsafetynetwork.org
https://ehsciences.org/smart-meter-health-risks-rf-radiation-exposure-and-fire/
http://www.stopsmartmeters.org

Data Centers

Lithium Ion Battery Energy Storage (BESS)

3/17/26 Monterey County Board of Supervisors hearing
Update on 2024 BESS fire at Moss Landing
Documents
Video – beginning at 2:15:25
EMBER presentation (EMBER = Estuary Monitoring of Battery Emissions and Residues resulting from the Moss Landing battery fire)
3:06:43 Dr. Kerstin Wasson, Ph.D
4:20:12 Dr. Wasson answered questions
NAML presentation (NAML = Never Again Moss Landing)

The Moss Landing Vistra BESS fire began January 16, 2025. Never Again Moss Landing — a grassroots, all-volunteer residents’ group — came together rapidly to gather data on health impacts, conduct scientific testing, educate the public, and demand answers from state and federal agencies to restore the health and safety of the community.

EMBER Research Group, San Jose State University Moss Landing Marine Laboratories

San Jose State University press release on first publication on impacts of Vistra battery fire:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-25972-8
Aiello, I.W., Endris, C., Cunningham, S. et al. Coastal wetland deposition of cathode metals from the world’s largest lithium-ion battery fire. Sci Rep 15, 42113 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-25972-8

https://theconversation.com/when-the-worlds-largest-battery-power-plant-caught-fire-toxic-metals-rained-down-wetlands-captured-the-fallout-268848
“When the world’s largest battery power plant caught fire, toxic metals rained down – wetlands captured the fallout”, by Ivano Aiello, Professor of Marine Geology, San José State University, December 1, 2025

Pacific Gas and Electric

Fire Power Money
Documentary film series by ABC 10 Sacramento
With California’s wildfires growing deadlier and bigger than ever, ABC10 examines the connection between wildfires, PG&E and its influence on California politics.

More coming soon…