SACRAMENTO – (INT) – The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has handed an $8 million citation to Southern California Edison for violations of safety regulations.

It stems from an incident in Twentynine Palms in 2015 in which an individual was injured when he struck a low-hanging energized powerline while riding an off-road vehicle.

Two other people were injured when they came in contact with the powerline while trying to provide aid.

A CPUC staff investigation determined that a crossarm on an Edison pole broke, causing a piece of the crossarm to fall to the ground. The 12 kV overhead line that the crossarm was supporting became suspended less than eight feet above the ground.

The CPUC declared that Edison violated rules for failing to ensure that the crossarm was capable of withstanding conditions normal to the area.

Edison has thirty days to pay or file an appeal.

Story Date: October 22, 2018