Last month, millions of Californians were left in the dark because their utility, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), preemptively shut down power lines to avoid igniting wildfires. The Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) resulted in substantial economic losses for California residents and businesses – including include lost wages, lost revenues, spoiled food and delayed production – with one economist estimating the losses at $2.5 billion. Not so easy to quantify were the disruptions to daily life and the more serious, sometimes fatal, consequences.
