California regulators order inquiry into power outages

JANIE HAR Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California regulators opened a formal investigation Wednesday into pre-emptive power outages that blacked out large parts of the state in October, drawing strong rebukes from public officials and residents who said the shut-offs were too broad and poorly executed. The unanimous vote by the California Public Utilities Commission followed testimony from a handful of people who pleaded with the regulatory body for leadership at a time of increased danger from fire and other natural disasters. “Many Californians are debating whether California is still safe. Is this a safe place to live?” said Will Abrams of Santa Rosa, whose house burned down in 2017 in wildfires that roared through Northern California wine country. The state’s lar