Court Opinion

ID: 9745506
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 23:05:16.024937+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:25:02.088910
License: Public Domain

SCOTLAND, Acting P. J.,* Concurring.
Having concurred fully in the majority opinion, I write separately to respond to the analysis in the dissent written by my colleague and dear friend. He believes that, in exercising its regulatory authority over vegetation management regarding electrical power lines, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has done nothing more than *247establish minimum clearance standards for tree trimming around power lines. Not so. The PUC’s general order No. 95, former rule 35 specifies that, where overhead electrical power lines pass through trees, the safety and reliability of the electrical service demand that tree trimming be done to ensure that branches and foliage are a “reasonable distance” away from the power lines. By going on to specify minimum clearance standards, the PUC has not limited its regulatory authority over tree trimming to merely ensuring compliance with its minimum standards. The overriding requirement is that foliage must be a reasonable distance away from the power lines, with a reasonable distance never being less than the minimum clearance standards. This necessarily means that, in some situations, public safety and the reliability of the electrical service may require a greater than minimum clearance between foliage and power lines. This determination is squarely within the exclusive regulatory authority of the PUC.
Contrary to my dissenting colleague’s claim, the PUC does disagree with his analysis of its authority. In its amicus curiae brief, the PUC acknowledges it has “traditionally left matters of easement construction and interpretation to the Courts.” However, it steadfastly asserts that where, as in the cases now before us, a public utility has a power line easement, the PUC has “exclusive,” “broad and continuing supervisory and regulatory [authority] to oversee utility vegetation management,” including “utility tree trimming practices.” Stated another way, “whether the degree of trimming exceeded or violated any applicable Commission-approved rules” is “an issue subject to the Commission’s exclusive jurisdiction.” Accordingly, “any determination” by a court that requires a finding “whether the trimming was excessive or unlawful under existing requirements” would “interfere with the Commission’s authority to interpret and apply its own rules, orders, and decisions governing utility vegetation management.” This is so because “only the Commission can determine whether the trimming in question was within the spirit and intent of its own rules.” “To seek such a determination a landowner would file a formal complaint with the [PUC].” Remedies the PUC may provide include injunctive relief, and the imposition of fines and penalties, but not the award of damages. However, if the PUC finds that the utility engaged in unreasonable vegetation management, the aggrieved landowner could file an action in the superior court to obtain damages.
For reasons stated in the majority opinion, which I have signed, the PUC’s position is correct and the analysis of the dissent is not persuasive.

 Retired Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.