The California Public Utilities Commission is launching a probe into the corporate governance, structure, and operation of Pacific Gas and Electric Company to determine the best course of action for safe electric and gas service in the wake of wildfires that caused widespread destruction in Northern and Southern California, according to a Nov. 15 statement from Michael Picker, President of the PUC. The investigation will form the second phase of an existing proceeding examining the utility’s safety culture. The Camp Fire which broke out on Nov. 8 in Butte County has already destroyed 150,000 acres and as of Nov. 18 is 65 percent contained, according to the state’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The department recently reported that some of the massive wildfires that occurred last October were caused by trees coming into contact with the company’s power lines. The commission also opened a proceeding to review Southern California Edison’s risk assessment and mitigation phase filing. In September, the state enacted legislation requiring utilities to file wildfire mitigation plans and allowing the commission to pursue enforcement actions for violations. Pacific Gas and Electric is a subsidiary of PG&E Corp. Southern California Edison is a subsidiary of Edison International.