Utilities, +4
Utilities
Woolsey Fire: Electrical Fires, Utility Violations, and Regulatory Outcomes
A loose guy wire caused the Woolsey Fire; later proceedings addressed 26 safety violations, penalties, and utility cost recovery.
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Review of Case Materials
Reviews records, documents, testimony, data, and other relevant materials and consults with counsel regarding technical issues related to the matter.
Provide Expert Analysis
Applies specialized knowledge and experience to evaluate the technical or professional issues involved.
Form Expert Opinions
Develops independent, supportable opinions based on the available evidence and relevant standards.
Prepare Expert Reports
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A Utilities Expert Witness can examine how service was delivered through the relevant utility infrastructure and where the disputed event occurred within that system. Evidence may include maps and drawings, operating records, work orders, outage histories, meter information, maintenance and inspection records, service connections, photographs, and equipment data. The scope depends on the utility involved. Electric systems, for example, may include substations, transformers, transmission or distribution lines, service conductors, and meters. EIA describes the electric grid as an interconnected system of power plants, substations, transformers, transmission lines, and distribution facilities linking electricity producers with customers.
An electric utility expert witness may evaluate distribution operations, utility equipment, service interruptions, switching or outage records, transformer and conductor information, maintenance practices, metering, and the interface between utility facilities and customer service. The technical issue should be distinguished from broader energy-market or regulatory questions. FERC regulates the transmission and wholesale sale of electricity in interstate commerce, subject to statutory jurisdictional limits, while retail electricity sales and local distribution matters are generally regulated at the state or local level.
An investigation may compare utility maps, locate requests, field markings, excavation plans, photographs, operator records, depth and alignment of the facility, equipment used for excavation, and the sequence of events leading to the strike. The analysis can help determine whether the damaged facility was identified accurately and how the excavation proceeded around the marked or known utility. PHMSA identifies excavation damage as a major pipeline-safety concern and promotes the nationwide 811 process as a key damage-prevention measure before digging. Specific locating, marking, notification, and excavation requirements vary by jurisdiction.
Utilities, +4
Utilities
Electrical Engineering, +4
Prepares clear, well-supported expert reports outlining methodology, analysis, findings, and opinions.
Provide Deposition Testimony
Explains findings and opinions under oath and responds to questioning during deposition testimony.
Testify in Court
Presents specialized findings and opinions clearly to judges, juries, arbitrators, or other decision-makers.
A water-meter analysis can compare meter readings, billing history, consumption trends, meter type, installation information, testing or replacement records, leak information, and advanced-metering data. A sudden increase in billed consumption, for example, should be evaluated against the meter record and other evidence rather than attributed automatically to either actual usage or meter error. EPA notes that water metering provides utilities with consumption information used for billing and water-loss management. Advanced Metering Infrastructure can provide more frequent usage data that can assist with billing, leak detection, and resource management.
Utilities, +3
Utilities
Mechanical Engineering, +4
Utilities