Jaxon Van Derbeken

4 weeks ago | nbcbayarea.com | Jaxon Van Derbeken

New data shows that heavy metals from the smoke at the Moss Landing battery storage plant fire in Monterey County have turned up miles away at levels that a toxicologist calls "concerning."Investigative reporter Jaxon Van Derbeken has looking into issues connected to the recent fire. You watch Van Derbeken’s full report in the video above.

1 month ago | nbcbayarea.com | Jaxon Van Derbeken

An obscure regulatory rule change two decades ago allowed utilities to keep up unused, potentially hazardous electrical systems -- like the one now being investigated as sparking the Eaton fire. The utility says it is investigating whether its Mesa-Sylmar transmission line – idled since 1971 – may have somehow become energized in high winds, touching off a fire at the base of a tower above Altadena.

1 month ago | nbclosangeles.com | Jaxon Van Derbeken

California fire safety officials have repeatedly warned Southern California Edison to improve weather tracking to help prevent wind-driven fire, but the utility maintained before the Eaton Fire that its efforts met world standards. State officials first told the utility back in 2022 that more frequent weather tracking was critical to boost Edison's "situational awareness" in deciding whether to shut off power to prevent fires.

1 month ago | nbcbayarea.com | Jaxon Van Derbeken

State fire safety officials have repeatedly warned Southern California Edison to improve weather tracking to help prevent wind-driven fire -- but the utility maintained before the Eaton fire that its efforts met world standards. State officials first told the utility back in 2022 that more frequent weather tracking was critical to boost Edison’s “situational awareness” in deciding whether to shut off power to prevent fires.

2 months ago | nbcbayarea.com | Jaxon Van Derbeken

In a recent letter to ratepayers-- signed “with love” -- PG&E CEO Patti Poppe talks about how much the company cares about them. But some customers at a farmer’s market in South Berkeley on Tuesday weren’t exactly feeling the love. “PG&E, stop breaking our hearts! We got solar to save our planet. A rate increase -- a small one -- might be OK. But you are too greedy,” Kerry Woodward wrote on a black, heart-shaped mock Valentine to the utility.