A district judge in San Francisco who is overseeing the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) probation for safety violations ordered the combination utility to show cause why it should not have more conditions imposed to better manage power lines in high-risk wildfire areas. 

PG&E was ordered to respond by Jan. 20 in preparation for a virtual Feb. 3 court hearing.

U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup of the Northern California District directed PG&E to comply with state law and its approved wildfire mitigation plan to better protect the public from destruction caused by the recent surge in fires. 

The judge proposed two probation conditions in addition to 10 imposed earlier.

Alsup said a report by a court monitor found “lapses” in PG&E’s vegetation management. PG&E...