California regulators have fined Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) $106 million for allegedly violating guidelines in 2019 for executing planned power outages to lower wildfire risks. 

The fine by an administrative law judge (ALJ) is part of an ongoing effort by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to hold the state’s major investor-owned utilities accountable for the public safety power shutoffs (PSPS) used in wildfire mitigation measures.

Already under the CPUC’s microscope for its wildfire mitigation efforts, PG&E noted that it has covered $86 million of the fine through customer bill credits, so the decision orders a net payment of $20 million, paid by shareholders through credits to customers and a contribution to a statewide backup portable battery...