Wildfire

While drawing short of eliminating the state’s strict liability legal doctrine, California Gov. Gavin Newsom last Friday made clear a legislative package and state regulatory reform are coming this year.

Nearly 29,000 Northern California residents in designated high-risk wildfire areas had their power restored on Monday, following a weekend in which Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) invoked twopublic safety power shutoffs(PSPS) in parts of eight counties.

Eliminating California’s strict liability for utilities and streamlining cost recovery for victims and utilities were recommended Wednesday in a preliminary report by the state’s wildfire commission.

Overwhelmed the past two years by wildfires of historic numbers and intensity, California’s major investor-owned power utilities on Monday unveiled a joint public information effort to heighten awareness and preparedness for the upcoming wildfire season.

Edison International’s (EIX) CEO is pushing back against state officials who want to penalize major power utilities after California regulators on Monday released proposed utility wildfire mitigation plan decisions that leave unsettled how multi-billion dollar liability costs may eventually be recovered.

The onset of another wildfire season in California is spurring activity in legislative, regulatory and judicial hearing rooms.

California needs to change its approach to regulation and utilities in order to more effectively address increased threats from wildfires in the years ahead, according to a strike team appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Edison International (EI) and electric utility Southern California Edison Co. (SCE) last week said they face more than $4 billion in liabilities from the extensive 2017 and 2018 wildfires in California after taking a $1.8 billion charge during the fourth quarter.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom filled eight energy-related regulatory appointments on Tuesday, including three positions on a new wildfire cost recovery panel.