After nearly a month of fighting intense wildfires across the state, California firefighters were making progress Friday, while in the state capital lawmakers were struggling to pass a legislative solution around preparedness and liability before adjourning at the end of the month.
Wildfires
Articles from Wildfires
PG&E Activates New Emergency Operations Centers in Response to Wildfires
As the Carr fire in the far reaches of Northern California spread death and destruction over the weekend, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) activated multiple emergency operations centers to support the state’s emergency response in Shasta County.
PG&E Splashes Red Ink with $2.5B Northern California Wildfire Charges
As previewed last month, PG&E Corp., parent of wildfire-devastated Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E), on Thursday reported net losses for the second quarter as part of a $2.5 billion pre-tax charge for estimated third-party claims related to 14 of the Northern California wildfires that ravaged the state last fall.
PG&E Records $2.5B Charge for California Wildfires
In a move prompted by the strict liability restrictions on California utilities from the state’s use of inverse condemnation, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) and its parent company plan to record a $2.5 billion pre-tax, noncash accounting charge for wildfire liabilities for the second quarter.
California Wildfire State Legislation Likely but Content Uncertain
California lawmakers, utilities and consumer groups are expecting the state legislature to propose ways to lower the risk of wildfires this summer, but it is unclear what direction bills may take, particularly regarding the looming liability of the major private and public sector utilities.
PG&E Goes on Offense to Combat Wildfires, Weather Extremes
Already living with some adverse financial consequencesfrom California’s devastating wildfires last fall, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) said it is going on the offensive, unveiling last week a comprehensive community wildfire safety program that is geared to reducing threats.
Utility Involvement in SoCal Wildfires Uncertain
Earlier reports of possible involvement of Southern California Edison Co. (SCE) equipment in the start of the Creek fire in Southern California were found to be inaccurate as the transmission line equipment in question belongs to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), and the city-run utility said that equipment did not spark or go down in the fire.
Los Angeles Oilfields Shutting In as Wildfires Bear Down
A number of small oilfields in Ventura County, CA, remained shut in Friday as the Thomas Firespread into Ojai and the unincorporated areas surrounding the city of Ventura, with major producer Aera Energy LLC closing down all of its operations.
Moody’s Sees Negative Credit Implications from CPUC Wildfire Ruling
California’s refusal to allow San Diego Gas and Electric Co. (SDG&E) to recover from ratepayers millions of dollars related to wildfires a decade ago leaves other utilities susceptible to the even higher costs of more recent wildfires that have ravaged the state, Moody’s Investors Service said on Tuesday.
NGI The Weekly Gas Market Report
Spreading SoCal Wildfires Close Major Freeway, Shut Down Power; NatGas OK
Ash and smoke spread throughout large swatches of the Los Angeles Basin on Wednesday, with three major ongoing wildfires spreading out of control and some new, more suburban-based blazes shutting the 405 Freeway in the heavily trafficked Sepulveda Pass between affluent hilltop residential neighborhoods and major campuses like UCLA and the Getty Center arts complex.