BERKELEY — State regulators on Thursday suspended a $200 million fine against Pacific Gas & Electric as punishment for the utility's neglect of electrical equipment that ignited a series of deadly wildfires in Northern California. The waiver approved in a unanimous vote by California's Public Utilities Commission will deprive the...
Walters: PG&E Makes Two Deals to Survive
In any other week, major actions affecting Pacific Gas and Electric’s chances of emerging from bankruptcy as an intact and operational utility would have been big news. But with everyone in and out of government riveted on battling the COVID-19 pandemic, there was only proforma media attention to two big...
PG&E's Falling Stock Price Worries Fire Victims Eyeing Deal
BERKELEY — The stock market turmoil triggered by the coronavirus pandemic is raising worries that Pacific Gas & Electric's $13.5 billion settlement with victims of catastrophic wildfires may be worth far less by the time the beleaguered company emerges from bankruptcy. A lawyer who represents more than 81,000 wildfire victims...
PG&E Pleading Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter in Wildfire
SAN FRANCISCO — Pacific Gas & Electric said Monday it will plead guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 2018 fire in Northern California that killed 84 people and decimated three towns. The utility said in a statement it will also admit to a single count...
PG&E Reaches Bankruptcy Deal With Newsom
SACRAMENTO — Pacific Gas & Electric and Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a deal Friday for the nation's largest utility to emerge from bankruptcy triggered by massive liabilities from wildfires. The governor’s office announced that PG&E agreed to overhaul its board and operations, and in addition it agreed to a process...
PG&E's $23B Bankruptcy Financing Package Approved by Court
BERKELEY — Pacific Gas & Electric on Monday won court approval to raise $23 billion to help pay its bills over destructive California wildfires after Gov. Gavin Newsom dropped his opposition to a financing package designed to help the nation's largest utility get out of bankruptcy. The milestone reached during...
PG&E Settles Key Battle Over $13.5B Wildfire Victims' Fund
SAN FRANCISCO — Pacific Gas & Electric told a federal bankruptcy judge Tuesday that it has settled a dispute with disaster-relief agencies that threatened to siphon money away from a $13.5 billion fund earmarked for victims of catastrophic wildfires in California caused by the nation's largest utility. The breakthrough disclosed...
Regulators Boost PG&E's Wildfire Fine to $2.1 Billion
SAN FRANCISCO — California power regulators on Thursday slapped Pacific Gas & Electric with a $2.1 billion fine for igniting a series of deadly wildfires that landed the beleaguered utility in bankruptcy. The record penalty imposed in an administrative law judge's decision boosts a previously agreed upon $1.7 billion settlement...
Governor Threatens Possible PG&E Takeover if No Plan is Made
SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday threatened a possible takeover of Pacific Gas & Electric unless it can emerge from bankruptcy ahead of next year's wildfire season with a plan focused on safety. The utlitity is blamed for sparking deadly wildfires across the state with its outdated equipment. Newsom called...
Fact Check: Trump Declares ‘Treason’ Over Scrutiny of Campaign
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is using "treason" rather lightly as he assails unidentified U.S. officials for investigating operatives of his campaign in 2016. There's no allegation or even suggestion that they committed this punishable-by-death crime, if any crime at all. Trump's hyperbolic characterization echoed at the end of a...