CPUC Penalizes PG&E $22 Million for 2022 Placer County Fire
SAN FRANCISCO – The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today approved a settlement agreement between its Safety and Enforcement Division (SED) and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) that penalizes the company $22 million for the 2022 Mosquito Fire in Placer County.
Under the settlement, PG&E will pay a penalty of $21 million in shareholder funds to the state’s General Fund and $1 million for an independent expert third-party review of PG&E’s Transmission Centralized Inspection Review Team’s operations.
The Mosquito Fire occurred near Oxbow Junction Reservoir in Placer County on Sept. 6, 2022, and burned 76,788 acres and destroyed 78 structures. SED’s investigation into the Mosquito Fire and involvement of PG&E’s infrastructure found violations of General Order 95, a CPUC regulation that sets safety factors and strength requirements in the design, construction, and maintenance of overhead electrical lines and communications facilities. The settlement penalizes PG&E and requires the company to conduct a detailed review of its Centralized Inspection Review Team’s program at shareholder expense.
“Having personally experienced the fear and uncertainty of evacuating during the Eaton Fire, I know that wildfire safety is not an abstract issue, it is about protecting people, homes, and communities,” said Commissioner Christine Harada. “This Resolution holds PG&E accountable while requiring an independent review of its inspection and maintenance practices. We owe it to Californians to learn from these fires, strengthen safety, and do everything we can to prevent the next tragedy.”
SED proposed the settlement, formally referred to as an Administrative Consent Order (ACO), for the CPUC’s consideration under the umbrella of enforcement tools established in November 2020, when the CPUC adopted its Enforcement Policy. The policy is aimed at better serving Californians through streamlined enforcement actions in lieu of issuing Citations or seeking formal lengthy investigative proceedings, and aligns the CPUC’s enforcement practices with many other state and local enforcement agencies.
More Information
- Resolution Approved
- Additional documents relating to today’s action are available under “Administrative Consent Orders” on the CPUC’s website.
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The CPUC regulates services and utilities, protects consumers, safeguards the environment, and assures Californians access to safe and reliable utility infrastructure and services. Visit www.cpuc.ca.gov for more information.