Politics & Government
California Utilities Fined $22M Over 2020 Power Shutoffs; PG&E Owes $12M
Regulators blasted PG&E for a botched shutoff that left nearly 2 million people in the San Francisco Bay Area without power.
June 16, 2022
California utilities will be fined more than $22 million for the "poor execution" of widespread power shutoffs two years ago that were designed to prevent devastating wildfires, the state's Public Utilities Commission announced Wednesday.
Find out what's happening in San Franciscofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The regulators announced $12 million in fines against Pacific Gas & Electric, $10 million against Southern California Edison and $24,000 against San Diego Gas & Electric. The companies, along with the PacifiCorp power company, also were ordered to take corrective action to comply with public safety and notification requirements, the agency said in a statement.
All three companies were criticized for their chaotic and unprepared handling of public safety power shutoffs in October 2019 that were designed to deactivate power lines during times of expected dry, hot and windy weather to prevent downed or fouled equipment from sparking wildfires.
Find out what's happening in San Franciscofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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