Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch announced on Monday that Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has entered into a stipulated judgement to resolve pending criminal and civil charges related to causing the 2019 Kincade Fire.
The judgement orders PG&E to implement safety measures in Sonoma County, such as hiring at least 80 new wildfire safety related positions and making $20.25 million in mandated payments.
The $20,250,000 will go to nonprofit organizations that provide services to Sonoma County residents impacted by wildfires and evacuations as well as to Santa Rosa Junior College’s Fire Technology Program at its public safety center and to create a vegetation management program.
PG&E must also pay civil penalties “as punishment and deterrence for recklessly and negligently causing the Kincade Fire,” according to the DA.
PG&E is also required to reimburse the district attorney’s office for the cost of investigation and prosecuting the matter.
Ravitch notes that any payments made by PG&E “will not be charged to PG&E customers, nor may be recovered in rate increases.”
Ravitch notes that any payments made by PG&E “will not be charged to PG&E customers, nor may be recovered in rate increases.”
Ya right! PG$E will find a way to put it on the customers under the guise of some other reason to raise rates.
Have you looked at your PG&E bill lately we are already paying their fire bill.
That’s 8.5% higher then it would have been if they paid last year. Thanks Joe for reducing my life savings 8.5%. I say get rid of Joe and put in the Ditz.
PG&E is trying to clear up some issues so they can start giving a stock dividend next year.
Will go to non-profits, where it will be eaten up by increased salaries and benefits. Just watch. This money should go to the victims directly.
The DA’s office is already paid for by the taxpayers, so the county should reimburse the taxpayers. PG&E should also be required to reimburse the insurance companies that paid out to the home and business owners.
I believe the 20 million is below the PG&E CEO compensation. There is still 30 million left on the table there.
That would be funny if it wasn’t true. A recent Mercury News headline dated 4/7/22 stated “PG&E’s top boss harvests total exec pay that tops $50 million” She could pay it herself and still walk away with good money for this year.
PG&E is a for-profit company.
It won’t absorb the costs of the fine.
They’ll pass it along to the ratepayers.
Now go charge your car.