Utility companies are on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars in losses, and officials have warned that the losses will grow if the agencies can’t find ways to reduce the risks. Many of California’s most destructive fires have been fueled by powerful winds, which in some cases have caused power lines to snap off and spark blazes. Residents have blamed downed power lines for the fires, though officials have not completed their investigation of the causes. In the last few years, the state has experienced its largest and most destructive blazes on record.Īnother huge California utility, Pacific Gas & Electric, faces up to $15 billion in losses from last year’s wine country fires, which destroyed more than 8,000 homes and killed more than 40 people. The utility giant’s actions underscore power companies’ growing concerns over their fire liability. In a sweeping effort to reduce the wildfire risk from electric power lines, Southern California Edison said Monday that it wants to spend $582 million for a series of improvements to its grid that likely would mean higher bills for ratepayers.
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