PG&E

Former regulators and ratepayer advocates were encouraged Wednesday by the president of the state’s Public Utilities Commission’s apparent willingness to consider pursuing a state takeover of PG&E if it fails to meet wildfire safety commitments.

Former regulators and ratepayer advocates were encouraged Wednesday by the president of the state’s Public Utilities Commission’s apparent willingness to consider pursuing a state takeover of Pacific Gas and Electric if it fails to meet wildfire safety commitments. Jaxon Van Derbeken reports.

Citing a “failed record in safety,” the president of the state Public Utilities Commission notified PG&E Tuesday that regulators are in the midst of the “fact finding” needed before potentially pursuing a state takeover of the utility over apparent lapses in wildfire prevention efforts.

State regulators Tuesday let PG&E know they’ve launched a fact-finding review of the company which could be the first step toward an attempted government takeover of the utility.

PG&E has appointed the utility’s new chief executive officer.

Sonoma County officials filed a $100 million negligence lawsuit Tuesday against PG&E, seeking costs for fighting the wildfire and rebuilding lands and infrastructure destroyed in the Kincade fire last year.

Sonoma County is suing Pacific Gas and Electric over last year’s Kincade Fire. The lawsuit accuses one of the utility’s loose power lines of sparking the largest wildfires every in the county. Investigative Reporter Jaxon Van Derbeken reports.

Sonoma County and several Northern California agencies sued Pacific Gas & Electric Co. over damage caused by a the Kincade Fire that burned a large swath of land last year and caused nearly 100,000 people to flee.

Most of the 350,000 customers in the latest PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff have had electrical service restored and the remaining 10,000 accounts in the dark should be reconnected by noon Wednesday, utility officials said in a briefing Tuesday.

PG&E on Tuesday continued to restore power to the hundreds of thousands of customers who were impacted by a widespread shutoff triggered by high fire danger.

After two days without power, the lights are going back on for thousands across the Bay Area who live in high risk fire areas. PG&E says the extreme fire weather has passed, but turning the power back on isn’t a quick process. Jodi Hernandez reports.

About 250,000 PG&E customers were still without power Tuesday morning following the worst fire weather event of the season in Northern and Central California, PG&E said.

About 250,000 PG&E customers were still without power Tuesday morning following the worst fire weather event of the season in Northern and Central California, PG&E said.

About 250,000 PG&E customers remain out of power Monday evening following the worst fire weather event of the season in Northern and Central California, PG&E experts said at a virtual news briefing. Bob Redell reports.

The wind may be gone but fire danger is still an issue. Power is still out for thousands in the Bay Area. PG&E is set to start checking power lines at daybreak, meanwhile, places in the East Bay are still in the dark. Cheryl Hurd and Jeff Ranieri report.

Large swaths of California were without power Monday as utilities sought to prevent the chance of their equipment sparking wildfires while the fire-weary state was buffeted by powerful winds and dangerously dry weather conditions.

PG&E crews were busy Monday repairing the damage caused by windy weather in the North Bay, all while residents gear up for another windy night. Jodi Hernandez reports.

Tracking data on PG&E’s 12,000 volt powerline tied to deadly Zogg fire reflected repeated anomalies leading up to the fire. But, the problems were sporadic and didn’t last long enough to trigger an automatic shutdown under PG&E’s equipment settings, according to the company federal court filing Monday.

Meteorologist Kari Hall tracks the Bay Area’s gusty winds and when the fire danger will decrease in the Microclimate Forecast.

Large swaths of California were without power Monday as utilities sought to prevent the chance of their equipment sparking wildfires while the fire-weary state was buffeted by powerful winds and dangerously dry weather conditions. Kari Hall, Bob Redell and Sharon Katsuda report.