U.S. judge wants to know if PG&E committed wildfire crimes - Chico Enterprise-Record

A federal judge supervising the aftermath of PG&E’s San Bruno explosion felony trial wants to know if the embattled utility committed crimes in connection with its operations or maintenance of electricity lines in the area of several Northern California deadly wildfires, including the Camp Fire, according to a new court order issued Wednesday.

The request for information came in connection with a series of wildfires in PG&E’s service territory, including the October 2017 Wine Country wildfires and last month’s Camp Fire, according to multiple orders from U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup.

The judge requested the California attorney general to provide information regarding whether certain PG&E actions in connection with its electricity system could be considered criminal.

“The extent to which, if at all, the reckless operation or maintenance of PG&E power lines would constitute a crime under California law” was the primary area of interest on the part of Judge Alsup in his request to the state prosecutors.

On Nov. 27, Judge Alsup demanded answers from PG&E about its role in multiple fatal Northern California wildfires.

San Francisco-based PG&E was given until Dec. 31 to answer several questions contained in the order from U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup. The state Attorney General was also given until Dec. 31 to file a court brief regarding the situation.

“Any wildfire started by reckless operation or maintenance of PG&E power lines” as well as “any inaccurate, slow, or failed reporting of information about any wildfire by PG&E” were among the areas of interest cited in the judge’s brief order in November that was directed at PG&E.

In August 2016, a federal jury convicted PG&E on six felony counts for illegal actions in connection with a fatal explosion in September 2010 that killed eight people and destroyed a San Bruno neighborhood. As part of the conviction and sentencing, PG&E was placed on probation for five years, during which time the company was expected to not commit new crimes. Because of the crimes it committed before and after the San Bruno blast, PG&E is now a convicted felon.

State fire investigators have determined that PG&E’s equipment caused multiple fires in October 2017 in the North Bay Wine Country and nearby regions, some of them fatal blazes — while the company was on probation. In multiple instances, fire investigators referred the matters to local district attorneys for potential prosecution.

The judge’s November order sought information both from PG&E and a special monitor whose authority was established by the federal court when PG&E was sentenced for its San Bruno-related crimes. The wording of the order indicates that it applies to any fire that began after the company’s sentencing in January 2017.

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