PG&E escapes strict wildfire prevention rules, judge decides

PG&E must comply with existing wildfire prevention rules and its own plans to combat wildfires, a federal judge ruled Tuesday — but the embattled and disgraced utility was able to avoid severe new regulations that the company said would cost up to $150 billion to obey.

U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup did decide to bar PG&E from issuing dividends to shareholders so the company can use the funds to reduce the risks of catastrophic wildfires.

The rulings by Judge Alsup came in connection with a probation proceeding arising from PG&E’s conviction in 2016 for crimes it committed before and after a lethal gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno that killed eight people.

The judge intervened in PG&E’s probation in the wake of a series of deadly infernos that scorched Northern California in 2017 and 2018 that have been linked to PG&E.

“I know I’ve been tough on your company,” Judge Alsup said during an afternoon federal court session in San Francisco. “The truth is I want you to succeed. I want the people of California to be safe in their homes.”

Judge Alsup