PG&E Settles for $45M Over Dixie Fire

Penalty to fund digitization of inspection records and aid for affected tribal communities.

PG&E has agreed to pay a $45 million penalty to settle an action brought by California's public utilities regulator for its part in the Dixie Fire in 2021.
$40 million of the penalty will go to digitizing the company's inspection and service records to boost the timeliness of inspections and preventive maintenance.
The remaining $5 million comprises $2.5 million in fines destined to go into the general state budget and $2.5 million for tribal communities affected by the fire.
The Dixie Fire, the second largest in the state's history, razed more than 1,300 buildings and homes and burned through almost a million acres in Butte, Plumas, Lassen, Shasta and Tehama counties.
PG&E has consistently stated that money to cover penalties is taken from shareholder funds in line with state rules that prohibit utilities from passing on the costs to customers.