US Government to Sue PacifiCorp for Nearly $1B in Wildfire Costs
The lawsuit seeks to recover costs from the 2020 wildfires in Oregon and California, marking a significant financial challenge for the Warren Buffett-owned utility.
- The U.S. government is preparing to sue PacifiCorp, owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, to recover nearly $1 billion in costs related to the 2020 wildfires.
- PacifiCorp faces claims from the U.S. Justice Department, Oregon's Justice Department, and the U.S. Forest Service for firefighting and cleanup costs.
- The wildfires, among the worst in Oregon's history, resulted in nine deaths, burned over 1,875 square miles, and destroyed more than 5,000 homes and structures.
- PacifiCorp is accused of negligently failing to shut off power during a windstorm, despite warnings, leading to multiple blazes.
- The potential lawsuits add to the utility's financial burdens, as Berkshire Hathaway Energy already faces at least $8 billion in claims from wildfire lawsuits.
Financial Post 
Associated Press 