PG&E fined for El Dorado fire
By Denny Walsh, Sacramento Bee
Once again, human error has cost Pacific Gas and Electric Co. millions of dollars.
It was announced Thursday that the utility giant and two companies working for it paid $29.5 million to the federal government to settle lawsuits over two forest fires in 2004.
The old bugaboo of carelessness combined with high-voltage power transmission lines caused the fires in national forests, this time in El Dorado and Trinity counties.
Since 2009, PG&E has shelled out at least $16 million to state and federal governments in connection with wildfires.
“These fires cause lots of damage, and some of the harm cannot be remedied with money,” said U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner in announcing the most recent settlements at a Thursday news conference.