URGENT: Fire Survivors Organize Against Proposed Utility-Liability Changes

With the legislative session nearing its end, survivor and consumer groups are mobilizing against proposals that could reduce the wildfire liability of investor-owned utilities or shift more losses to survivors, insurers, local governments, and taxpayers. Fairness for Fire Victims has a Stop the Utility Bailout action page, and Every Fire Survivor’s Network is organizing coordinated calls, social-media outreach, Sacramento participation, and possible Los Angeles actions.

A new Hart Research survey of 800 California voters found 71% opposed limiting wildfire survivors’ legal rights to recover damages from a utility that caused a fire. Even after respondents were told such limits were needed to stabilize utility finances and prevent rate increases, 63% still opposed the proposal. On August 11, a coalition of survivor, local-government, consumer, insurance, and legal groups sent legislative leaders a joint letter opposing a shift in liability. Senator Ben Allen wrote to the CEOs of PG&E and Edison International after they warned investors that they could take financial action to protect shareholders if lawmakers fail to limit utility wildfire liability. Allen called the statements “deeply troubling” and said he was considering an oversight hearing.

Action: Visit Stop the Utility Bailout to make calls to legislators | Join the EFSN effort to sign up to help.
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