County sues PG&E

With PG&E already facing so many claims it’s filing for bankruptcy, Butte County sued the utility for damages from the Camp Fire.

The county’s suit, filed Jan. 15 in Butte County Superior Court, asserts that damaged PG&E power equipment started the fire, which was “entirely preventable.” The county does not request a specific dollar amount, but instead seeks compensation for its losses.

PG&E faces at least $7 billion in claims from the Nov. 8 fire. It announced Jan. 14 its intention to file for Chapter 11 protection, which it can do Tuesday (Jan. 29), under state law requiring advance notice. An investor-owned utility, PG&E said in a news release that it “remains committed” to continuing electric and natural gas service under bankruptcy reorganization, and to “make investments in system safety.”