California Gas and Electric Company Seeks to Split Costs on Uninsured Fire

San Diego Gas and Electric is seeking authority to bill its customers $379 million for legal settlement costs left over from 2007 wildfires that destroyed 1,300 homes and killed two people.

In filings with state regulators Friday, SDG&E said customers would pay 90 percent of the costs while stockholders in the investor-owned utility would pay the remaining 10 percent, roughly $42 million.

The fires in northern San Diego County were triggered largely by SDG&E equipment.

The costs were not covered by wildfire insurance or counterclaims against other businesses implicated in the start of the fires.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the proposed 90-10 split is modeled after a previous state decision on a hazardous waste cleanup effort.

Several consumer groups have objected to previous attempts by SDG&E to bill customers for the wildfires.

Related:

• San Diego Utility Pays City $27 Million For Fires
• $370M Settlement Reached Over Southern California Wildfires

Topics California Wildfire