Power Customers in California File Claims in Pre-Emptive Wildfire Outage

A Northern California utility received 146 demands for reimbursement from customers who say Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s controversial decision to cut power to prevent wildfires hurt them economically.

The utility said Wednesday in a report to California regulators that it won’t pay any claims. PG&E shut power to 60,000 Northern California customers from Oct. 14 to Oct. 16 after it determined that forecast sustained winds of 25 mph gusting to 45 mph threatened to bring down power lines and start wildfires. It was the first time PG&E cut power to prevent wildfires.

Most of the complaints were over spoiled food.

The company filed the report Wednesday with the California Public Utilities Commission.

PG&E said low humidity and dry vegetation contributed to its decision.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters California Claims Wildfire