PG&E Will Plead Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter in California Wildfire

Pacific Gas & Electric said it will plead guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 2018 fire in Northern California that killed 84 people and decimated three towns.

The utility said in a statement will also admit to a single count of unlawfully starting a fire.

Under a plea agreement with the Butte County district attorney’s office, PG&E will pay the maximum fine of about $4 million.

The company has also agreed to fund efforts to restore access to water for the next five years for residents impacted by the loss of a canal destroyed by the fire.

“Our equipment started the fire. Those are the facts, and with this plea agreement we accept responsibility for our role in the fire,” PG&E CEO and President Bill Johnson said.

Related:

• PG&E Approved by Judge for $23B Bankruptcy Financing Package
• California Public Utilities Commission Fines PG&E $2.1B over Wildfires
• California Governor Wants to Block PG&E’s Bankruptcy Plan

Topics California Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire