Newsom returns to a defining California fight: Who pays for wildfire damage?
- California Governor Gavin Newsom is addressing the issue of who should cover the costs of wildfire damage caused by utility equipment.
- The most destructive wildfire in California's history, which began shortly after Newsom took office in 2018, was linked to Pacific Gas & Electric equipment.
- Newsom signed a law creating a $21 billion fund to assist utilities in covering wildfire damages if they implement safety measures.
- As he approaches the end of his governorship, Newsom is seeking to broker a deal that would further protect utilities from financial liabilities related to wildfires.
- Some victims of wildfires are concerned that Newsom's plan prioritizes utility companies over their needs.
California Governor Gavin Newsom is revisiting a significant issue during his tenure: the financial responsibility for wildfire damage caused by utility equipment. The most destructive wildfire in the state's history, which resulted in 85 fatalities and the destruction of over 18,000 buildings, was traced back to equipment from Pacific Gas & Electric shortly after Newsom's election in 2018.
In response to the financial fallout, which led PG&E to file for bankruptcy, Newsom established a $21 billion fund financed by utility shareholders and ratepayers to assist in covering wildfire damages, contingent on certain safety measures being met. As his governorship nears its conclusion, he is advocating for a new legislative deal that would further shield utilities from financial repercussions if their equipment ignites a wildfire.
This push comes as Southern California Edison faces claims related to a 2025 wildfire that killed 19 people, which investigators determined was caused by one of its transmission towers. Newsom's proposal aims to expedite payments to wildfire survivors and stabilize rising electricity rates in California, which are among the highest in the nation. However, some wildfire victims express concerns that the plan may favor utility companies over their needs, while insurance companies worry about increased financial burdens for property damage claims.
纽森重返加州关键斗争：谁来支付野火损失？
加州州长纽森正在重提他任期内的一个重要问题：由公用事业设备引起的野火损失的财务责任。加州历史上最具破坏性的野火造成85人死亡，摧毁了超过18,000栋建筑，火灾被追溯到纽森2018年当选后不久的太平洋煤气电力公司的设备。
为了应对财务后果，导致PG&E申请破产，纽森建立了一个由公用事业股东和用户资助的210亿美元基金，以帮助支付野火损失，前提是满足某些安全措施。随着他的任期接近尾声，他正在推动一项新的立法协议，进一步保护公用事业公司免受其设备引发野火的财务责任。
这一推动正值南加州爱迪生公司面临与2025年一场导致19人死亡的野火相关的索赔，调查人员确定该火灾是由其一座输电塔引发的。纽森的提案旨在加快对野火幸存者的赔偿，并稳定加州不断上升的电价，后者在全国范围内名列前茅。然而，一些野火受害者对该计划可能优先考虑公用事业公司的利益而非他们的需求表示担忧，而保险公司则担心财产损失索赔的财务负担加重。