California Senate Passes Bill to Make PG&E Pay for Blackouts

California Senate Passes Bill to Make PG&E Pay for Blackouts - (SF Chronicle - Jan 27)

State Sen. Scott Wiener’s legislative effort to place new restrictions on utility fire-prevention blackouts cleared the Senate floor on Monday.

Senators voted overwhelmingly in favor of advancing the bill carried by Wiener, D-San Francisco, which would create a way to make Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and other large investor-owned electric companies in California pay customers for losses they incur during power shut-offs. The bill, SB378, now heads to the Assembly for consideration.