California lawmakers seek to stop ‘negligent’ utilities from hiking rates after disasters
The legislation was prompted in part by a failed November effort by
Supporters said Senate Bill 819, introduced Wednesday by a delegation including
The bill comes as hundreds of
"Thousands of
Contreras pointed to the state's inverse condemnation law, which she said allows a utility to be sued if its equipment causes damage, even if it has followed inspection and safety rules.
"Allowing essentially unlimited liability undermines the financial health of the state's utilities, discourages investment in
But SB 819 only bars utilities from passing on costs if they have been found to have acted irresponsibly, said the bill's author, state Sen.
And Hill said
"I'm hoping they learned their lesson and this is not the cause of the Wine Country fires," said Hill, chairman of the subcommittee on Gas, Electric and Transportation Safety.
Hill said he became focused on the utility after the 2010 pipeline explosion in
He will be among the lawmakers at a
"I know how I felt after the
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