EDITORIAL: ‘New normal’ on wildfires isn’t reason enough to give utilities a free pass
Facing billions of dollars in potential costs,
A special committee of legislators is looking at ways to prevent or limit damage from wildfires -- but also at revising the law on liability for wildfire damage.
Under a long-established legal doctrine called "inverse condemnation,"
But
The balance has shifted in another way. Companies need permission from the
The wine country fires that killed 44 last October had total property damage of nearly
In fairness, as a public utility, it can't simply cut off the power to fire-prone parts of
But
And
Limiting its compensation for fire damage would be great for
Local officials point to what happened after the deadly wine country fires. In March,
Also in March,
This debate will only become more explosive as the fire season gets longer. In 2017,
Historically, major fires don't break out until August or later, and they usually happen first in
The state's largest fire so far this year, the County Fire, started
If this is the new normal for wildfires, it's perfectly fine to review the current liability rules. But there's no compelling reason for a major shift in responsibility away from utilities and to local taxpayers and homeowners.
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