Gas giant to plead guilty for ‘18 wildfires

SAN FRANCISCO: Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) will plead guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter for a swath of death and destruction left behind after its fraying electrical grid ignited a 2018 wildfire that destroyed three Northern California towns and drove the nation’s largest utility into bankruptcy.

The plea agreement, announced Monday (Tuesday in Manila), resolves the charges facing PG&E as part of a previously sealed indictment in Butte County. It marks the second time this decade that the company’s neglect has culminated in it being deemed a criminal.

PG&E already is serving a fiveyear criminal probation imposed after it was convicted of six felony counts for falsifying records and other safety violations underlying a natural gas explosion that blew up a neighborhood in 2010 and killed eight people in San Bruno, California.

As with its prior criminal conviction, no one from PG&E will go to prison for the company’s felony crimes.

Instead, its plea agreement with the Butte County District Attorney’s Office calls for PG&E to pay a $4-million fine, the maximum allowed. It will also help pay for efforts to restore access to water for residents affected by the loss of a canal destroyed by what became known as the “Camp Fire.”

“We cannot replace all that the fire destroyed, but our hope is that this plea agreement, along with our rebuilding efforts, will help the community move forward from this tragic incident,” PG&E Corp. Chief Executive Officer Bill Johnson said.

In a statement, Butte County District attorney Mike Ramsey said he hoped the plea agreement would bring “a bit of a sense of justice done” for the fire.

Camp Fire survivor Lisa Williams was outraged with the outcome. “It’s a crime against society,” she said. “A fine doesn’t change their behavior. They pay it and repeat bad behavior.”

One of those who died was Jay Downer’s wheelchair- using brother, with his dog by his side. Jay Downer also said he was dismayed by the price PG&E would pay for its lethal negligence.

“If I fell asleep at the wheel of a car and killed one person, I would be charged with manslaughter and I would be spending time in jail,” Downer said.

PG&E is scheduled to enter its plea and face sentencing at a court hearing scheduled for April 24.

Investors seemed pleased with the PG&E’s plea as the company’s shares surged more than 12 percent to close at $8.12, while the overall stock market tanked.