Sep 13, 2019 - Energy & Environment
California wildfires result in $11 billion settlement
PG&E crews repair power lines that were destroyed by the Camp Fire in Paradise, California. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
California utility company PG&E announced Friday it has reached an $11 billion settlement with a group of insurers for its role in deadly 2018 wildfires.
Why it matters: PG&E faired well considering insurers were initially seeking $20 billion to pay for the cost of claims, says the Financial Times. The current settlement will cover 85% of claims.
- The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection claiming they couldn't afford the $30 billion in damages. That means a bankruptcy court still has to approve the settlement agreement.
What they're saying:
- Ad Hoc Subrogation Group said in a statement they "hope that this compromise will pave the way for a plan of reorganisation that allows PG&E to fairly compensate all victims and emerge from Chapter 11 by the June 2020 legislative deadline," per Financial Times.
- A lawyer representing the victims described PG&E's plan to cap payments at $8.4 billion as "totally unacceptable," reports Reuters.
Go deeper: California wildfire is the most destructive in state history