A Month Out From Wildfire Season, PG&E Is Behind on Tree Work
- Utility revises plan, blaming wet winter, permit requirements
- Judge has faulted PG&E for ‘pattern’ of igniting large blazes
A Pacific Gas & Electric Co. employee works in Paradise, California.
Photographer: David Paul Morris/BloombergCalifornia is just one month away from the official start of wildfire season and bankrupt utility giant PG&E Corp. is running behind on inspections, repairs and tree-trimming that was ordered up to reduce the risk of another devastating blaze.
PG&E, due to circumstances beyond its control -- such as a rainy winter and permitting requirements -- has been finding it difficult carry out the fire-prevention measures, the San Francisco-based company said in a court filing late Thursday. As a result, it’s pushing back completion dates for fire-prevention work, PG&E told a federal judge who is supervising its criminal probation for previous safety lapses related to its natural gas pipeline system.