FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — A controversial $1 billion piece of wildfire legislation has been signed into law.
Gov. Jerry Brown has signed Senate Bill 901, which increases the state’s forest management activities, and updates requirements for maintenance, as well as operation of utility infrastructure.
The measure authorizes a financing mechanism, so that utilities can spread out wildfire costs, and prohibits utilities from charging their customers for executive compensation.
However, it’s sparked fears of rate hikes, as PG&E will be able use a state-authorized bond, to pay off the more than 200 lawsuits, over last year’s wildfires.
