PG&E Suit Tossed, Rejecting Liability for Blackouts to Curb Wildfires

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. will avoid liability for billions of dollars in financial losses the California utility’s customers experienced during power shutoffs aimed at preventing wildfires from erupting in dangerous weather conditions in 2019, a federal appeals court held Tuesday.

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a trial court ruling that found state law preempted the claims. Two other federal courts, a bankruptcy court and the US District Court of the Northern District of California, had also dismissed the claims for the same reason.

The California Supreme Court was asked by the federal appeals ...