The lawsuits were filed against the utility after an initial state investigation determined that power lines were a factor in the three blazes. That probe, however, did not have a conclusive finding about the role the wires played.

I know everyone is trying to place the blame on SDGE for the fires. But the fact is that hurricane force winds knock power lines down all over the country. It just so happens that the dry climate and vegetation in So Cal makes wildfires a year round issue. One could easily try to blame the firefighters for not putting the fire out soon enough, but that would be as silly as trying to place the blame on SDGE for mother nature’s wind and dry climate.

Here is the report by the CPUC, a government agency, that clearly concludes that SDG&E infrastructure caused the 2007 wildfires. It states in black and white that the utility was found in violation of state maintenence rules at the time of the fires. http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/published/Graphics/87470.pdf

SDG&E employs an army of public relations professionals to troll message boards and post misstatements that reflect glowingly of the company. You Mike, are one of them. Your information is 100% inaccrate and the public should know this.

FACT: No government agency or court has found that any improper actions by SDG&E caused the fires. The CPUC, at the recommendation of its staff (the Consumer Protection & Safety Division — CPSD), opened an investigation into the wildfires that ultimately resulted in a settlement with no findings of safety violations. Plaintiffs in civil litigation stemming from the fires have alleged negligence, but no court has made any findings in this regard. The extreme Santa Ana winds were a major factor in the ignition and spread of the wildfires.

MYTH: SDG&E should take responsibility for the fires and Sempra Energy shareholders should be forced to pay for any excess expenses.

FACT: SDG&E is required to serve all customers, including those in high fire risk areas, regardless of the potential risk. Court decisions have found that investor-owned utilities like SDG&E can be subjected to strict liability, which means that SDG&E might be on the hook in lawsuits even if there’s no fault or negligence on the utility’s part.

The regulators in other contexts have said that costs reasonably incurred in the course of the utility’s fulfilling its obligation can be recovered through rates. On Feb. 1, the Federal Regulatory Commission approved SDG&E’s request to recover a portion of transmission-related wildfire costs. The CPUC did not object to the recovery.