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Wildfire survivors and utilities clash as committee examines bill to bar ratepayer recovery
Summary
SB 15 53 would bar utilities from recovering wildfire‑liability costs from ratepayers, require escrow funds for claimants, and direct punitive damages to a wildfire recovery fund; survivors urged passage to speed compensation, while industry and business groups warned of constitutional, investment, and appeal‑cost consequences.
Senate staff summarized SB 15 53, a multi‑part measure that would prohibit investor‑owned electric companies from recovering wildfire‑liability costs from ratepayers, require at‑fault utilities to establish escrow funds for claimants, make utilities liable for federal tax on recovered amounts, and direct a portion of punitive damages toward a wildfire recovery fund.
Wildfire‑survivor counsel Michael Watts,…
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