PG&E objects to judge's proposals on fire risk

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. says a judge's proposal to prevent the utility's equipment from causing any wildfires in 2019 would interfere with state and federal regulators, create safety risks and cost too much money.

In a court filing yesterday, PG&E said a separate criminal case being handled by U.S. District Judge William Alsup isn’t the right forum to address the wildfire threat.

Alsup earlier this month proposed ordering PG&E to remove or trim all trees that could fall onto its power lines and to cut off power during certain wind conditions.

U.S. prosecutors want Alsup to work with a court-appointed monitor to determine ways the utility could prevent its equipment from starting fires.

The judge is overseeing a criminal verdict against PG&E stemming from a deadly explosion of a company gas pipelines in 2010. He is considering additional terms of probation against the utility in that case.