PG&E Fined $22 Million Over Mosquito Fire That Destroyed 78 Structures in Placer County

PG&E has agreed to pay $22 million as part of a settlement with the California Public Utilities Commission over the 2022 Mosquito Fire. The fire burned nearly 77,000 acres in Placer County and destroyed 78 structures before it was contained in late October 2022. According to the CPUC, electrical arcing near PG&E equipment at Oxbow Junction most likely ignited the blaze. Investigators also cited violations in how the utility designed, built, and maintained its power lines in the area.

PG&E denies any fault but says settling allows the company to focus on improving safety. Of the $22 million, $21 million goes to the state’s general fund and $1 million will fund an independent review of PG&E’s inspection and maintenance practices. That review could shed more light on how the state’s largest utility manages its equipment, especially in wildfire-prone regions like the Sierra foothills. The U.S. Forest Service has not yet released an official cause for the fire.

For Sacramento area residents, this story hits close to home. Many of us remember the smoke and evacuations during those weeks in September 2022. And with fire season now a year-round concern, questions about utility accountability, insurance costs, and preparedness are more relevant than ever. Do you trust that a $22 million fine will lead to real changes at PG&E, or is this just the cost of doing business?