California regulator staff propose $16 million penalty for Liberty Utilities over fire

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 25 — The California Public Utilities Commission's (CPUC) Safety and Enforcement Division on Sept 25 issued a proposed Administrative Enforcement Order that would penalize Liberty Utilities $16 million for violations related to the 2020 Mountain View Fire in Mono County.

The fire ignited in a field adjacent to 106834 US-395 in Coleville on Nov 17, 2020, and burned approximately 20,835 acres, the CPUC said. According to the commission, it resulted in the death of one person, injured at least one other and destroyed or damaged 97 homes and structures.

Cal Fire and CPUC investigators determined that a power line owned by Liberty that failed and made contact with the ground, igniting cured annual grasses, is the most likely cause of the fire, the CPUC said.

The Safety and Enforcement Division's investigation into the fire and into Liberty's infrastructure found multiple violations of General Order 95, according to the CPUC. General Order 95 is a CPUC regulation that sets out requirements for the design, construction and maintenance of overhead electrical lines and communications facilities.

Under the proposed order, Liberty has 30 days either to agree to pay the penalty or to request a hearing. The penalty would go to the state's General Fund upon the CPUC's adoption of a Final Order.

The CPUC said the action is part of its ongoing efforts to hold utilities accountable for causing catastrophic wildfires.

The order was issued under the CPUC's Enforcement Policy, which the commission adopted in November 2020. The CPUC said the policy allows enforcement actions to be initiated and carried out by CPUC staff.