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Public Safety

CPUC Postpones SDG&E Fire Settlement Vote For Third Time

The remnants of a Rancho Bernardo home burned down in the 2007 wildfires, Oct. 30, 2007.
retired San Diego Police Department Sgt. Dave Williams
The remnants of a Rancho Bernardo home burned down in the 2007 wildfires, Oct. 30, 2007.

The California Public Utilities Commission on Thursday postponed for a third time a decision on whether San Diego Gas & Electric can charge ratepayers for costs related to the 2007 wildfires.

Administrative law judges ruled earlier this year that SDG&E cannot recover costs from ratepayers, since SDG&E “did not reasonably manage and operate its facilities prior to the wildfires.”

RELATED: San Diego Business Owner Suing CPUC Over Its Handling Of SDG&E's Request To Bill Ratepayers

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A settlement reached in 2014 allowed SDG&E to bill $379 million to ratepayers, the remaining costs the company incurred for starting several of the wildfires.

CPUC Spokesman Christopher Chow said staff requested the continuance “for further consideration.”

"It was on our Sept. 28 agenda but held over to our Oct. 12 meeting so that we could hold an All-Party Meeting on Sept. 28 in Chula Vista," Chow wrote in an email. "It was then held (from Oct. 12) to Oct. 26. And now it is held until Nov. 9."

RELATED: State Regulators To Consider SDG&E's '07 Wildfire Cost Reimbursement Thursday

Commissioners will review the issue at their Nov. 9 meeting in San Francisco.

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The public can comment on the proposed decision online at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov.

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