Consumer Watchdog

Law360 – 9th Circ. Seeks Calif. Justices’ Input On USAA Rate Bias Row

By Hope Patti, LAW360 Law360 (September 10, 2026, 6:43 PM EDT) — The Ninth Circuit on Thursday sought the California Supreme Court’s…

Press Enterprise – Edison pushes for special legislative session on wildfire liability reform

By Tony Saavedra, PRESS ENTERPRISE https://www.pressenterprise.com/2026/09/09/edison-pushes-for-special-legislative-session-on-wildfire-liability-reform/ With the recent meltdown of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s effort to reform wildfire liability, Rosemead-based Edison International…

Consumer Alert: Who’s Really Backing Big Oil in the Supreme Court Climate Deception Case?

CalMatters – What California’s insurance commissioner does — and how it affects your wallet

By Levi Sumagaysay, CALMATTERS https://calmatters.org/economy/2026/09/ca-insurance-commissioner-power/ In November, California voters will choose who oversees one of the biggest insurance markets in the world.…

Politico – The pickleball organizer who helped kill Newsom’s wildfire plan

By  CAMILLE VON KAENEL, POLITICO https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-currents/2026/09/04/the-pickleball-organizer-who-helped-kill-newsoms-wildfire-plan-01066151 With help from Alex Nieves and Marisa Guerra Echeverria WHAT’S AFTER FIRE: Joy Chen was organizing pickleball games in…

Los Angeles Times – George Joseph, pioneering Mercury General founder, dies at 104

By Laurence Sarmiento, LOS ANGELES TIMES https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2026-09-04/george-joseph-pioneering-mercury-general-founder-dies-at-104 George Joseph came of age during the Great Depression, a calamity that left with him…

Orange County Register – State wildfire reform deal dies at last-minute amid pushback from Edison, PG&E

By Tony Saavedra, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER https://www.ocregister.com/2026/09/01/wildfire-reform-proposal-dies-at-the-last-minute-amid-pushback-from-edison-pge-sempra After months of negotiations and a last-minute compromise, a once-vaunted wildfire liability plan was killed…

The Sacramento Bee – PG&E CEO: Company reducing work after lack of action by California Legislature

By Stephen Hobbs, THE SACRAMENTO BEE https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article317102668.html Pacific Gas and Electric Co., the major California utility, announced Wednesday that it was deferring…

Politico – ‘The incredible missing man’

By By MELANIE MASON, DUSTIN GARDINER and BLAKE JONES, POLITICO https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-playbook/2026/09/03/the-incredible-missing-man-01063174 Gavin Newsom had his successor in his mind when he pushed…

Los Angeles Times – Bill that would have allowed insurers to track driving habits dies in California Legislature

By Laurence Darmiento, LOS ANGELES TIMES https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2026-09-02/bill-that-would-have-allowed-insurers-to-track-driving-habits-dies-in-california-legislature A bill that would have allowed California insurers to track motorists driving habits in exchange for potentially lower rates has come to a dead end.…

The Mercury News – California Legislature withdraws a controversial wildfire liability bill. What now?

By Rob Nikolewski, MERCURY NEWS https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/09/02/california-legislature-withdraws-a-controversial-wildfire-liability-bill-what-now A hectic legislative session ended Tuesday with lawmakers in Sacramento withdrawing a last-minute and controversial wildfire…

Mercury News – PG&E to scale back spending following failure of wildfire liability bill

By George Avalos, MERCURY NEWS https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/09/02/pge-fire-electric-gas-oakland-california-bill-economy-home-build-jobs OAKLAND — PG&E said Wednesday it will defer $2 billion in planned spending next year, a move…

San Francisco Chronicle – PG&E says it will scale back planned work after California wildfire reforms fail

By Megan Fan Munce, Kathryn Palmer, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/pge-ceo-politics-bill-22414649.php Pacific Gas & Electric Co. will defer $2 billion in connections to new renewable-energy…

Los Angeles Times – California lawmakers kill wildfire bill after utility complaints

By Melody Petersen, Dakota Smith, LOS ANGELES TIMES https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2026-09-01/state-lawmakers-kill-wildfire-bill-after-utility-complaints Legislation that would have helped wildfire victims receive compensation more quickly but that…

The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle – Wildfire Liability Bill Fails to Reach Vote as Legislative Session Closes

By HSJC Newsroom, THE HEMET & SAN JACINTO CHRONICLE https://hsjchronicle.com/wildfire-liability-bill-fails-to-reach-vote-as-legislative-session-closes/ California lawmakers let a closely watched wildfire liability bill collapse on the…

CalMatters – Wildfire liability bill dies without a vote on final day of session

By Levi Sumagaysay, CALMATTERS https://calmatters.org/economy/2026/09/wildfire-liability-bill-dies-without-a-vote-on-final-day-of-session/ This story has been updated to include reaction from legislators and utility representatives. After nearly a month…

Los Angeles Times – Coverage for smoke damage, money for protecting homes passed to help wildfire victims

By Nicole Nixon and Noah Haggerty, LOS ANGELES TIMES https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-09-01/coverage-for-smoke-damage-money-for-protecting-homes-passed-to-help-wildfire-victims SACRAMENTO — California lawmakers passed laws that would ensure financing for upgrades protecting residences from future fire…

The American Prospect – California Wildfire Package Preserves Survivors’ Legal Rights

By JAMES BARATTA, THE AMERICAN PROSPECT https://prospect.org/2026/09/01/california-wildfire-package-preserves-survivors-legal-rights/ Update, September 1: A vote on SB 492 was expected today, but after legislative leaders caucused…