By Camille von Kaenel, POLITICO
SETTING THE TABLE: A major new report that put forth suggestions for how California’s insurance and electrical systems should address wildfires is getting pushback.
Twenty-three groups, including Consumer Watchdog, Extreme Weather Survivors and the Center for Biological Diversity, signed a letter (opens in new tab) sent to legislative leaders Tuesday urging them to reject recommendations laid out in a California Earthquake Authority report. The report urged leaders to decrease the liability of electric utilities when they spark a wildfire, by limiting the types of claims victims can bring against utilities, among other things.
“When utilities with disastrous safety records post huge profits while Californians pay some of the highest electricity rates in the nation, reform should focus on curbing excessive profits and waste – not limiting wildfire survivors’ right to recovery,” the groups wrote.The groups are trying to offer a counterbalance to a new coalition of electric utilities, electrical worker unions and housing building groups that attempted to push their own version of reform last week after the report was released. — CvK From Politico Climate Newsletter
