The California PUC awarded Pacific Gas and Electric more than $1 billion in wildfire mitigation costs despite opposition from its own Public Advocates Office.

Pacific Gas and Electric said it intends to fight criminal charges stemming from the Sept. 2020 Zogg Fire, including four counts of involuntary manslaughter.

A judge said there is enough evidence to try PG&E on four manslaughter counts and other charges from the September 2020 Zogg Fire in Shasta County, Calif.

The CPUC released PG&E from its enhanced oversight and enforcement process after the utility met its 2021 tree clearing goals on its highest fire risk lines.

PG&E said in a Q3 earnings call it faces $100 million in costs from this year's Mosquito Fire, plus a $155 million fine for the deadly Zogg Fire in 2020.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said its investigation had determined that a tree hitting a PG&E line started the massive Dixie Fire.

Federal prosecutors said they would not ask for an extension of PG&E's probation time based on California criminal charges.

Cal Fire concluded that a tree falling on a PG&E power line started the Dixie Fire, potentially affecting PG&E's bid to exit federal probation Jan. 25.

A federal judge found there was probable cause to believe PG&E violated its probation by starting the Kincade Fire in 2019 and the deadly Zogg Fire last year.

Four manslaughter charges against PG&E in the 2020 Zogg Fire followed the first lawsuit against the utility for starting the still-burning Dixie Fire.