California fires are threatening utilities’ bottom line
With Santa Ana winds still kicking up blazes in California, the scope of destruction of this year’s fires still has to be tallied. Last year, the state’s wildfires caused more than $10 billion in damages. Utility companies said they were at risk of bankruptcy, if they didn’t get help. The state legislature responded and passed a law to help for 2017 and set up long-term protections that start in 2019. But there are no state provisions set up for this year, which has utility investors nervous.
Click the audio above to hear the full story.
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.