Food & Water Action Alert: Proposed “wildfire fund” is a reckless bailout

“In reality, this bill will cap shareholder liability from wildfires, while leaving ratepayers on the hook for unlimited costs from future wildfire damage.

Furthermore, the legislation reduces public oversight and accountability for utility behavior related to wildfire prevention and compensation.”

Proposed “wildfire fund” is a reckless bailout

The California legislature is fast-tracking a reckless multibillion-dollar bailout for corporate utility shareholders.

Use this form to call your California Assemblymember and urge them to vote NO on AB 1054!


 

Yesterday, the Senate passed a reckless $21 billion bailout of utilities that is being touted as a “wildfire victims fund”.

Assembly Bill 1054 is really just a multibillion-dollar bailout for corporate utilities that is being fast-tracked through the California Assembly so that the public doesn’t have time to speak out in opposition. 

If this legislation passes, the people of California will once again be the victims as we will see rising utility rates in order to pay for this reckless bailout.1

The Assembly vote for this terrible bailout is scheduled for this Thursday, July 11. Grab your phone, fill out this form to get connected with your California Assemblymember, and urge them to vote NO on AB 1054.

Corporate utilities and their shareholders have spent hundreds of millions of dollars in lobbying and campaign contributions over the past ten years, and now they are about to get their payday. 

They claim that this legislation will help protect the state from future wildfires and ratepayers from future rate hikes due to utility fire damage.

In reality, this bill will cap shareholder liability from wildfires, while leaving ratepayers on the hook for unlimited costs from future wildfire damage.

Furthermore, the legislation reduces public oversight and accountability for utility behavior related to wildfire prevention and compensation.

Call your California Assemblymember and urge them to vote NO on this massive bailout for utility shareholders.

We can stop this bill from being rammed through the Assembly on Thursday, but only if your elected officials hear from you NOW.

Call your Assemblymember today. Here’s how:

1. Grab your phone.

2. Click on this form and follow the simple steps provided.

3. Once you’re connected, tell the staff person:

“My name is [NAME] from [CITY], CA, and I’m calling to urge my Assemblymember to vote NO on AB 1054, the multibillion-dollar utility bailout that is being touted as a wildfire victim fund.

Californians deserve accountability from their utilities and protection from future wildfires — not to pay for shareholder bailouts!

Thank you for passing my message along.”

Victims of wildfires need real support, not a California legislature that protects corporate utilities instead.

Please take a minute to call your California legislator today.

Thank you for taking action,


Alexandra Nagy
California Director
Food & Water Watch


1. Lynch, Loretta. Open Forum: Proposed wildfire fund a reckless giveaway that echoes Enron crisis , SF Chronicle, July 8, 2019.