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California Lawmakers Target PG&E Breakup Again

  //business-finance.news-articles.net/content/202 .. ifornia-lawmakers-target-pg-e-breakup-again.html
  Published in Business and Finance on Tuesday, February 24th 2026 at 0:24 GMT by kcra.com
      Locales: California, UNITED STATES

SACRAMENTO - California legislators are once again taking aim at the future of Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), reigniting a debate over whether the state's largest utility should be broken up in the wake of persistent wildfires and widespread power outages. The renewed effort, led by State Senator Dave Min (D-Orange County), comes after previous attempts to restructure the company stalled, leaving many to question if a fundamental change is needed to ensure public safety and reliable energy service.

Senator Min, a vocal critic of PG&E's performance, issued a statement asserting, "PG&E has proven, time and again, that it cannot be trusted to operate safely and responsibly." This sentiment echoes growing frustration among lawmakers and residents alike, who have witnessed a pattern of preventable disasters attributed to the utility's infrastructure and operational decisions. Min argues that despite bankruptcy restructuring and increasingly stringent regulatory oversight, the underlying issues plaguing PG&E remain unresolved.

The proposed legislation would grant the California legislature the power to restructure PG&E, potentially dismantling it into smaller, more manageable companies. Proponents believe that breaking up the monolithic utility would foster greater accountability, improve safety protocols, and enhance financial stability. The core argument centers on the idea that smaller entities are inherently more responsive to local needs and less prone to the systemic failures that have plagued PG&E.

PG&E's history is marred by devastating wildfires, most notably the Camp Fire in 2018, which leveled the town of Paradise and claimed 85 lives. The company was found responsible for these and other catastrophic blazes, ultimately leading to its 2019 bankruptcy filing. While PG&E emerged from bankruptcy in 2020, critics argue that the restructuring did little to address the root causes of the company's failures - a deeply ingrained culture of prioritizing profits over safety and a lack of proactive infrastructure maintenance.

Assemblymember Lori Chavez Zeldin (D-Fresno) affirms the legislature's authority to enact such a significant change, stating, "The constitution allows us to re-evaluate, re-establish what that company looks like." This legal basis provides a pathway for restructuring, but the political hurdles remain substantial.

The proposal is gaining momentum among Democratic legislators, however, securing the necessary two-thirds vote in both the State Assembly and Senate will be a significant challenge. Republican support is currently considered unlikely, potentially requiring Democrats to garner bipartisan compromise to achieve passage. The main point of contention for Republicans often centers on concerns regarding potential disruptions to energy service and the financial implications of breaking up a major utility.

Beyond the immediate concerns of wildfire prevention, the debate over PG&E's future also touches upon broader questions of energy policy and the role of investor-owned utilities in a rapidly changing landscape. As California pushes towards its ambitious climate goals, the need for a reliable and resilient energy grid is paramount. Critics argue that PG&E's aging infrastructure and bureaucratic inefficiencies are hindering the state's progress towards a sustainable energy future.

The potential breakup of PG&E could have far-reaching consequences for millions of Californians. While proponents envision a safer, more accountable energy system, opponents raise concerns about increased costs, service disruptions, and the complexity of managing multiple utility companies. Furthermore, the question of how to fairly allocate assets and liabilities during a breakup remains a significant logistical hurdle.

This latest push for dismantling PG&E represents a culmination of years of frustration and disappointment with the utility's performance. As lawmakers weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of restructuring, the stakes are high. The future of California's energy system, and the safety of its residents, may well depend on the decisions made in the coming months.