SACRAMENTO (KRON) — “Take control of this runaway monopoly.”
Erin Brockovich stood alongside several fire victims at the Capitol Tuesday, taking on the same utility company she became famous for beating in court more than 20 years ago.
“How are we not looking that they are a failed company and failed infrastructure?” Brockovich said. “Does that mean they get to pack up, turn off the lights, boo-hoo and go home? NO!”
Brockovich called bankruptcy PG&E’s “go-to,” noting she says the company doesn’t want to be held responsible for recent wildfires.
Citing a letter from one of PG&E’s shareholders, she’s adamant the utility is solvent.
“Overwhelming evidence. If you’re solvent, you don’t get to file bankruptcy,” she said. “The state and the PUC needs to work with them and say, we’re in charge now.”
When asked for comment, PG&E did not acknowledge Brockovich’s claims, but did say in response to the event in part, “We understand and recognize the serious concerns raised by customers and wildfire victims and acknowledge that while we have made progress we have more work to do.”
Victor Porter is a Camp Fire victim now living in a trailer in a friend’s driveway.
“Hopefully PG&E is accountable whether we get a dime or not, it don’t matter, they need to pay for what they did,” Porter said.
The cause of the Camp Fire is still under investigation.
Other protestors from the sierra foothills worry if PG&E is found responsible, their communities could be next.
“If they’re going to bail out on these people, how can you hold them responsibility to anything else?”