Wildfire risks are driving up costs for Northwest utilities

They’re trying to prevent power lines from sparking catastrophic fires. But there are also worries about how the added expense will fall on ratepayers. (Stock photo by Thianchai Sitthikongsak via Getty Images) When power lines are blamed for starting a wildfire, costs to utilities can stretch into the billions and trickle down to consumers. Earlier this year, PacifiCorp settled a federal lawsuit over its lines allegedly starting six fires in Oregon and California, burning nearly 300,000 acres of public land. Thousands of residents also filed claims against the investor-owned utility, which serves 2 million customers in the West. The company has agreed to pay $2.2 billion to settle roughly 90% of all claims, and it’s preparing to settle more .

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