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Pacific Gas and Electric Corporation (PG&E) announced its decision to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as it faces lawsuits in connection with the deadly and destructive wildfires in Northern California. On Monday, the state’s largest utility company provided a 15-day advance notice to reorganize itself under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. In other words, PG&E will start the bankruptcy process on January 29. The bankruptcy process allows PG&E to pay potential liabilities resulting from the wildfires in Northern California in 2017 and 2018. It will also assure that the utility company has access to capital and resources to continue providing safe service to customers. Last year, the Butte County Camp Fire alone killed 86 people and destroyed 18, 504 structures including 14,000 homes and over 500 businesses. Wildfire victims sued PG&E for allegedly failing to inspect, maintain, repair, or replace its infrastructure and power lines.

PG&E is facing billions of dollars in claims related to wildfires

In a public filing, the utility company estimated at least $7 billion in claims from the Camp Fire. In 2017, the victims of a series of wildfires that affected several counties in Northern also blamed PG&E. The wildfires resulted to 44 deaths and $10 billion in damages. In a statement, PG&E Interim CEO John R. Simon, said, "The people affected by the devastating Northern California wildfires are our customers, our neighbors and our friends, and we understand the profound impact the fires have had on our communities and the need for PG&E to continue enhancing our wildfire mitigation efforts.” Additionally, Simon said PG&E remains committed to helping wildfire victims through the recovery and rebuilding process. The company believes that a court-supervised bankruptcy process is the best way to resolve its potential liabilities. In a filing, PG&E disclosed that its cash and cash equivalents on hand is only around $1.5 billion. It is engaged in discussions with potential lenders regarding Debtor-In-Possesion (DIP) financing, which will provide sufficient funds for its ongoing operations.  It is expecting to obtain approximately $5.5 billion of committed DIP financing on or about January 29.