SDG&E agrees to pay $24.5 million to County of San Diego relating to 2007 wildfires

SAN DIEGO – On Dec. 16, the County of San Diego and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) jointly announced that they had entered into a settlement that resolves the lawsuit filed by the County against SDG&E arising out of the 2007 wildfires. Without admitting fault or liability, SDG&E will pay the County a total of $24.5 million under the terms of the settlement.

The settlement provides for $15 million to go to the County’s general fund and $9.5 million will be placed in a County trust fund. The trust fund will be used by the County for specified fire safety projects, such as fire station construction, supporting the County’s firefighting helicopter program, and enhancing emergency communications systems.

Both the County and SDG&E believe the settlement fairly resolves the litigation between them while at the same time enhancing fire safety in the region.