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9 Nov: Sacramento Bee: PG&E reports power line problem in Butte County near time and place where wildfire sparked
By Tony Bizjak
The PG&E service area covers much of Northern and Central California, and includes 18,000 miles of power lines. It will spend up to $70 million this year to clear vegetation near those lines, a spokesman said in an email.
In three cases, Cal Fire contends PG&E violated state codes by failing to get rid of trees and vegetation near power lines. PG&E said it is reviewing Cal Fire’s findings...
PG&E also has come under fire for cutting down trees near power lines as a safety precaution.
https://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/fires/article221448500.html

9 Nov: Mercury News: Matthias Gafni: PG&E power lines may have sparked deadly Camp Fire, according to radio transmissions
PG&E faces billions in potential liability because of the role of its power equipment in other destructive wildfires, including those last year in the Wine Country. Stock traders sent PG&E’s share price plunging Friday amid word of the latest round of California blazes...

PG&E could face substantial liability from the Camp Fire if its equipment is deemed to be at fault, but its financial risk has been diminished by a controversial law passed earlier this year. That law allows the utility to pass the costs of fire damage onto ratepayers under some circumstances.
Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said Friday that his office has been in discussions with Cal Fire to preserve the fire scene and any potential evidence for a possible criminal investigation...
https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/11/09/pge-power-lines-may-have-sparked-deadly-butte-county-wildfire-according-to-radio-transmissions/

Wikipedia: PG&E is overseen by the California Public Utilities Commission.

1 Sept: Reuters: California lawmakers pass bill on PG&E wildfire liability
by Jim Christie
California’s legislature passed a bill late on Friday that could help the utility Pacific Gas and Electric Corporation (PG&E) avoid potentially crippling liabilities for wildfires that ravaged northern parts of the San Francisco Bay Area last year.
The bill, passed 29 to 4 in the Senate and 45 to 10 in the Assembly, requires approval by Democrat Governor Jerry Brown.
Some fires in the north of the Bay area were caused by trees toppling into or making contact with PG&E power lines, a report released by state officials in June said...

If signed by the governor, this would soften that standard by having regulators determine liability based on whether equipment was reasonably maintained and operated. It would also let utilities issue bonds to help pay damages, with a surcharge on ratepayers’ bills helping to cover interest payments...
Critics say the legislation is a bailout. But (Democrat State Senator Bill) Dodd, who led the legislation, has said another bankruptcy by PG&E could be worse for ratepayers than a surcharge on their bills...
Consumer advocates have lobbied strongly against the bill...
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bankruptcy-pg-e/california-lawmakers-pass-bill-on-pge-wildfire-liability-idUSKCN1LH37B