The U.S. government is threatening to sue PacifiCorp, a unit of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, to recover nearly $1 billion in costs related to the 2020 wildfires in southern Oregon and northern California, though the company is trying to negotiate a settlement.

The potential lawsuits were disclosed in an annual report filed by PacifiCorp’s Iowa-based parent company, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, on Monday — two days after Buffett lamented the disappointing results at the conglomerate’s utility division in his annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders. This new liability comes after the utility already agreed to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in lawsuits related to the fires.

In its annual report, Berkshire Hathaway Energy said the U.S. Justice Department told the company it is seeking $625 million in firefighting and cleanup costs related to the September 2020 Archie Creek and Susan Creek fires. Oregon’s Justice Department said it is also seeking $109 million in damages related to those fires.

In addition to that, the U.S. Forest Service has asked PacfiCorp to pay $356 million for firefighting costs and damages related to the Slater Fire that started in California but also crossed over the border into Oregon.

  • STOMPYI@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    What’s the point of a board if it’s not held responsible? Anyone eith over 100M is our enemy and we don’t need mental gymnastics.

    • throwwyacc@lemmynsfw.com
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      9 months ago

      Do you think investors make decisions in real time? Like do you think the fire services called each member of the board and asked for a vote? I swear some of you guys have never considered any part of the system you supposedly want to dismantle

      I think it would also be healthier if you didn’t consider the wealthy as inherently your enemy. Try to consider the actions taken by these people as individuals, otherwise you truly will never get anywhere as any outside person will rightly look at you like a lunatic