VIDEO: A bill making its way through the Arizona legislature could protect utility companies from being held liable if they cause a wildfire. However, amendments made to the bill on Tuesday may give southern Arizona residents more leverage if their property is damaged by a wildfire. State Senator J.D. Mesnard authored the changes to HB 2201.
Itโs something he said was important as wildfire season approaches, particularly in southern Arizona. Last year, the Flood Fire burned near Oracle Junction and was sparked by downed power lines. โThe premise behind the bill is the uncertainty of what happens in a wildfire situation, which is a lot of fear about right now, given the dry climate, etc,โ Mesnard said.
The question at hand is who is responsible for the damages from a wildfire if it was caused by utility companies. As HB 2201 was originally written, companies like TEP, which is one of the big backers of the bill, would get sweeping protections from lawsuits. The bill originally stated customers would need clear and convincing evidence for a lawsuit, but on Tuesday, amendments changed that wording to allow for any evidence to warrant a lawsuit.
