Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration is asking the U.S. trustee overseeing PG&E's Chapter 11 bankruptcy case to officially include wildfire victims, ratepayers and employees on the committees that advocate for creditors in these types of cases.
A three-page letter sent on behalf of Newsom on Friday notes that PG&E's bankruptcy proceedings will have "direct and profound impacts" on Californians, "including wildfire victims who have claims against the company that must be resolved fairly and equitably."
The letter cites PG&E's 24,000-member workforce as another group that must be represented in bankruptcy court.
Newsom is asking the federal trustee to take the unusual step of including all three groups on the committees that will advocate for PG&E's creditors. Normally, those committees consist only of representatives of unsecured creditors — i.e., groups to whom PG&E owes money.
"In the PG&E cases, it is crucial that the structure of the official committees take into account both the short-term case-specific issues and the longer-term need to ensure a feasible utility that can serve the needs of California," the letter stated.