After California Governor Jerry Brown proposed legislation covering the treatment of utilities with respect to liability for wildfire damages, Morgan Stanley analyst Stephen Byrd said that overall he views the proposal as constructive to California utilities PG&E (PCG) and Edison International (EIX). While the proposed penalty provisions screen negative, the provision to provide courts with discretion to apportion partial liability for damages from fires is constructive for utilities because it can be a path to avoid a binary "all-or-nothing" outcome, said Byrd. He reiterates an Overweight rating on PG&E shares.

"Our focus on safety and reducing wildfire risk continues every day as we deliver for our customers and our hometowns here in California. We remain committed to building a clean, climate-resilient energy system to meet our customers' future needs at the lowest price for them," said PG&E Corporation CEO Patti Poppe.