San Francisco on June 4 hired a financial advisor as it considers buying distribution assets from the beleaguered utility Pacific Gas & Electric, which filed for voluntary bankruptcy protection in January as it faced more than $30 billion in liabilities stemming from 2017 and 2018 wildfires that burned many thousands of acres and destroyed thousands of structures.

California utility giant details 2019 plan for boosted infrastructure and technology—and controversial expanded blackouts—to respond to and prevent devastating wildfires in its huge service area.

Construction firms join power providers caught in contract issues from giant utility’s Jan. 29 bankruptcy filing; the company also releases details of an extensive wildfire mitigation plan and upgrade.

Major electric grid work is ahead in PG&E’s territory, whether or not the California electric and gas utility files for bankruptcy.

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. was increasing vegetation and fire safety standards even before a Cal Fire report released this month concluded that the company’s electric power lines caused the 12 Northern California fires that burned some 245,000 acres in October.

With Northern California’s deadly wildfires mostly contained, investigators are moving to preserve evidence in the search for the cause of the blazes. Affected homeowners have filed lawsuits alleging that inadequate power-line maintenance may have played a role.