PG&E agrees to pay $55 million in penalties and costs over two wildfires.

Pacific Gas & Electric agreed to pay $55 million in penalties and costs to settle civil cases brought by prosecutors over wildfires.

The agreement allows the company to avoid criminal prosecution for causing last year's Dixie fire, the second-largest blaze in California history, and the Kincade fire in 2019. The settlement includes tens of millions of dollars in payments to local organizations, schools and government agencies, and it will fund an independent safety monitor for the life of the five-year civil judgment.

Prosecutors pursued a civil action against the utility to get more benefits for victims than criminal prosecution would allow. The maximum criminal fines in the Dixie fire, which burned 963,000 acres and destroyed more than 1,300 buildings, were $329,000.

The district attorney said in a statement that the settlement avoids both a bankruptcy and inordinate delay for the homeowners and renters.

The fire was caused by a tree that came into contact with the power lines near the Cresta Dam.

In Sonoma County, the Kincade fire burned almost 78,000 acres and injured four people. The state fined the company $125 million for the fire.

Although criminal charges are dismissed, the level of punishment and oversight provided by this judgment is greater than could be achieved against a corporation in criminal court.

The failure of state lawmakers to increase penalties for corporations found in violation of the law led to the decision to reach a settlement. Rob Bonta, the state attorney general, did not bring any legal action against the company.

Mr. Bonta didn't respond to the request for comment.

The settlement will help improve, as it will help increase its accountability and transparency to the public.

We are committed to doing our part, and we look forward to a long partnership with these communities.

The Zogg fire, which killed four people, burned more than 56,000 acres and destroyed 204 buildings, was not included in the settlement. There are felony and misdemeanor charges against the company in that case.

Federal and state prosecutors have convictions and guilty pleas against the company. The Camp fire, which destroyed the town of Paradise, resulted in 84 counts of manslaughter.

The Camp fire and a number of other fires led to the filing of a petition for Chapter 11 protection for the company. The utility emerged from Chapter 11 in July 2020.

The utility wants to spend billions of dollars on underground transmission lines to prevent equipment from causing fires.