Wyoming shields utility companies from wildfire-liability payouts

Governor signs bill limiting liability for companies found guilty of starting wildfires, sparking debate over who pays

Wyoming's governor has signed a bill that limits the liability for electric utility companies found guilty of starting wildfires.

Legislators argued that the bill was necessary for utility companies to function in an era of massive fire-related class-action lawsuits, especially for many of the smaller, co-op utilities that are a hallmark of the mountain west.