PG&E hosting virtual webinar on wildfire safety. Here's how to attend.

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. will host a wildfire safety webinar for its customers on Wednesday.

The event is scheduled for 5:30 to 7 p.m. and it will focus on the utility’s plans for 2022.

“PG&E experts will provide a brief presentation, after which participants will have the opportunity to ask questions,” a news release said.

Customers can access the meeting through a link at pge.com/firesafetywebinars.

Among the topics covered will be PG&E’s wildfire prevention efforts, resources to help customers and communications before, during and after wildfire safety outages, and improvements and updates to PG&E’s safety technology and tools.

Last year, PG&E officials announced the utility had started burying 10,000 miles of its electrical lines in an effort to prevent fires.

Also, the utility has been conducting precautionary power shutoffs when weather conditions indicate an increased potential for wildfires.

In recent years, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has blamed PG&E for starting a string of fires, including the 2018 Camp Fire in Butte County that killed 85 people and destroyed most of the town of Paradise.

Related: Looking 'rearward,' PG&E's CEO talks about what could have prevented the Zogg Fire

In April, the Shasta County District Attorney and four other counties announced a settlement with PG&E over the utility’s company’s responsibility for the 2021 Dixie Fire, the second-largest wildfire in California history.

The Dixie Fire burned 963,309 acres and destroyed 1,329 structures before being fully contained on Oct. 25.

Earlier this summer, PG&E pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and other criminal charges it faces after its equipment started the Zogg Fire that killed four people and destroyed homes in Shasta County in 2020.

Shasta and Tehama counties have already settled a civil lawsuit with PG&E to recover about $12.3 million in costs the two counties say they incurred as a result of the Zogg fire.

PG&E warns customers of scam

PG&E officials said in recent weeks they have received dozens of reports of a scam that involves utility imposters demanding payment for a SmartMeter deposit to avoid being disconnected.

"Scammers are contacting customers via both email and phone, falsely telling them that their utility meter needs to be replaced and that immediate payment of a deposit is required to avoid disconnection," PG&E said in a news release.

Bugged:Outdoor cockroach infestations grow in Shasta County, Northern California

The utility is advising customers who receive a call to hang up and call PG&E at 1-833-500-7226 or log into their account at PGE.com to confirm their account balance.

"PG&E will never ask for you for your financial information over the phone or via email nor will we request payment via pre-paid debit cards or other payment services like Zelle,” Joe Wilson, PG&E North Valley and Sierra regional vice president, said in the release.

David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.