California’s three largest utilities received approval to collect $27 billion from ratepayers after utility equipment sparked tragic wildfires. The soaring price of electricity has ignited debate about how much California families should bear for the cost of wildfire prevention, whether utilities are balancing risk and affordability and whether the money is being spent wisely. Critics say the scramble to address the wildfire crisis has left the state vulnerable to overspending by PG&E, SCE and SDG&E. In interviews with CalMatters, representatives for all three utilities said the process in place to oversee wildfire spending at the utilities commission was robust and thorough.