Public Storage Fined In North Bay Wildfire Price-Gouging Case

NORTH BAY, CA — The Chigaco-based company that operates Public Storage self-storage rental company has been ordered to pay $140,000 in penalties and costs for price-gouging violations during the October 2017 North Bay wildfires, the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office said Friday.

"This case is part of the ongoing efforts of my office to investigate and prosecute instances of price-gouging following the devastating wild fires," Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch said.

PS Orangeco Inc., the corporate entity which owns Public Storage, agreed to a stipulated judgment with the district attorneys of Sonoma, Napa and Solano counties. Approved and ordered by Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Patrick Broderick, the judgment also includes an injunction prohibiting future price-gouging violations.

The complaint against PS Orangeco Inc. alleged the company charged more than 10 percent for rental or sale of storage facilities during a wildfire-related declaration of a state of emergency than it charged immediately before the fires.

PS Orangeco Inc. cooperated with the investigation and issued full refunds of the amounts it charged in excess of 10 percent of the price it charged immediately before the fires. The company also issued a $10 courtesy credit to all customers who were affected in the three counties, the District Attorney's office said.

Public Storage has at least seven North Bay locations including two in Petaluma, two in Santa Rosa, one in Novato, one in Napa, one in Fairfield and one in Vallejo.

Customers who believe they were overcharged and did not receive a refund and courtesy credit should contact the Public Storage facility or the district attorney's office in their county.

"Businesses should be aware that the restrictions under Penal Code 396 currently remain in effect through Dec. 31, 2019, by Executive Order of the Governor," the DA's Office said. "That deadline may be extended by further order of the Governor or by local government agencies."

— Bay City News Service contributed to this report.