California needs a lot of money to fight fires. But how much?

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California leaders are calling for a giant pot of money to help electricity providers pay for wildfires, a critical move to head off another utility bankruptcy and prevent Wall Street from downgrading the state's utilities again.

But it could prove difficult to achieve in Sacramento this year.

With a deadline to take action just weeks away, lawmakers and the governor haven't settled controversial issues regarding the so-called wildfire fund: How much money does the state need and what portion of that will come out of the pockets of electricity customers?

Lawmakers are looking to Gov. Gavin Newsom to take the lead and provide answers to one of California's most high-stakes problems. His response could define his early administration.