Thursday, April 9, 2015

CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION FINES PG&E $1.6 BILLION FOR SAN BRUNO, CALIFORNIA DEADLY EXPLOSION THAT KILLED 8 AND INJURED DOZENS











APRIL 9, 2015

A PG&E gas pipeline exploded in San Bruno on Sept. 9, 2010. The explosion killed eight people, injured dozens and destroyed or damaged about 100 homes.

The California Public Utilities Commission voted today to fine Pacific, Gas & Electric Co. $1.6 billion in penalties for its role in the September 2010 San Bruno gas pipeline explosion that killed eight people, injured dozens and destroyed or damaged about 100 homes.

The new penalty is $200 million more than an earlier internal recommendation by the San Francisco-based agency's administrative law judges assigned to the case. Along with earlier penalties related to the San Bruno incident, the total fines imposed on PG&E now exceed $2.2 billion.

CPUC President Michael Picker, who took office in late December, replacing disgraced former President Michael Peevey, described the penalty as one of the largest ever levied on a utility company nationally.

PSE&G, watch out.