State regulators call for $300M fine against PG&E
KTVU-AP
SAN FRANCISCO —
California regulators on Tuesday called on Pacific Gas & Electric to pay at least $300 million in fines in connection with a deadly 2010 gas pipeline blast in what they said would amount to the largest fine ever levied by the state Public Utilities Commission.
In an amended brief filed in the pipeline case, the commission's safety division cited the eight people killed and 38 homes destroyed in the blast in the San Francisco Bay area suburb of San Bruno and said there were steps PG&E could have taken to prevent the explosion.
Regulators had originally recommended no fine, calling instead on PG&E to spend $2.25 billion on pipeline safety improvements. In that case, the company would be able to claim a portion of the penalty as a tax deduction.
Under the amended brief, $300 million of that amount would go into the state's general fund in the form of a fine.
http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/local/state-regulators-call-300m-fine-against-pge/nYsJb/
