Pay attention to the money trail. The governor was given cart blanch in spending 950 Million of the 1.4 Billion wherever he chooses. Who will ultimately pay for such a luxury? The customers of PG&E. Here is the story: PG&E was hit Tuesday with $1.4 billion in penalties by the California Public Utilities Commission for safety violations related to the 2010 gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno. The new fines and penalties bring the total amount Pacific Gas & Electric Co. has been ordered to pay in the wake of the explosion -- which killed eight people and injured 66 others on Sept. 9, 2010 -- to more than $2 billion. PG&E Pleads Not Guilty to Charges in Deadly Blast The CPUC said the figure reached by two administrative law judges over the San Bruno pipeline explosion reflected nearly 3,800 violations of state and federal law, regulations and standards by PG&E in the operation of its gas pipelines. Dramatic Photos: Remembering the Fire Dramatic Photos: Remembering the Fire The penalty is meant to ``send a strong message to PG&E, and all other pipeline operators, that they must comply with mandated federal and state pipeline safety requirements, or face severe consequences, Timothy J. Sullivan, one of the two judges, wrote in the order. The largest share -- $950 million -- of the penalty is a fine to be paid directly to the state. That amount drew objections from city officials in San Bruno, the utility and a private ratepayers-advocacy group that the overall penalty should be focused on spending for the safe operation of the aging pipeline network. Girl Who Shot Instructor: Uzi Was Too Much ``We are accountable and fully accept that a penalty is appropriate, the utility said in a statement. Asked whether PG&E would appeal, utility spokesman Greg Snapper said, ``Were reviewing the decision and believe that any penalty should go toward pipeline safety. The recommended penalty requires approval by members of the state utility board. PG&E and other parties in the case have 30 days to lodge an appeal. The commission previously ordered PG&E to pay $635 million for pipeline modernization in the wake of the Sept. 9, 2010, blast in the suburb of San Francisco. The explosion destroyed more than three dozen homes and was Californias deadliest utility disaster in decades. U.S. Doctor Cured of Ebola Thought He Would Die The blast occurred when a 30-inch natural-gas transmission line installed in 1956 ruptured. At the time, survivors described the heat of the blast burning the back of their necks like a blowtorch as they ran away. The $1.4 billion penalty also includes $400 million for pipeline improvements, and about $50 million to enhance pipeline safety. PG&E cannot recover any of the money from customers, including the earlier $635 million penalty, although a ratepayers group called The Utility Reform Network maintained PG&E could raise rates in other rate cases to indirectly offset the penalty. Sending $950 million to the states general fund, with no strings attached, means it could be spent in any way the governor and Legislature see fit, said H.D. Palmer, a spokesman for the state Department of Finance.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Sep 2014 13:31:22 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015