Jerry Hill Calls PG&E’s Top 100 List “Inadequate”

Plans for Legislative Oversight Hearings in Mid-October

San Bruno, CA – Assemblyman Jerry Hill, who represents San Bruno, called the list of “Top 100” critical gas pipelines released today by PG&E “inadequate” and said he was disturbed by the inconsistency in the information the utility has been providing the public.

“Residents need to be assured that the pipelines in their communities are safe and that utilities are properly regulated,” Hill said. “But PG&E keeps changing its story.”

Hill noted that in 2007, PG&E listed a segment in South San Francisco of the same pipeline that exploded Sept. 9 in San Bruno – 2.5 miles to the south – as ranking in the “Top 100” highest-risk list when it asked the Public Utilities Commission for a rate hike.

Although the rate hike was granted, the pipeline in South San Francisco is not scheduled to be replaced until 2013. Yet Hill noted the pipeline was not included in PGE’s “Top 100” list released today.

In its 2009 rate filing, PG&E stated “if the replacement of this pipe does not occur, risks associated with this segment will not be reduced. Coupled with the consequences of failure of this section of pipe, the likelihood of a failure makes the risk of a failure at this location unacceptably high.”

“PG&E now tells us high-priority safety projects are fixed immediately – and aren’t placed on the “Top 100” list, which is why South San Francisco was not included,” Hill said. “Yet we’ve learned they regularly get approval from the PUC to repair gas lines, but never do the work.”

Hill is also disappointed with the PUC for not being able to work with PG&E to determine the gas lines in the state that pose the greatest risk to public safety.

“If the “Top 100” are not the most at risk or dangerous gas lines in the state, then I want to see the real Top 100 lines in the state that pose the greatest safety threat to Californians,” Hill said.

PUC Executive Director Paul Clanon said today, “I want to assure the public that the list is not of pipelines that are at risk or dangerous. The list is a tool used by PG&E to prioritize maintenance, repair, or monitoring of its gas pipelines.”

Hill led the chorus of calls for the utility to release its “Top 100 list.” In refusing to release the list, PG&E officials had previously citied potential terrorist attacks – a likelihood it downplayed today.

“I’m troubled by PG&E’s inconsistency,” Hill said. “Rate-payers deserve better.”

Hill suggested that a third-party, independent oversight entity review PG&E’s gas inspection policies, what types of gas line inspections are conducted, if repairs are made after rate hikes are granted, and the adequacy of the criteria the utility uses to compile its “Top 100” list.

The Assembly and Senate Utility Committees and Public Safety Committees are planning on holding the first oversight hearing regarding the San Bruno disaster in mid-October in Sacramento.

Article Courtesy of Nolan Solov, Office of Assemblymember Jerry Hill.