February 27, 2014 | By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

The City of San Bruno has reached the next step in their campaign against Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), having launched an online petition last week that automatically sends an e-mail to California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Executive Director Paul Clanon, California Governor Jerry Brown and PG&E CEO Tony Earley. So far, the petition has nearly 7,000 signatures.

Credit: Brocken Inaglory/Wikimedia Commons

The petition calls for the CPUC to hold PG&E accountable for the 2010 pipeline explosion in San Bruno and that a penalty levied against PG&E be invested in a safety improvement program to prevent future tragedies. The CPUC is expected to issue their recommended penalty in the coming weeks.

The petition calls on the CPUC to levy the recommended $2.25 Billion penalty and fine against PG&E shareholders -- not ratepayers -- requiring that shareholders invest in needed repairs to guarantee the safety of PG&E's aging pipeline infrastructure. If this penalty is enforced, it will be the largest of its kind in the nation.

In addition, the petition asks the CPUC to assign an Independent Monitor to serve as a statewide safety watchdog. Finally, the petition urges the CPUC to change the way regulators do business and eliminate any conflicts of interest with utility companies.

Federal investigators found that the explosion was caused by years of neglected safety repairs. The City of San Bruno contends that the City of San Carlos is now facing a similar problem with PG&E over faulty gas pipeline data.

It is projected that PG&E will need to spend nearly $10 billion to test and replace its gas lines.

For more:
- see this PG&E motion

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