PGC&E guilty on six of 12 criminal charges
Published by Stephanie Roker,
Editor
World Pipelines,
California’s largest utility was found guilty on six criminal counts on Tuesday 9 August, related to a deadly gas pipeline explosion in 2010.
Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. (PCG&E) was convicted by a San Francisco jury of obstructing a federal investigation into the blast, as well as on five of 11 charges that it violated federal pipeline safety regulations.
The explosion and ensuing fire in the San Francisco suburb of San Bruno, California, destroyed a neighbourhood, leaving eight people dead and 58 injured. The disaster was blamed on a 60 year old distribution pipe that had not been properly assessed as high risk.
The company argued that its workers were not wilfully negligent, but rather confused by myriad federal regulations. Prosecutors said PG&E put profits ahead of safety, then attempted to cover up mistakes.
California’s Public Utilities Commission hit PG&E with a record US$1.6 billion fine for negligence in 2015. The 9 August verdicts will cost PG&E a maximum of US$3 million in penalties, which will be paid by shareholders.
Edited from source by Stephanie Roker
Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/equipment-and-safety/11082016/pgce-guilty-on-six-of-12-criminal-charges/
You might also like
World Pipelines Podcast: UK pipeline perspectives
In this episode, we look at the work of the Pipeline Industries Guild, in facilitating connections and learning for pipeliners of all kinds in the UK.
Ensuring flow assurance in a changing environment
Jim Bramlett, Commercial Manager – The Americas, Tracerco, explores how the technology, sustainability, and efficiency shaping the energy sector as a whole are reflected by changes in flow assurance.
