PG&E’s principal objective is the safety of its natural gas pipelines. The public deserves to have confidence in the safety and integrity of gas lines. The company is working with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as it investigates the cause of the San Bruno accident. The company is working with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to validate the operating pressures of its gas transmission lines and to improve its record-keeping. PG&E supports efforts to improve national pipeline safety laws. PG&E is already making pipeline safety changes and is not waiting for mandates from legislators or regulators. PG&E’s Pipeline 2020 program will further strengthen the company’s gas system operations as well as boosting pipeline operations nationwide thanks to research funds and other investments.
The California Public Utilities Commission approved a $16.8 million fine as a result of PG&E failing to conduct gas-leak surveys in some parts of Contra Costa County due to several maps not being included in its leak-survey schedule as they were updated or created. PG&E discovered this oversight, immediately took corrective actions and reported it to the CPUC and to local authorities.“PG&E understands that when we make a mistake, we must own up,” said Nick Stavropoulos, PG&E’s executive vice president of gas operations.
PG&E’s Tom Bottorff writes that the California Public Utilities Commission has asked state utilities to propose plans to upgrade their natural gas systems in accordance with new state regulations. In light of recent federal regulations, including the “pipeline safety bill,” utilities nationwide will soon follow in California’s footsteps. State utilities have put forth plans that will ensure California leads the nation in safety, deploys the newest tools and systems, and maintains a system that can support the state’s growing demand for energy. PG&E’s Pipeline Safety Enhancement Plan is the company’s proposal.
In the San Francisco Chronicle, PG&E executive Nick Stavropoulos writes about the utility’s plan, passion and expertise to deliver the country’s safest natural gas system.
Testimony began March 19 as the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) started its evaluation of the scope and costs of PG&E’s Pipeline Safety Enhancement Plan. The plan, submitted in August, sets a path toward a new gas delivery system for California that meets the highest standards of safety, reliability and affordability.
Overhauling recordkeeping practices represents a significant part of PG&E’s work to improve the safety and efficiency of its gas operations.This record-management overhaul has included new leadership in gas operations; new departments with the specific tasks to make sure records are accurate, up-to-date and accessible; and the hiring of a consulting firm to assess PG&E’s work to make sure improvements are on track.
As PG&E continues to upgrade its gas operations, the company announced March 13 that it will move much of its office-based gas staff to a central location in San Ramon. The company finalized a lease agreement for 250,000 square feet of office space in the Bishop Ranch business park. About 800 people will move to the new location.
PG&E said today (March 12) that it is reviewing a report by the CPUC’s Consumer Protection and Safety Division (CPSD) on the company’s gas pipeline record-keeping history.
PG&E President Chris Johns talks about how a $70 million settlement with the City of San Bruno is another step on the road toward rebuilding and healing for that city.
PG&E and the City of San Bruno on March 12 announced an agreement under which PG&E will provide $70 million to support the city and the community’s efforts to recover after the Sept. 9, 2010, PG&E pipeline tragedy.
One year after embarking on an ambitious program to hydrostatically test hundreds of miles of its gas transmission pipelines, PG&E reported on its successes and on its lessons learned at a symposium hosted by the California Public Utilities Commission in San Francisco.
Some media reports have described PG&E’s Pipeline Safety Enhancement Plan as costing $5 billion. PG&E, which filed the plan in August 2011 in response to a directive from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), says the plan will cost $2.2 billion. Somebody has to be wrong, right? Well, not in this case.
PG&E said today (Feb. 28) that it’s proposing a far-reaching, multiyear blueprint to improve the safety of its natural gas system. And that PG&E shareholders will continue to pay for any work that addresses past mistakes made by the company.
PG&E will host an open house this week in Oakland to talk to residents about an upcoming pipeline camera inspection and pressure tests. Customers who live near pressure-test…
PG&E has been and remains deeply and firmly committed to helping the people and community of San Bruno recover from the tragic gas pipeline accident in September 2010, one of the utility’s top leaders said today (Feb. 15).
PG&E has been transforming its gas operations, adding new tools and technologies to make the work being done more efficient. This video story shows how PG&E is using mobile and hand-held tools to enhance the leak survey work that is being done.
