PG&E Reforms Sought As San Bruno Marks 2 Years Since Explosion
SAN BRUNO (KCBS) – As nearly two years have passed since a San Bruno neighborhood was rocked by a natural gas pipeline explosion, Assemblyman Jerry Hill met with survivors at the blast site Tuesday to discuss efforts to reform the utilities.
Sunday marks two years since the explosion, which killed eight people and destroyed 38 homes.
Hill has sent three pieces of legislation to lawmakers. He said the first would require that Pacific Gas & Electric Co. act on safety recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board.
KCBS' Anna Duckworth Reports:
"The second piece of legislation would require the PUC to develop performance metrics by which to judge utility safety and potentially fine utilities for poor performance," said Hill. "The third piece would require the PUC to examine PG&E's bonus structure for executives."
Resident Bill Magoolaghan, whose home was severely damaged in the explosion and fire, just moved back to the neighborhood with his family this past January.
"The reality is it's too late for us, it's too late for our neighborhood and it's too late for our neighbors," he said. "But putting legislation like this in place is just in time perhaps to keep another neighborhood from having this type of disaster."
San Bruno Mayor Jim Ruane said pipeline safety is a local, state and national issue.
"What happened here shouldn't have happened. What happened here could have been prevented," Ruane said.
Those gathered said that while some improvements have been made, there is still plenty of work to be done from all parties involved.
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