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San Bruno Explosion To Cost PG&E $1 Billion

SAN BRUNO (AP) - The San Bruno natural gas pipeline explosion could wind up costing Pacific Gas & Electric Co. $1 billion, according to the utility.

PG&E revealed in a regulatory filing Thursday that the cost of repairing the devastated neighborhood, compensating victims, inspecting its pipes and other expenses could reach $550 million.  Replacing valves on those pipelines are expected to cost $450 million.

KCBS' Mark Seelig Reports:

Costs for proposed major renovations to the utility's gas network haven't been calculated.

The Sept. 9 blast killed eight people and destroyed dozens of homes.

The San Jose Mercury News reported consumer advocates are concerned consumers will be forced to pay for those improvements.

But PG&E spokesman Jonathan Marshall said it's too early to speculate on how much money the company might seek from the California Public Utilities Commission for improvements.

(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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