Wintertime Natural Gas Supply Hinges On San Bruno Pipeline
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - The California Public Utilities Commission took action Thursday to ensure that PG&E customers in San Francisco and San Mateo have heat this winter after gas transmission on a key line was reduced after the San Bruno explosion.
Transmission on line 132 has been ratcheted way down since the San Bruno explosion, and the California Public Utilities Commission authorized its president to okay a pressure increase if it gets really cold after consultation with independent scientific experts.
Kathy Derenzi lives in the blast neighborhood and came to the meeting worried about a pressure hike.
KCBS' Barbara Taylor Reports:
"I hope they don't have to ever [hike the pressure] until they know the reason why it exploded," said Derenzi.
Assemblyman Jerry Hill showed up at the meeting after learning that 35 hospitals in San Francisco and San Mateo would be the first to lose their heat if winter gas supplies are limited.
"They are critical service providers and they should not have to be dependent on the curtailment schedule that we heard today," said Hill.
PG&E spokesman Joe Molica said the utility is working closely with the PUC to ensure adequate gas supplies.
"At the end of the day, the most important priority for us is safety, and our ability to deliver gas to our customers in all weather," said Molica.
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