Judge grants PG&E's request to evade $565M in fines stemming from 2010 San Bruno explosion
(KTVU) On Dec 8, a Federal Judge slashed PG&E's fines by more than half stemming from the 2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion.
SAN BRUNO, Calif. (KTVU) - On Wednesday, Federal Judge Thelton Henderson granted PG&E's request to evade $565 million in fees if the utility giant is convicted of being criminally liable for a 2010 blast in San Bruno.
The fine for "gross losses" would have been $1.3 billion.
This figure is based on the doubling of a $281 million fine, which is the amount of money calculated PG&E saved by not servicing the aging natural gas utility infrastructure.
"PG&E's regulatory violations, which directly led to the San Bruno explosion, were motivated by the desire to maximize profits," the U.S. Attorney's Office says in court filings.
PG&E has pleaded not guilt to 28 counts, which includes 27 alleged violations of the pipeline safety act, and one count of obstruction of a federal investigation into the explosion.
PG&E's next day in court is on March 8 at the U.S. District Court in San Francisco.