PG&E is full of gas! A new PUC report shows that the utility decided NOT to spend $93.5 million authorized for improving gas lines.
According to that PUC report, between 1987 and 1999, of the money they were authorized to spend to upgrade old pipelines, they chose to spend $183 million less. Yes, they have made some upgrades , spending a little more than $2 million on that in the last 25 years. As they’re undertaking repairs/replacements now, I can’t help wondering at how much higher a cost, what with inflation and putting off the work that needed to be done. Note that PG&E spent $89.9 million more than they were supposed to 2000-2010.
Why didn’t PG&E use that money in the first place, before 1996, when most of their non-spending was going on? They’ve always claimed that public safety and a reliable system are their cherished goals. Yet, they put off what turned out to be critical repairs and upgrades They could do this because of utilities’ ability to oversee themselves and spend on what they deem important—or hold back the money for later. The PUC gives them this autonomy. The PUC claims they’ll start auditing PG&E more closely, but I’d bet that San Bruno residents would say it’s too late! Besides, it took the PUC two months just to get the spending data out of PG&E!
We’ve been paying extra for pipeline repair for some time and not getting it. I agree with the San Francisco-based consumer group The Utility Reform Network that PG&E should prove to us that they’re spending that money wisely and making significant repairs and upgrades…or GIVE US OUR MONEY BACK!