PG&E pleads not guilty in San Bruno blast case
Source: SF Chronicle
As Pacific Gas and Electric Co. pleaded not guilty Monday to federal criminal charges in the deadly San Bruno pipeline explosion, city officials called on federal prosecutors to seek an independent monitor of the company's conduct, saying state regulators are too cozy with the giant utility.
The California Public Utilities Commission and PG&E "have corrupted the system of fair and honest regulation," said San Bruno Mayor Jim Ruane.
"We have no faith in the CPUC to ensure safety improvements will be made," Ruane said. Appointing an independent monitor as part of any criminal sentence against PG&E "is critical to ensure public safety and restore public confidence," he said.
Ruane issued a statement after the utility entered not-guilty pleas in San Francisco federal court to a grand jury indictment alleging 28 counts of safety violations and lying to government investigators after the San Bruno explosion.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/PG-amp-E-pleads-not-guilty-in-San-Bruno-blast-case-5695990.php