The administrative law judge assigned to the San Bruno fine issued his proposed decision today, September 2. The totality of the fine and other penalties is not a simple calculation, and our regulatory attorneys and forensic accountants are analyzing the decision. It will be several days before we have a definitive understanding of the extent of the proposed fine.
What is clear that nearly $1 billion is in the form of a fine payable to the general fund of the State of California. This helps nobody. We believe that the object of the fine should be creation of a safer gas distribution and transmission system. We also believe that an inordinately high fine will not serve customers and will divert funds that could be spent on improvements of gas safety.
Our attorneys will be filing comments on the proposed decision with the hope of convincing the full Commission that too big a fine is bad for everybody, and that money spent on the gas system is better spent than money diverted to the general fund of the State.
–Tom Dalzell, IBEW 1245 Business Manager