PG&E Corporation controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2024
Dispute over ratepayer-funded advertising
Consumer advocates challenged PG&E’s effort to classify a multi-year advertising program as safety communications eligible for recovery from a wildfire-mitigation account, arguing the spending was promotional.
2021
Nearly 200 people sue PG&E over Dixie Fire
Lawsuit filed
In September 2021, nearly 200 people filed suit against PG&E, alleging that the company caused the Dixie Fire. The plaintiffs sought damages, punitive damages, and attorneys' fees. At the time of the report, authorities had not formally announced the cause of the fire. The filing is recorded as a legal action brought by the plaintiffs against the company; no determination of liability or outcome is noted in the source.
Source excerpt
虽然当局尚未宣布正式的起火原因，但PG&E此前已向加州公共设施委员会（California Public Utilities Commission, CPUC）坦承，一棵树倒在该公司电线杆的一条电线上，可能引发迪克西山火。
周二（9月14日），近两百人对太平洋瓦电（PG&E）公司提起诉讼，指控该公司引发北加州迪克西山火（Dixie Fire），并要求其支付损害赔偿、惩罚性赔偿和律师费。
2021
Federal probation officials add Zogg Fire violation allegation against PG&E
Investigation
Federal probation officials filed an additional allegation that Pacific Gas and Electric Company violated its probation conditions in connection with the Zogg Fire. The filing cited probable cause; it was an allegation, not a reported final court determination.
Source excerpt
The Zogg Fire has been blamed on a leaning tree that prosecutors said had a cavity and had been marked for removal but was left standing at the time it fell, sparking the fire.
In a filing in federal court in San Francisco late Wednesday, federal probation officials added allegations that the company violated its probation terms stemming from the 31 charges Shasta County prosecutors filed in September for the September 2020 fire that left four dead.
2020
PG&E files suit over fire-safety ordinance
Lawsuit filed
PG&E filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn restrictions imposed by the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District on its work procedures. According to the event summary, the company claimed that the ordinance exceeds the district's regulatory authority. The dispute concerns fire-safety requirements governing PG&E's work procedures. The filing was reported on July 22, 2020.
PG&E filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District restrictions on its work procedures, claiming the ordinance exceeds the district’s regulatory authority.
Source excerpt
An ongoing dispute between PG&E and the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District over fire safety procedures has escalated, with PG&E filing a lawsuit seeking to overturn restrictions on its work procedures.
In its lawsuit, PG&E claims the ordinance exceeds the fire district’s regulatory authority, infringing on jurisdiction that belongs to the California Public Utilities Commission.
2020
California regulators fine PG&E $2.1 billion over wildfires
Fine or penalty
California power regulators imposed a $2.1 billion fine on PG&E for igniting a series of deadly wildfires. The decision also prevents the company from attempting to recover $1.82 billion from customers.
Company response
Clarification — PG&E
PG&E officials said they were disappointed by the increased fine after “working diligently over many months with multiple parties” to reach the previous deal.
Source excerpt
PG&E officials said they were disappointed by the increased fine after “working diligently over many months with multiple parties” to reach the previous deal.
California power regulators on Thursday slapped Pacific Gas & Electric with a $2.1 billion fine for igniting a series of deadly wildfires that landed the beleaguered utility in bankruptcy.
The commission approved a settlement in which PG&E will pay $40 million to the state's general fund and incur an $85 million "permanent disallowance" that will not allow it to recover costs from ratepayers for removing abandoned transmission equipment in its service area.
2019
Second bankruptcy
PG&E sought Chapter 11 protection amid enormous wildfire-related claims and uncertainty over its ability to fund settlements, infrastructure investment and ongoing regulated operations.
2019
PG&E CEO apologizes for client winery party before blackouts
Company response
PG&E Corp. CEO Bill Johnson issued a public apology after the company held a party for major clients at a Northern California winery shortly before blackouts. He described the party as a colossal mistake in poor taste and promised it would not happen again.
Company response
Apology — PG&E Corp.
Bill Johnson, CEO of the utility’s parent company PG&E Corp., admitted to the event in an exclusive interview with The Chronicle on Thursday. He described it as a colossal mistake in poor taste and promised it would never happen again.
Source excerpt
Bill Johnson, CEO of the utility’s parent company PG&E Corp., admitted to the event in an exclusive interview with The Chronicle on Thursday. He described it as a colossal mistake in poor taste and promised it would never happen again.
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) Corp. CEO Bill Johnson has issued a public apology for a party the company threw at a Northern California winery for major clients on the eve of blackouts affecting hundreds of thousands of people.
2019
PG&E apologizes for wine tasting event timing
Company response
PG&E apologized for holding a wine tasting event in Sonoma on the second anniversary of the 2017 North Bay wildfires, calling the timing and location insensitive. The company said it would no longer hold such events.
Company response
Apology — PG&E
we sincerely apologize for the insensitivity of the timing and location…given the two-year milestone of the 2017 North Bay wildfires.
Remediation — PG&E
Moving forward, we will no longer hold these types of events.
Source excerpt
we sincerely apologize for the insensitivity of the timing and location…given the two-year milestone of the 2017 North Bay wildfires.
PG&E is now also apologizing for a wine tasting event the company held on the second anniversary of the North Bay wildfires – in the North Bay.
Moving forward, we will no longer hold these types of events.
2019
California Senate to investigate PG&E power shutoff process
Investigation
In October 2019, the California Senate announced that its Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee would investigate and review the process used by a California utility to cut power to more than 2 million people. Reporting on the announcement identified PG&E as the utility that had cut power to customers the previous week. The announcement concerned the review of the shutoff process itself, and the source account does not state any findings, conclusions, or outcomes of the investigation.
Stated objective. Review what happened and take immediate corrective actions
Source excerpt
The California Senate will investigate a California utility’s process for cutting off power to more than 2 million people to prevent wildfires.
Last week, dry conditions and dangerous winds prompted PG&E to cut power to more than 700,000 customers to prevent its equipment from sparking wildfires.
2019
Shady Oak Barrel House faces backlash over beer name targeting PG&E
Public backlash
In November 2019, Shady Oak Barrel House faced backlash after naming a beer with a disparaging word aimed at PG&E. The brewery said the name was intended to criticize the corporation, not its employees, and apologized and explained its position.
Company response
Apology — Shady Oak Barrel House
SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KGO) -- Shady Oak Barrel House in Santa Rosa is apologizing and explaining why it recently released a beer using a full curse word to describe Pacific Gas and Electric.
Source excerpt
The brewery says the name is not intended to attack the honest hardworking employees, but the corporation itself.
Shady Oak Barrel House in Santa Rosa is facing backlash after it named a beer with a disparaging word that slams PG&E.
They received a lot of bad reviews on Yelp, Google, and Facebook which may explain why it posted on Facebook about the name.
2019
PG&E reached a $13.5 billion wildfire settlement
Settlement
PG&E said it reached a $13.5 billion settlement to resolve major claims related to wildfires blamed on its outdated equipment and negligence. The settlement remained subject to court approval and other conditions.
Stated objective. Resolve all major claims related to the wildfires.
Source excerpt
The agreed settlement is subject to a number of conditions and requires confirmation by the United States Bankruptcy Court, the company said.
California’s bankrupt power producer PG&E Corp said on Friday it had reached a $13.5 billion settlement with victims of some of the most devastating wildfires in the state’s modern history.
The settlement, which the utility says was reached Friday, still requires court approval.
2018
Camp Fire and wildfire liability crisis
The Camp Fire caused deaths and widespread destruction in Butte County. PG&E’s alleged equipment involvement intensified scrutiny of its vegetation management, equipment maintenance and wildfire-prevention practices.
2016
Federal criminal case over pipeline safety
PG&E was convicted on federal counts related to failures to properly maintain and inspect its gas pipeline system in the period surrounding the San Bruno disaster.
2010
San Bruno gas pipeline explosion
A PG&E gas transmission pipeline ruptured in San Bruno, killing eight people and destroying homes. Investigations found serious safety and recordkeeping failures, followed by civil, regulatory and criminal proceedings.