PG&E appeals $16.8M fine for poor gas leak surveys

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. admitted Wednesday it never checked for gas leaks in a much broader swath of California than the company previously disclosed following the deadly San Bruno pipeline explosion.

PG&E originally told the California Public Utilities Commission the utility misplaced 16 maps of its pipelines, so as a result never did leak surveys in any of those locations, in violation of state regulations. The commission said last week it would fine PG&E $16.8 million in response.

On Wednesday, the company admitted it actually hadn't checked for pipeline leaks in a larger geographic region detailed in 46 additional maps stretching from Fresno to Yolo counties. The company also intends to appeal the fine.

The Sept. 9, 2010 blast on PG&E's transmission line in San Bruno killed eight people and destroyed 38 homes.