Pacific Gas & Electric will likely face federal criminal charges related to a September 2010 pipeline explosion that killed eight people and destroyed 38 homes in the city of San Bruno, Calif., the company said in a federal filing on March 27.
“Given the most recent discussions with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the utility expects that it will be charged with criminal violations of the federal Pipeline Safety Act. The utility believes that criminal charges are not merited and that it did not commit any knowing and willful violation of the Pipeline Safety Act,” PG&E parent PG&E Corp. said in the Securities & Exchange Commission filing.