SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge has ordered board member of Pacific Gas & Electric to tour the Northern California town of Paradise, which was leveled by a wildfire that may have been caused by the utility's equipment.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported Tuesday that the judge ordered the tour as part of the utility's punishment for violating its felony probation terms imposed after one of its natural gas pipes exploded in 2010 killing eight people.
U.S. District Judge William Alsup says he wants the utility's newly appointed board to focus the company on complying with new wildfire safety plans approved by regulators. Complying with the plan is the utility's top probation condition.
After the hearing, PG&E's newly appointed chief executive Bill Johnson told reporters he also planned to tour Paradise.
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Information from: San Francisco Chronicle, http://www.sfgate.com
