Pacific Gas and Electric Company Statement on NTSB Metallurgical Report

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- This afternoon, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) issued the following statement from President Chris Johns on the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) most recent report in its investigation into the September 9, 2010, natural gas pipeline accident in San Bruno, California:

"While additional work still lies ahead to reach a final conclusion on what caused the September 9, 2010, tragedy in San Bruno, today's metallurgical report by the NTSB is another important step in that process. We once again express our appreciation to the NTSB for the meticulous and painstaking work by its team of experts. We are continuing to fully cooperate with the NTSB and others, and we will continue to move forward on multiple fronts to ensure the safety and integrity of our system.

"Public safety is PG&E's highest responsibility and highest priority. With that as our focus, all pipelines in PG&E's system that are of a size and vintage similar to the line in San Bruno are continuing to operate at pressures that have been reduced by 20 percent – a measure that builds a significant additional margin of safety into our current operating conditions.

"In keeping with our focus on safety, we will continue working with all due diligence to incorporate data and recommendations by the NTSB into the various initiatives now under way within PG&E to ensure the safety and integrity of our system.

"We continue to keep the people of San Bruno in our thoughts and prayers. They – and everyone in the communities we serve – have our pledge that PG&E will do whatever is necessary to prevent such a tragedy from happening again."

SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company