PGE Charged With Manslaughter

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

PG&E charged with manslaughter after equipment sparked deadly California wildfire in 2020

The nation's largest utility was charged on Friday with manslaughter and other crimes following a northern California blaze in 2020.

www.businessinsider.com

PG&E charged with manslaughter in California wildfire last year that killed 4

The utility is facing 31 charges, including 11 felonies, after the Shasta County District Attorney determined that PG&E was “criminally liable” for the fire.

www.nbcnews.com

Be interested to see how this whole 'corporations are people' thing works out here.

 

[mect]

I imagine this will work out just like it did for the Sacklers. The wealthy making the decisions will just go on continuing to be very wealthy people, regardless of the outcome of the case.

 

[UNCjigga]

Call me when a single PG&E employee actually gets convicted and does prison time.

 

[woolfe9998]

Call me when a single PG&E employee actually gets convicted and does prison time.

Never going to happen.

PG& E has been prosecuted - and convicted -several times before. To name a couple: In the 2020 Camp Fire they've already been charged with manslaughter. They were charged and convicted for various federal crimes related to the 2010 San Bruno gas explosion.

It's just the corporation though. Which means fines, no jail time for anyone.

 

[Greenman]

Never going to happen.

PG& E has been prosecuted - and convicted -several times before. To name a couple: In the 2020 Camp Fire they've already been charged with manslaughter. They were charged and convicted for various federal crimes related to the 2010 San Bruno gas explosion.

It's just the corporation though. Which means fines, no jail time for anyone.

And fines don't matter. PG&E will increase rates to cover whatever fines are levied.

 

[imported_tajmahal]

They'll never prosecute a case like this that includes prison time for the executives of a major corporation, it's nothing more than a formal shakedown to get more money for State and local politicians.

 

[shortylickens]

Very few people were arrested and tried in the wake of the Flint water scandal.

 

[BoomerD]

They'll never prosecute a case like this that includes prison time for the executives of a major corporation, it's nothing more than a formal shakedown to get more money for State and local politicians.

Which is exactly why the whole "Corporations are people" is a scam on the American people.

 

[shortylickens]

And fines don't matter. PG&E will increase rates to cover whatever fines are levied.

sad but true.
I have no idea if they are incorporated but if they are, the share holders will never tolerate loss.

 

[hal2kilo]

sad but true.
I have no idea if they are incorporated but if they are, the share holders will never tolerate loss.

Probably 75% held in some mutual funds nobody looks at in any detail.

 

[woolfe9998]

And fines don't matter. PG&E will increase rates to cover whatever fines are levied.

Not sure about that, as their rates are heavily regulated by the state. And IIRC I read somewhere that they were barred from raising rates after they had to pay big fines over the San Bruno explosion. The entire idea was that they had to take the fines out of corporate net profits, not out of the pockets of customers.

In most businesses, what they charge is not regulated. So your comment is usually true. But IIRC not in the case of utilities in CA.

 

[Greenman]

PG&E rates are set by the PUC, their revenue is capped. So what happens when expenditures surpass revenue? They can borrow, defer maintenance (we've seen how well that works), lay off staff, or declare bankruptcy.
The public is absolutely dependent on them, so in the end they will always be given a way to move forward, there isn't a plan B.

 

[woolfe9998]

PG&E rates are set by the PUC, their revenue is capped. So what happens when expenditures surpass revenue? They can borrow, defer maintenance (we've seen how well that works), lay off staff, or declare bankruptcy.
The public is absolutely dependent on them, so in the end they will always be given a way to move forward, there isn't a plan B.

When expenditures exceed revenues, typically PUC allows a rate hike. But for that to be applicable in the case of paying fines, they have to show that paying the fines actually put them in the red instead of just shrinking their profits.

BTW, PG&E did file for Chapter 11 about 15 years ago and came out of it profitable once again.

 

[BoomerD]

Didn't they file bankruptcy again after one of the recent fires?

edit...yep...filed in 2019

PG&E Bankruptcy

www.cpuc.ca.gov

 

[MrSquished]

Which is exactly why the whole "Corporations are people" is a scam on the American people.

You can thank right wing justices for the 5-4 ruling that truly solidified the 'corporations are people' scam that has been manifesting itself in our system for some time. And our resident right wing dbags will continue to be the proto fascists they are and support conservatism. As Lydon Johnson said, give them someone to look down on and you can rob them blind. As long as our resident proto fascist posters can hate on the browns and blacks and gays and women's rights, they will continue to support these crooks.

 

[woolfe9998]

Didn't they file bankruptcy again after one of the recent fires?

edit...yep...filed in 2019

PG&E Bankruptcy

www.cpuc.ca.gov

Damn. Hadn't heard that. That is their second Chpt 11 in the span of 20 years.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

Break 'em UP!!!

 

[SteveGrabowski]

Which is exactly why the whole "Corporations are people" is a scam on the American people.

All the rights of a person, none of the responsibilities.