Southern California Gas to pay $4-million settlement over massive Porter Ranch gas leak

[TexasTowelie]

Southern California Gas Co. agreed to pay $4 million to settle criminal charges over the massive gas leak near Porter Ranch last year, but the utility still faces potentially costly civil actions from both residents and regulators.

The settlement ends a prosecution brought by the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office, which accused the gas company of failing to properly notify authorities when the largest recorded methane leak in U.S. history first occurred. The leak forced thousands of residents to flee their homes for months as officials worked to cap the leak.

The gas company pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of failing to immediately notify the California Office of Emergency Services and Los Angeles County Fire Department of the leak that began on or around Oct. 23, 2015, in the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage field.

The leak has cost the utility more than $700 million, according to filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. But the utility is still dealing with more than 100 lawsuits representing thousands of residents, some of whom say the leak caused health problems and reduced the value of their homes.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-porter-ranch-settlement-20160913-snap-story.html

[procon]

1. Oh, snap! That amounts to what... the cost of two houses in that area?

There were over 2,500 homes affected, and thousands of Porter Ranch families were forced to leave their homes to avoid potential health problems. That's about $1600 per house when SoCal Gas makes billions every year.

[Brother Buzz]

4. That's just the formality for the criminal charges

They are going to get spanked on the civil cases, then, don't be surprised if Southern California Gas gets sued by the own customers when they try to pass the damages of on to them rather than the stockholders.

[WhiteTara]

2. That's all? nt