CPUC Agrees to Consider Congresswoman's Pipeline Safety Proposals

The California Public Utilities Commission today agreed to consider a group of recommendations that Congresswoman Jackie Speier recently proposed to ensure the safety of the state’s natural gas transmission lines.

Commissioner Mike Florio, who was recently appointed to the commission and who is overseeing the into the Sept. 9 explosion, recommended incorporating Speier’s proposals into the process so that the public and other officials could add their input while the CPUC continues its investigation.

“I find Congresswoman Speier’s proposals to be constructive and thoughtful,” Florio said in a filing, “and would like parties to comment on how best to incorporate these proposals into this proceeding.”

Last week, Speier made —including requiring pipeline operators to disclose the location of transmission lines to all first responders—all meant to urge the commission to keep utilities such as PG&E more transparent about how they operate their pipelines.

Those who would like to add their input on Speier’s recommendations can send comments to the CPUC until May 27.

In other news, Gov. Jerry Brown today signed Assemblyman Jerry Hill’s bill that would prevent residents affected by the Crestmoor fire from having to pay state taxes on they may have received following the explosion.

The bill, AB 50, also allows residents who sold their homes to PG&E as part of the utility’s to not have to pay capital gains taxes on the sale of their home if the money is used to buy another home within five years.

Hill introduced the legislation after hearing residents on relief money distributed by PG&E following the disaster.

Hill’s office said the bill was expedited through the Legislature so that the fire victims wouldn’t have to face an added tax burden on their 2010 returns.