South San Francisco, CA August 31, 2015 Submitted by Sheri Boles, CPUC 
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today issued a Citation to Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) for $50,000 for the utility’s failure to safely maintain its Metcalf Substation in San Jose.
On the night of August 26, 2014, and the early morning of August 27, 2014, PG&E’s Metcalf Substation was burglarized. The burglars breached the substation’s fence in multiple places, and stole construction equipment from the substation operations yard and an adjacent construction staging yard. PG&E reported that approximately $40,000 in equipment was missing.
Despite multiple alarms sounding during the time of the break-in and theft, PG&E security personnel were not aware of the break-in. Not until later in the morning of August 27, 2014, did PG&E construction crews discover the break-in and theft. In April 2013, the Metcalf Substation was attacked by gunfire, which not only should have prompted PG&E to review their security measures, but also gave PG&E time to implement improved security.
The CPUC’s investigation by its Safety and Enforcement Division (SED) found many gaps in PG&E’s security management, including lack of training for on-site personnel and security management. SED determined that PG&E was in violation of Public Utilities Code section 451, which requires that public utilities such as PG&E maintain “adequate, efficient, just, and reasonable service, instrumentalities, equipment, and facilities,” in order “to promote the safety, health, comfort, and convenience of its patrons, employees, and the public.”
The Citation is available at PLEASE CLICK HERE