Mayor, Advocates to Protest Appointment of Mediator

The city, along with several other agencies, has come out in protest of the CPUC's recent appointment of a former U.S. senator to help mediate talks about the PG&E penalty case.

Mayor Jim Ruane, Assemblyman Jerry Hill, The Utility Reform Network and the Division of Ratepayer Advocates are expected to file a formal protest of the decision on Wednesday at the California Public Utilities Commission’s headquarters in San Francisco. The city and county of San Francisco have also joined the protest.

The CPUC announced Monday that former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell has been brought in to help PG&E, the CPUC’s safety enforcement staff, and other agencies reach an agreement in three cases arising out of the 2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion. It is expected that the fines levied against PG&E could range anywhere from $200 million to $2.2 billion.

"The California Public Utilities Commission’s appointment of Senator George Mitchell as mediator in the San Bruno cases was a backroom deal between the Commission and PG&E," the group said in a statement. "A mediator was chosen without the input or consent of any party, except PG&E."

The group is expected to file the protest at 10 a.m.

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