California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE Media Contact: Terrie Prosper, 415.703.1366, news@cpuc.ca.gov

CPUC PRESIDENT COMMENTS ON PG&E HIRING OF FORMER
NTSB CHAIR TO ADVISE ON NATURAL GAS SAFETY

SAN FRANCISCO, October 18, 2011 - The California Public Utilities Commission's (CPUC) President, Michael R. Peevey, today commented on Pacific Gas and Electric Company's (PG&E) hiring of former National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairman Jim Hall to advise the company on natural gas safety improvements mandated by the CPUC.

Said President Peevey, "I am pleased to see PG&E taking the initiative to hire a regulatory and industry expert such as Jim Hall to advise the company as it works to implement the safety requirements from the CPUC and recommendations by the NTSB and the CPUC's Independent Review Panel. I look forward to direct contact with Mr. Hall and hope he will bring a much needed independent perspective and new ideas to PG&E's safety efforts and culture. In addition to reporting directly to PG&E's senior management, beginning with its Chairman and CEO, Mr. Hall will meet regularly with the CPUC and share his thoughts, perspectives, and insights with the CPUC's Executive Director and senior staff. This will occur independent of and separate from Mr. Hall's ongoing consultative work with PG&E. His interface with the CPUC may lead to further changes in the CPUC's ongoing safety regulation of the utility."

For more information on the CPUC's natural gas pipeline safety work, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/events/sanbruno.htm.

For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.

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