Swindled 105. The Monopoly (Pacific Gas & Electric)
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Dec 25, 2023 This podcast episode discusses the negligence and systemic failures of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), a utility company's utility company's neglected equipment ignites the deadliest wildfire in California history, the tragic story of Joe Rugoma and the Ponzi scheme of Tom Girardi, and the aftermath of the fire, including devastation and contamination.
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San Bruno Explosion
- A gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno, CA, destroyed 38 homes and damaged 70 others.
- Eight people died, and at least 60 were injured in the blast, caused by a PG&E pipeline.
Pipeline Defects
- The NTSB investigation found the pipeline was not seamless, as PG&E claimed, but made of poorly welded parts.
- The pipeline ruptured due to a pressure surge, likely caused by a power failure at a PG&E repair site.
Lack of Inspections
- The San Bruno pipeline was a ticking time bomb that could have been detected with proper inspections.
- PG&E deemed inspections too expensive and prioritized revenue over safety, neglecting high-risk pipelines.