California gas utility fined $10M for ratepayer money misuse
ABC News
A major California gas utility must pay a nearly $10 million fine and reimburse customers for money it improperly spent related to the development of more energy efficient building codes
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A major California gas utility must pay the state nearly $10 million and reimburse customers money it improperly spent on work related to the development of energy efficient building codes.
The penalties that Southern California Gas Company faces were handed down Thursday by the California Public Utilities Commission.
The commission, which regulates California's major utilities, in 2018 prohibited the utility from spending any ratepayer money on advocacy work related to building codes after it's internal watchdog found the utility fought standards designed to make homes and businesses more energy efficient.
Between June 2018 and January 2021, SoCalGas continued to send employees and consultants to participate in workshops, conference calls and meetings about the development of new state and federal building standards and also withheld key information from the commission, the ruling said.
