PG&E launches new pipeline safety program on the Central Coast
Pacific Gas and Electric says more than 2,500 Monterey County residents have a tree, shrub, shed, or other structure dangerously close to a gas line. To notify customers, the company started the Community Pipeline Safety Initiative. It ensures first responders have access to all gas lines in the case of an emergency.
“We do recognize this is a safety concern that we could have done a better job of addressing over the course of the last several years,” said Jeff Smith with PG&E.
Customers will be contacted by mail, and aPG&E employee will come out and see if the tree or other structure has to be replaced or moved – all at no charge to the property owner. The company says safety is its biggest concern.
“If the tree has to go, as long as they replace it and take it out it would be fine as long as it for a safety issue,” said Monterey resident Angela Escobar.
Escobar has three big trees on her Monterey property and she said they can all be chopped down if it means protecting her family.
“We don’t want another San Bruno or Carmel,” said Escobar.
Escobar said she was near Carmel at a local hospital when a natural gas explosion destroyed a home in March 2014.
“The roar was defining. There was this big kaboom and then a gigantic hiss,” said Escobar.
Since then, PG&E says it hasbeen working to identify safety concerns in advance. Still, the company will not remove a tree unless they have a signed agreement with the property owner.