PG&E's Risky Behavior

Did you know that 5 out of the 10 most destructive fires in California since 2015 have been linked to PG&E's electrical network? This fact surprised me, but a further look into PG&E's risky behavior explained this trend.

PG&E, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, is a gas and power company for California. It provides services to approximately 16 million people. The company impacts millions of lives, the environment, and even California's economy, so it is worth taking a closer look into their behavior that might have caused huge consequences.

The company has violated state law or ignored attempts to make its equipment safer, and as a result, caused fires. This was discovered by regulators, but even people within the company knew of these negligent tactics. In fact, long before the Paradise fire, there was a company email sent out about the PG&E structures in the area that were at a high risk of collapse. However, the company did nothing and a horrendous fire would occur in the Paradise area.

Why would PG&E do this? Why put people's lives at risk, the environment at risk? One answer: for the profits. PG&E acts almost like a monopoly; for much of northern California, it is the only choice for consumers who want the services of gas and electricity. This allows them to put the company first before its consumers and that means forsaking safety options.

However, more people are being exposed to the risky behaviors of PG&E and criticizing the company which may cause PG&E to change their future behavior. We can only hope that in the future, the company spends more time focused on the safety of their consumers and the environment in a time when California wildfires are especially prevalent.


Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/03/18/business/pge-california-wildfires.html
https://www.pge.com/en_US/about-pge/about-pge.page
https://www.sfchronicle.com/local/article/alternatives-to-pge-other-options-rates-monopoly-13533155.php?psid=dkBJ

Image:

https://www.pge.com/mybusiness/customerservice/otherrequests/treetrimming/territory/

Comments

  1. AustinApril 23, 2019 at 10:12 AM

    When a company becomes monopolistic, the profit outweighs their moral concerns. Due to their inelastic demand, they have the ability to manipulate the market. I think for a large company, it is important to not only look at the profit but also look at what the impact company have on our society.

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