SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Lawmakers, consumer advocates and local officials want California regulators to rescind their appointment of former Sen. George Mitchell to oversee settlement talks in the 2010 pipeline explosion.
The California Public Utilities Commission announced Monday that Mitchell had been appointed to help California energy regulators and Pacific Gas & Electric Co. reach a settlement over how much to fine PG&E for the San Bruno blast.
Representatives from the cities of San Bruno and San Francisco, as well as the commission's own consumer advocacy branch, say they were never consulted about Mitchell's appointment.
In the letter filed on Wednesday, they say they don't question Mitchell's ability but are concerned that he and his law firm previously have represented public utilities.
