The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "Pacific Gas and Electric" ...
-
Investigation of fatal pipeline blast
Before the National Transportation Safety Board issued its findings into the 2010 natural gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno that killed eight people, the San Francisco Chronicle had already exposed negligent management by pipeline operator Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and lax regulation by the state and federal governments that contributed to a disaster.
Tags: NTSB; National Transportation Safety Board; Pacific Gas and Electric Co.; pipeline
-
The PG&E Scandal
The San Francisco Bay Guardian reveals "how Pacific Gas and Electric Company cheats San Francisco out of millions of dollars a year -- with the active help of the Mayor's Office." The paper also explains "how PG&E let its local infrastructure crumble -- while it sucked tens of millions of dollars out of town to build a global empire" and "how PG&E has built a long record as a corporate criminal."
Tags: San Francisco; Pacific Gas and Electric Company; money; corporate crime; Mayor; millions
-
California Utilities' Donations Shed Light on Blackout Crisis
In an effort to find a fresh angle to the California energy crisis, the Center for Public Integrity discovers that the major utilities in the troubled state have spent tens of millions of dollars toward political activities since 1994. Pacific Gas & Electric Corp., Edison International and Sempra Energy in an all-out effort put a total of $39 million in 1998 "to defeat Proposition 9, a statewide referendum that would have overturned parts of the 1996 deregulation law." The moneys were spent on campaign contributions to "a handful of select lawmakers," lobbying activities, gifts, travel and other compensation, including those from industry-backed non-profit organizations.
Tags: utilities; energy; Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); personal financial disclosure reports; consumer advocacy; deregulation; CAR
-
Free Market Shock
The American Prospect looks at problems with energy deficiencies in Illinois, Ohio and New York. The reporter finds that "California isn't a unique failure" because "electricity and deregulation just don't mix." The story explains that electricity cannot obey the supply and demand laws, because it cannot be stored except in minuscule quantities. "Deregulated markets have had to operate at mind-boggling levels of complexity that make the old regulatory approach seem like the very soul of efficiency," reports the magazine.
Tags: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; electricity; hydropower; power plants; nuclear energy; utilities; regulation; deregulation; Energy Information Administration; Public Utilities Holding Company Act; Edison; Pacific Gas and Electric
-
The Energy Crunch
San Francisco Chronicle follows the controversies surrounding the energy crisis in California over a 10-month period. The package of stories examines the political manipulations relating to the talks between the energy companies and the state and federal regulators. Some of the articles also look at how the energy deregulation approach has been applied in other states and with what results. One of the findings is that "despite the huge run-up in prices and revenues, only a handful of regulators today can say whether the energy wholesalers are engaged in brazenly illegal price-fixing, merely unethical market manipulation or just good business." The investigation exposes "the veil of official secrecy that allows the companies to bid on lucrative energy deals behind closed doors."
Tags: California Public Utilities Commission; San Diego Gas & Electric; Enron Corp.; consumers; taxpayers; wholesale costs; Pacific Gas and Electric Co.; bankruptcy; Edison; El Paso Natural Gas; Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; power plants; blackouts; electricity; Duke Energy Corp.; California Power Exchange; economy; business; market; SoCalGas; Mexico; Pennsylvania; Nevada; deregulation; nuclear power; coal; environment; Green Mountain Energy
-
Public Power: A Way Out of California Crisis
The Progressive looks at the deregulation of the energy sector in California, that has caused blackouts and soaring electricity bills. The report examines the possible solutions to the energy crisis. It details the negative effects of the so-called split system, under which "one group of companies generates business; the other group buys power and delivers it." The story then describes the resulting paradox: "...While one arm of each corporation suffered, another posted record profits." The investigation depicts the battle on the "bailout that California has virtually promised to the utilities," and shows how state legislature continues to back the interests of the utility lobby, while "taxpayers are just throwing their money down the drain." The reporter also looks at some little-noticed consequences of the deregulation law - "a near-collapse of energy conservation programs" and "deterioration of environmental regulations."
Tags: energy; nuclear power; power plants; Edison; Pacific Gas & Electric
-
The Shame of San Francisco: How PG&E Stomped Public Power--Again
This story came out of the Bay Guardian's 30 year effort to force the City of San Francisco to abide by federal law requiring the city to deliver electric power generated from the city-owned Hetch Hetchy dam to the citizens of San Francisco, stop Pacific Gas & Electric co.'s illegal monopoly in San Francisco and curb the locally headquartered, massive transnational corporations undue influence on City Hall. This particular story uncovered that from 1995 to 1996 the Grand Jury had investigated the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (PUC), which oversees operation of the dam, for having a relationship altogether too cozy with PG&E.
Tags: utilities
-
No title (id: 13718)
"PG&E Unplugged" used record winter power outages as a springboard to point out serious failing in the performance and regulation of the nation's largest electric utility company. It demonstrated that three prolonged blackouts, the worst of which cut off power to five million customers of pacific Gas & Electric Co., were due to factors other than the severe weather blamed by PG&E. Rather, utility cost-cutting seriously weakened its service reliability - an unanticipated outcome of one of the nation's first and boldest plans to deregulate the electric power industry. (May 19 - 21, 1996)
Tags: Petersen Smith Sandoval CAR PG&E unplugged Contest entry 92 pgs.
-
No title (id: 10618)
KTTV-TV, in a three-part series, shows how Pacific Gas and Electric polluted the town of Hinkley. The utility company was exposing its workers and residents of the town to a chemical known to cause genetic damage; the series examined the claims of birth defects, health problems and Pacific Gas and Electric's alleged criminal intent. After the series, more alleged victims came forward and a lawsuit was filed against the company, May 23, 24, and 26, 1994.
Tags: CA Ming Harris Chromium VI Environment Health Tape Script
-
No title (id: 10061)
San Francisco Bay Guardian conducts a two-month investigation into how some of California's biggest corporations are planning to take the most valuable parts of the Presidio, a former military base; the National Park Service agreed in private meetings to pay millions to have the corporations take it, Jan. 12, 1994.