The 2010 gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno, California, which killed eight people, stands as exhibit A for the incompetence of Pacific Gas & Electric, California's biggest utility.
But not until now have we had a real window into the sheer juvenile arrogance with which PG&E executives handled government investigations of the blast.
PG&E employees, one official recalled, were "giggling, laughing...sarcastic...mocking...[and] offensive" when questioned by investigators for the National Transportation Safety Board, which was responsible for determining the causes of the blast. They were "shady" and their answers "fishy." Another NTSB investigator recalled an "ugly" and "toxic atmosphere" in his talks with PG&E.