The Southern California Gas Company has pled no contest to a misdemeanor violation as part of a $4 million settlement with state prosecutors. The utility was charged with failing to alert authorities in a timely manner of a gas leak at its Aliso Canyon facility in October, which forced 8,000 Porter Ranch residents from their homes. “Aliso Canyon is critical to the reliability of natural gas and electricity services in Southern California,” the company said in a statement. “We are diligently working with state officials to complete a comprehensive safety review of the facility.” The settlement also mandates that SoCalGas implement a leak monitoring system that is more rigorous than the one currently required by state and federal agencies, according to a statement by Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey. Upon completion of the agreement’s terms, all other charges against SoCalGas will be dropped, the company stated.
