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California's PG&E Roiled as Regulator Raises Breakup Threat

  • Management, board shakeup also considered in broad review
  • Utility’s equipment probed as possible Camp Fire cause
An aerial view of a neighborhood destroyed by the Camp Fire in Paradise.

An aerial view of a neighborhood destroyed by the Camp Fire in Paradise.

Photographer: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

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After years of wildfires linked to power lines, a deadly explosion and accusations of falsified safety records, California utility owner PG&E Corp. is facing a deterioration of trust among state leaders.

The California Public Utilities Commission on Friday began a formal process to evaluate whether PG&E’s Pacific Gas and Electric utility should be split into separate electric and gas companies, carved into smaller regional subsidiaries or converted into a publicly owned company. The regulator also will look into less drastic steps, such as whether PG&E needs new board members or management.