And on Friday, new CEO Bill Johnson tried to reassure investors at the company's annual shareholder’s meeting, fielding questions on everything from PG&E’s safety record to executive compensation — including a plan that makes him and other top executives eligible for almost $11 million in performance-based bonuses this year.
Johnson seemed responsive.
When shareholder Eric Petersen of Salinas complained that a PG&E representative had “bolted” without taking questions at a recent city council meeting, Johnson promised change.
“No PG&E person who is attending a public meeting and there to answer questions will bolt again before you have the opportunity to talk to them. How’s that?,” Johnson replied.
When another shareholder complained that she’d called the utility several times to flag power lines on trees in her neighborhood, Johnson promised her a meeting with Michael Lewis, PG&E's senior vice president of electrical operations.
And when a PG&E lineman, and member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, told Johnson he’d brought some letters that would reveal time-sensitive safety problems he’s witnessed, Johnson promised to read them and get in touch.
“I’m not sure how transparent your team has been with you since you arrived,” the lineman told Johnson.
But not everyone was convinced that Johnson could turn the utility’s culture around.
“I think they’re fairly insulated, they live in their own little world. And that kind of makes sense because they’ve got to get things done that we don’t understand,” said shareholder John Schiebe, who lives in the Bay Area community of Belmont. “I just don’t want to see another San Bruno or another Butte County and unfortunately, that’s probably more likely to happen than not.”