San Francisco suburb hit by deadly gas line blast supports tougher penalty against utility

A San Francisco suburb hit by a deadly gas-line blast in 2010 is supporting a proposed tougher penalty for the utility involved.

San Bruno Mayor Jim Ruane said Tuesday that his city backs a plan to add another $200 million to the penalty proposed for Pacific Gas and Electric Co.

A recently appointed state regulator has proposed raising the proposed penalty to a total of $1.6 billion.

Federal investigators faulted PG&E in the fiery pipeline blast that killed eight people in San Bruno.

The San Bruno mayor says the city still wants an independent monitor appointed to strengthen what federal investigators call lax state regulation of the utility.