SAN BRUNO, Calif. -- Survivors of a deadly PG&E Corp. pipeline explosion asked Gov. Jerry Brown to replace the president of the California Public Utilities Commission on Monday, saying energy regulators have failed to keep the public safe under CPUC President Michael Peevey's leadership.
At a news conference, San Bruno residents said they had collected more than 200 signatures for a petition calling for Peevey's ouster.
U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier also has asked the governor to replace Peevey as the head of the commission investigating whether or not PG&E should be fined for the San Bruno natural gas pipeline explosion.
She said he did not do enough to prevent the Sept. 9, 2010, blast that killed eight people and destroyed 38 homes.
In a letter in January, Speier had opposed Peevey's appointment to the commission.
The commission recently decided to suspend public hearings over the explosion and hired former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell to oversee private settlement talks to determine fines for Pacific Gas & Electric Co.
Gareth Lacy, a spokesman for Brown's office, said the governor had confidence the commission would "faithfully discharge their duties to zealously guard the public interest and get to the bottom of any injustice" tied to San Bruno.
The commission did not immediately respond to requests for comment.