PG&E Corporation proposes to spend $769 million over three years to test its natural gas pipelines, The Wall Street Journal reports. The move will be part of the utility’s pipeline safety program, as per which it will spend $2.2 billion through 2014 on pipeline safety costs. The utility will pass on a $250 million rate increase of the project in 2012 to its customers and subsequent increases of $30 million and $80 million in 2013 and 2014, respectively. PG&E will replace at least 186 miles of pipeline, conduct strength tests on 783 miles of line, conduct inspections of 234 miles of line and retrofit 199 miles of pipe, adds Bloomberg.

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