In this episode of pplpod, we explore the complex and often controversial history of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). Established in 1905, PG&E grew from a provider of gas lights in San Francisco to one of the largest investor-owned utilities in the United States, currently serving 5.2 million households.

Join us as we examine the company's timeline, from surviving the 1906 San Francisco earthquake to facing the largest utility bankruptcy in U.S. history.

Topics covered in this deep dive include:

• A History of Expansion: How a merger of gas and electric companies created a monopoly that spanned California, pioneering hydroelectric power and natural gas pipelines.

• Environmental Scandals: The infamous Hinkley groundwater contamination case, where PG&am ...