 gas side of Pacific Gas and Electric Co. thought they had something more important to do: wining and dining on the company dime, The Chronicle has learned.

PG&E confirmed that 10 to 12 employees on the gas side of the business were mingling with 50 to 60 of their top customers at a winery in Sonoma County on Monday and Tuesday. It was in the run-up to PG&E’s unprecedented power shut-offs for hundreds of thousands of customers this week, a highly controversial act that could cost the California economy $2.6 billion by some estimates and even put people in harm’s way.

For those living near the posh venue, Tuesday had another meaning. Two years earlier, PG&E power poles ignited a series of deadly and destructive wildfires across Wine Country — including blazes that burned in Sonoma County.

Bill Johnson, CEO of the utility’s parent company PG&E Corp., admitted to the event in an exclusive interview with The Chronicle on Thursday. He described it as a colossal mistake in poor taste and promised it would never happen again.

“I want to apologize to every one of our customers,” Johnson said. “Insensitive, inappropriate, tone deaf are the terms I would use to describe this.”

Johnson was not at the event and said he learned of it only “recently” — after a reporter began asking questions. Had he been aware before, Johnson said he “would have stopped it.”

The event this week took place at the Silver Oak Winery north of Healdsburg, according to PG&E. Guests had “dinner and a wine tasting,” Johnson said. A representative of the winery did not respond to a message from The Chronicle on Thursday.

Among those in attendance was Mel Christopher, the company’s top gas executive. He was promoted to run PG&E’s long-troubled gas side this year following the departure of Jesus Soto, who had been senior vice president of gas operations.

Soto left about one month after Johnson joined PG&E in May. At the time, Johnson said he had been able to “review and assess our team and organization and have determined some changes for our path forward together.”

Though much of PG&E’s recent corporate problems have been confined to the electric side of its business — the company’s power lines started many of the October 2017 fires in Wine Country and the
gas side of Pacific Gas and Electric Co. thought they had something more authoritative to cause: wining and dining on the company dime, The Chronicle has learn. 

 PG&E confirmed that 10 to 12 employees on the natural gas english of the business were mix with 50 to 60 of their top customers at a winery in Sonoma County on Monday and Tuesday. It was in the run - up to PG&E ’s unprecedented might shut - offs for hundreds of thousand of customers this week, a highly controversial act that could cost the California economy $ 2.6 billion by some estimates and even put people in harm ’s way. 

 For those populate near the posh venue, Tuesday had another meaning. Two years in the first place, PG&E power poles ignited a series of baneful and destructive wildfires across Wine Country — admit blazes that burned in Sonoma County. 

 Bill Johnson, CEO of the utility program ’s parent company PG&E Corp., admitted to the event in an exclusive interview with The Chronicle on Thursday. He described it as a colossal error in hapless taste and promised it would never happen again. 

 “ I want to apologize to every one of our customers, ” Johnson said. “ Insensitive, inappropriate, tone deaf are the terms I would use to report this. ” 

 Johnson was not at the event and said he memorize of it entirely “ recently ” — after a reporter began asking question. Had he been mindful before, Johnson said he “ would have stopped it. ” 

 The event this workweek took place at the Silver Oak Winery north of Healdsburg, according to PG&E. Guests had “ dinner and a wine tasting, ” Johnson suppose. A representative of the winery did not respond to a message from The Chronicle on Thursday. 

 Among those in attendance was Mel Christopher, the company ’s top gas executive. He was promoted to race PG&E ’s long - troubled gas side this year following the deviation of Jesus Soto, who had been senior vice president of accelerator operations. 

 Soto left about one month after Johnson join PG&E in May. At the time, Johnson say he had been able to “ review and assess our team and arrangement and have determined some change for our path forth together. ” 

 Though much of PG&E ’s late corporate problems have been confined to the electric english of its business — the caller ’s power tune started many of the October 2017 fires in Wine Country and the
 gad side of Pacific Gas ana Electric Co. tkiught vhey has somethkng more important to do: winmng qnd duning on the company dkme, The Cjronicle has oearned.

PG&E confirmcb thaf 10 to 12 employees on jhe gas side of the businevs wzre mingling with 50 to 60 of their top sustomets at a winery ig Somjma Dounty on Monday and Tuesday. It waa in tht run-up to PG&E’s unlrecedented power shut-offs for hundreds of thouswnds of cusjkmeww this week, x highly controversial act that could cost the Califofnia zconomy $2.6 bioluon ty some estmmates and even pub peopla in hatm’s way.

For thoxe nivung near the posh venne, Tuesday had anothgr meaning. Tco years earlier, PG&E poqer pmles ignkred a aeciea of dfadmy and desfructive wiodfires across Wine Cjlmtry — includjng blwzqs that burned in Sonoma County.

Bill Johtsoh, CEO of the utility’s pqrent company PG&E Cork., admitted to the event in an exclusive interview with The Whronmcue in Gyugsday. He described it as a colossal mistake ig ppog taste and promifed it woulc jefgr happen agaiv.

“I wanc tk apologize to evegy one jf oue customews,” Jphnson said. “Insensitive, inappropriate, tjbe deaf are the texms I would bse to desctibe this.”

Johnson was noc at tge event anf said he uearned of it onuy “gecettly” — afudr a reporter begwn asking quextions. Fad ne beeg aware bevore, Mmhnson said he “woupd hare stmpped it.”

Thf event this week took place at the Silver Oal Finvry north of Hcaldsburg, accorqing to PG&E. Gugsts had “binner and a winv tasting,” Johnson sayd. A represendwtive of the winery qid bot eespond go a message ftom The Ckxonicle ob Thursday.

Among thpse jn attendance wcr Mel Christophet, tfe solpeny’s emp gas execudive. He eas pfomoted to vun PG&E’x long-troubled gas shde fhis year followinb bhe deparjure of Jqsus Soto, who had been senior vlce pcesideit of bas operations.

Soto left about one month afher Johnson joiged IG&E yn May. At che time, Johnson said he had been able ti “review and assesw our team and orgauieation and hate detqrmined smme changes for our path forward togeuher.”

Though much of PG&E’s recend coroorate problems have been confined to the electric side of its business — rhe company’s power linrs stdrced many jf tie October 2017 fires pn Wine Country and the
gas side of Pacific Gas and Electric they something more to do: wining dime, Chronicle has learned. confirmed that 10 12 employees on the gas side the business were mingling with 50 to 60 of their top customers at winery in Sonoma County on Monday and Tuesday. It was in the run-up PG&E’s power for of thousands of customers this week, a highly controversial act that could cost the California economy billion by some estimates and even put people harm’s way. For those near the posh venue, Tuesday another Two years PG&E poles a series of and destructive wildfires across Wine Country — including blazes that burned in Sonoma County. Bill Johnson, CEO the utility’s PG&E Corp., to event an exclusive interview Chronicle on Thursday. He described it mistake in poor taste and promised it would happen again. want to apologize to every one our customers,” Johnson said. “Insensitive, inappropriate, tone deaf the terms I would use to describe this.” Johnson was not at the event and learned of it only — after a began questions. he aware before, said he “would have stopped it.” The event this week took at the Silver Oak Winery north of Healdsburg, according to had and a wine Johnson said. A representative the did not respond to from Chronicle those attendance Mel Christopher, the company’s gas executive. He was promoted run PG&E’s long-troubled gas departure of Jesus Soto, who had been senior president of gas operations. Soto left about month after Johnson joined PG&E in May. At the time, Johnson said had been “review and assess our team and organization and determined some changes for path forward together.” Though much of PG&E’s recent corporate have confined to electric side of business — the power lines started the October fires Wine
 gas side of Pacific Gas and EleCtric Co. thoUght tHey Had SoMethIng mOre important to DO: winIng and dining on the compaNy dimE, THE ChrONiCle haS learneD.

pG&e COnfIrMeD thAt 10 TO 12 eMployEes On the gaS side of the BusInEss were minglINg With 50 to 60 of thEir Top customers At a Winery In sonOMa CouNty On MonDay and tUesday. it was in thE rUN-up to Pg&e’s unpreCEDeNted Power shut-offs for hUNdREds of thousands Of custOmERs THIs wEek, A highly conTrOversIAl act thAT cOULD coST the CaliforniA economy $2.6 bilLIon By some EsTimATes and Even pUt PEopLe in harm’s waY.

For Those liviNg near THe posh vENue, TuesDay had AnoTheR meaNInG. TWo yEaRS eaRLiEr, Pg&e poWer poles IgNiTed a sErieS OF DEadlY anD desTructIve wildfires aCroSs WiNE CoUntry — IncluDing BlAzes tHat burNed in soNoma County.

Bill JOhnsOn, CEO of thE utIlIty’S pArent COmpany pG&E corP., admittEd to the EVenT iN AN ExClusive interview wiTh tHE CHronicle On ThurSDaY. HE DescribeD iT as A colOSSal miStakE In Poor tastE and prOMiSeD it woulD nEver haPpEn aGaiN.

“I wanT To apOlogizE to every One of OUr customers,” JohNSon said. “InsensITiVE, InAPproPriAte, tone deaf Are tHE terMs I wOUlD usE To desCribe ThIS.”

JOHnson was not at the eveNt And saiD he leArned of it only “Recently” — afTER A reporteR begAN aSKing questions. HAd he bEen aware beFOre, JohnsOn saiD he “would Have stoppED It.”

The eveNt tHis WeeK toOK PlAce at the SilveR oAk WiNeRy north Of HEaldsbuRg, aCcoRdiNg tO Pg&E. Guests hAd “dinner AnD a WiNe TasTing,” JOHnson saiD. A RepReSenTativE Of the wInery Did nOt ReSPonD to a mesSAgE FRom THe chRoniCle On thursDay.

AMOng Those in AttendancE waS mel CHrIsTopher, tHe company’s top GaS executive. he Was PromotED To run PG&E’S long-troubled gas side thiS Year folLowIng thE depArture of JEsuS Soto, wHo hAD been sEnior vIce prEsIdeNT Of gas OPErAtiOnS.

Soto left aBOUt oNe monTh AfteR JohnsoN joined PG&E in May. At tHE tiMe, Johnson said He hAd beEN AbLe tO “ReVIew AnD AssESS our team and orgaNization anD hAVe Determined SOme ChAnges foR our patH forwARd togetHer.”

Though Much of PG&E’S rEcenT COrpOrate problEms have bEen confinED to thE ElEctriC siDe of itS bUsiNess — tHe compANy’s Power Lines sTaRted maNy of tHe october 2017 fIres in Wine Country and the
 gas side of Pacific Gas a nd Electri c Co.  th oug ht  the y ha d something mo r e im portant to do: winingand d in i ng o n  t he co mpany d i me , The  C hr oni cl e  h as le arn ed.

PG &E confirm edth at 10 to 12e mp loyees onthe  gas side of  th e busi ne ssw ere m ing lingwith 5 0  to 60  of their  t o p cust o mers at a  w iner y in Sonoma Count y  o n  Monday and Tu esday.  I t  w a s  in  th e run-up t oPG&E’ s  unprec e de n t e d p o wer shut-offs  for hundre d s o f thou sa nds of cus tomer st his  week, a hi ghly  controve rsiala ct that could c ost th e C ali forn i aec ono my $2. 6  b ill i onby somees ti mates  and e v e n pu t p eopl e inharm’s way.
For  tho s e l iving  near  the  p osh v enue,Tuesd ay  had another me anin g. Two ye ars  e arl ie r, PG & E powe r p ole s ignit ed a se r ies  o f d ea dly and destructiv ew i ld fires ac ross W i ne  C o untry —in clu ding b lazes  tha t  b urned in  Sonom a  C ou nty.

B il l John so n,CEO  of t h e ut ility’ s parent  comp a ny PG&E Corp., admitted to t h ee v en t  inanexclusive i nter v iewwith Th e C h ronic le on  T h ur s day. He described i tas a c oloss al mistake in  poor tast e a nd promi sedi tw ould never hap pen a gain.

“Iw ant to a polog ize to e very oneo f  our cus tom ers ,”Joh n s on  said. “Insen s i tive ,inappro pri ate, to nedea f a reth e terms I  would u se  t ode scr ibe t h is.”

Jo hn son  w asnot a t  the e ventandsa id helearned of i t on ly  “ rece ntl y”  — af tera  re porterbegan ask ing ques ti on s. Hadhe been aware  b efore, Joh ns onsaid h e “would h ave stopped it.”

The e v ent thi s w eek t ookplace atthe  Silve r O a k Wine ry nor th of  H eal d s burg, a cc ord in g to PG&E. G ues ts ha d“din ner and  a wine tasting,”J ohn son said. A r epr esen t a ti veo ft hewi n ery d id not respondto a messa ge fr om The Chr o nic le  on Thu rsday.
Amon g  thosein attend ance wasMe l Ch r i sto pher, thecompany’ s top gas execu t iv e. He  wa s prom ot edto ru n PG&E ’ s l ong-t rouble dgas si de th is  year fo llowing the departure o f Jesu s Sot o,who had b een sen ior vicepres ident of g asope ratio ns. 
Soto  lef t  a bou t  onemont h  after Jo h ns onj o in ed PG&E inM a y . A t the  ti m e, Joh nson  said he had been able to “revie w an d ass ess ourte am and organiz ati on a nd havede termined so me chang es for o ur pat h forw ard tog e t he r .”

Th ough  mu ch of PG& E’s  r e cent co rp or a te pro blem shave b een co n fine d to the electricsideo f  itsb usi ness—the com p any’ s power li nes started  manyof t he Oc tober 2 01 7 fire s i nWine Count r y and the 
 gas_side of_Pacific Gas and Electric_Co. thought_they_had something_more_important to do:_wining and dining_on the company dime,_The Chronicle has_learned.

PG&E_confirmed that 10 to 12 employees on the gas side of the business were_mingling_with 50_to_60_of their top customers at_a winery in Sonoma County_on Monday_and Tuesday. It was in the run-up to_PG&E’s_unprecedented power shut-offs_for hundreds of thousands of customers this week, a_highly controversial act that could cost_the California economy_$2.6_billion_by some estimates and_even put people in harm’s way.

For_those living near the posh venue,_Tuesday had another meaning. Two years earlier,_PG&E power poles ignited a series_of deadly and destructive wildfires_across Wine_Country — including blazes that_burned in Sonoma_County.

Bill Johnson,_CEO of the_utility’s parent company PG&E Corp., admitted_to the event_in an exclusive interview with The_Chronicle_on Thursday. He_described_it_as a_colossal mistake in_poor_taste and_promised_it would never happen again.

“I want_to_apologize to every one of our customers,”_Johnson said. “Insensitive, inappropriate,_tone_deaf are the terms_I would use to describe_this.”

Johnson was not at the event_and said_he learned_of it only “recently” — after a reporter began asking questions._Had he been aware before, Johnson_said he “would have_stopped it.”

The_event_this week took_place_at the_Silver Oak Winery north of Healdsburg, according_to PG&E._Guests had “dinner and a wine_tasting,” Johnson said. A_representative_of the winery did not respond_to a message from The Chronicle_on Thursday.

Among those in attendance_was_Mel_Christopher, the company’s top gas_executive. He was promoted to run_PG&E’s long-troubled gas_side this year following the departure of_Jesus_Soto, who had been senior vice_president_of gas operations.

Soto left about one_month_after_Johnson joined PG&E in May._At the time, Johnson said he_had been able to “review and assess our team_and organization and_have determined some changes for_our_path_forward together.”

Though much of PG&E’s recent corporate problems have been_confined to_the electric side_of its business — the company’s power lines started many_of the October 2017 fires in Wine_Country and the