Critics contend bill makes getting utility records harder in California

From SFGate:

One bill intended to increase transparency involving public utility records after the San Bruno disaster has died in the state Legislature, while another measure that some public-access advocates say could be counterproductive has survived.

The dueling legislation emerged after The Chronicle exposed provisions of a state law that allows utilities to declare documents such as accident reports automatically confidential. The law binds state regulators to keep them secret unless the California Public Utilities Commission authorizes their release.