105. The Monopoly (Pacific Gas & Electric)
A utility company's neglected equipment ignites the deadliest wildfire in California history.
Prelude: A natural gas leak destroys a neighborhood in San Bruno.
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Original music for Swindled is written and performed by Trevor Howard (Deformr).
Comments (54)
I'm finally catching up on episodes after a mental break and I'm about to throw up and I'm holding back tears. My mom grew up in Paradise and it guts me to think it could have happened to her. And then to hear the audio of people pleading for help...
I'm impressed you were able to hold them back. I'm over here bawling my eyes out.
Not sure why I decided to listen to this a second time. What a horror.
As a CA resident, many of the people in PG&E pay may too much for that monopoly. Also added insult during wildfire season was a criminally charged former president who told us to clean up our forests while doing nothing to support Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land.
Starred sobbing when the woman began crying about her dogs. Completely heartbreaking. These are stories I want to know, I don't wanna keep my head in the sand but damn.
Me too. Tried to find info too on her to see if she and/or the dogs made it but no info exists. Seems she was never identified beyond her first name. Hope the neighbors relented and let her bring the dogs. ETA: did a deeper dive and may have found out what happened. In other comment.
This episode just made my blood boil. I usually don’t get upset with the episodes, I just think what scum, but this one makes me want to do something, but what can one person do? That’s the worst thing about big corporations!
As a Californian, I had no clue what caused the devastating fires and I am rattled to the core. Great episode, acc.
You are an outstanding podcast and your work is precious
This one had me sobbing.
This one actually made me tear up.
I know you have the general viewer discretion warning but could you maybe add tags that warn if there is audio of people dying or descriptions of dying animals?
Just adding my support to the pile (from Ireland). This was difficult to listen to, but congratulations on another excellent production for a story that really needs to be heard. Lest some of us forget... Have a dope break!
Probably the toughest listen yet. Thanks for the great work.
Epic episode cheers mate
Bravo ACC!!! You did an extraordinary job on this episode. I’ve been waiting a long time for this one. Being in PG&E’s chokehold and living in the mountains is always worrisome. We’re trying to get more people on board with prescribed burns but the smoke it generates is a big problem. Be aware that PG&E is highly suspected of starting the McKinney fire in 2022 and this past August was responsible for a landslide that spilled into Butte Creek near Chico and polluted the waters of one of the last wild salmon runs in California. Along with a rate hike next month and no longer giving people with medical devices that have to run 24/7 a discount I’d like to see PG&E run into the ground and put into a shallow grave to be spit on by all it’s victims and survivors. See @thelookout and @kwildfires for more info and resources. Thank you ACC from the bottom of my cold, black heart 🖤
Can’t believe it’s been 7 season already! Thanks for another great episode
This was one of the most heartbreaking and difficult episodes yet. Thank you for putting yourself through the mental anguish of researching these cases so thoroughly, ACC -- it may not be said enough, but you definitely deserve your seasonal break, and we appreciate your commitment to bringing us these cases, especially when they are this infuriating and soul-destroying.
Love you too ACC!! Have a great break, I can't wait to hear what's next!
When I first found this podcast, I originally scanned episodes looking for this topic. I'm so glad it was finally covered, more people should know. As someone from socal and has fled wildfires, this negligence was, and continually is, disgusting. They are repulsive human beings who are in it for the blood money.
The pure negligence and complacency is incomprehensible...and for years history kept repeating itself yet no change smh
you know the episode is gonna be a full-on nightmare when the preamble is 25 incredibly damning minutes, christ
Those 911 calls were really rough. I wish we could force PG&E to listen to all of them and watch the video that man recorded too. Anyone know the fate of the 911 callers we heard?
What kind of piece of shit do you have to be to refuse to bring someones animals with them 😡
Like even facing death those people are still like “no dogs in our car” like wtf
One of the saddest, most infuriating episodes of this show. Great work as always. Hopefully some of these suits will one day have their mansions reduced to ashes by the very same corporate negligence that has taken the lives of scores of people.
Hard to find a more accurate illustration of negligence.
This was so hard to listen to because of the tragedy, but so important.
Oh heck yes. Best gift ever.
WOW... merry Christmas happy holidays... keep up the great work. This one was tough to listen to... but the story needed to be told! Just... wow...
Such a treat when all other podcasters shut down for the year. Much appreciated ACC!
A new swindled episode?!? It's a Christmas miracle! Thank you ACC!
My grandparents live in Paradise and lost their house in the Camp Fire. They were very lucky. This one hits close to home. Thanks for the episode!
This is truly heartbreaking. Listening to this after Texas just ruled they can’t be held liability to provide electricity in emergencies after the 2021 winter blackout, while also living in a city with a monopoly energy provider who has raised rates multiple times to recoup for said blackout. Also didn’t know energy companies had stakes in public utilities. Thank you ACC for the information and rest up: we need you!
Oh this episode is absolutely enraging. Absolutely disgusting filthy greedy people. Merry Christmas ACC. Thank you for everything.
My uncle worked for PG&E for many years and always complained about corporate headquarters. Now I know why he hated it so much and couldn't wait to retire, which he did shortly before the Camp fire.
You know it’s gonna be a dinger when the intro story is the same company as the main.
I don't recall that ever happening before, but you're right that this one was especially horrific.
Absolutely heartbreaking. Everything about it. It was tough to listen through but thank you for all the work that you do.
Thank you ACC! Just the Xmas Present I needed! Have a wonderful holidays and new year. Enjoy your break, you deserve it.
Much love, ACC (and deformr! Excellent music as always)! Merry Christmas. I can see why this episode was a) the finale and b) need a break afterwards. At this rate, P&GE could run for president. Lost what respect I had for Newsom with that kinda deal. Maybe they should change their slogan to "keeping California lit since 1905". The plaintiff who called them a re-offending convicted felon on the nose. And the tie in at the end was GENIUS (and enraging), one of your best. Take care ACC, see you in 2024.
Excellent slogan!
Love you too ACC, Merry Christmas! I hope you have a good break, and if not a good break then a restful one.
This was absolutely terrifying 😱
Merry Christmas ACC!
Merry Christmas, ACC. Looking forward to giving this a listen on the way home for the holiday.
Merry Christmas ACC! Thank you for all you do.
Fuuuuuuuuuck I mean, I knew all of this but not in such detail. Some of those calls, man.
Best Christmas present!!
Happy howlidays from the llama 🐶💕🦙
"You know what it is"
Finally a good Christmas present.
Finally a local episode just in time for Christmas
Props to our Concerned Citizen dropping an episode at Christmas. Makes holidays driving more interesting! Cheers!