The regulator could say "do a better job" Then PG&E would say: "ok, let us raise rates so it does not impact profit" If they disagree on that, it's a long adm

The regulator could say "do a better job" Then PG&E would say: "ok, let us raise rates so it does not impact profit" If they disagree on that, it's a long administrative and legal process to work it out. Also, many of the employees of the regulator are either: - former (and future!) energy company employees - owe their jobs to politicians who take $ from the energy companies It is a complex, opaque process (to decide on require maintenance levels) that ends up controlled by the people who care the most about it.