CEO says PG&E got complacent about power outages

The head of Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. has told a California legislative committee that the utility became complacent about power shutdowns after successfully completing a few smaller ones.

Utility CEO Bill Johnson made the comments in testimony before a California legislative committee that also detailed a series of major shutdowns in recent weeks that left millions of people without power.

The shutdowns came during dry, windy conditions to prevent the types of catastrophic wildfires that have plagued the state in recent years.

Johnson told the panel that the smaller shutdowns persuaded company officials they "had figured it out."

State Sen. Bill Dodd told Johnson the company's handling of the large shutoffs had created "a real trust issue" with the company.

With strong winds in the forecast, the company could shut off power again later this week.