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Report highlights utility’s failures in 2015 methane leak

Mark Ralston/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images

File photo: Southern California Gas Co. didn't investigate previous rupture causes at the Aliso Canyon storage field and didn't assess its wells for disaster potential before the Oct. 23, 2015 blowout, the report released by the California Public Utilities Commission said.

Wildflowers and clear views across the San Fernando Valley Friday in the view from Reseda Blvd. in Porter Ranch. More showers may bring more flowers over the weekend. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

A woman holds a sign while attending a public hearing before the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) regarding a proposed stipulated abatement order to stop a nearby massive natural gas leak, on January 16, 2016 in Granada Hills, near Porter Ranch, California. More than 80,000 metric tons of methane gas have spewed from the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility since October 23, causing thousands of Porter Ranch residents to leave their homes, and the closures of two schools where students are being bussed to campuses farther away from the gas. State officials are now concerned that a seventh attempt to plug the well may have increased the chance of a blowout, which would greatly increase the release of gas as well as the risk of a massive well fire if ignited by a spark. The Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) hopes to repair the leak by sometime in March. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Activists stage a protest outside the Environmental Protection Agency January 15, 2016 in Washington, DC. Activists urged the EPA to shut down operations of Southern California Gas Company's Aliso Canyon storage facility, which has been leaking huge amount of methane, sickening residents in the neighboring Porter Ranch, California. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

A sign (R) is pictured outside the Porter Ranch Community School which has closed after a continuing gas leak that started in October and which has forced thousands of residents to flee from the Los Angeles suburb of Porter Ranch, California on January 22, 2016. The governor of California, Jerry Brown, recently declared a state of emergency in the Los Angeles community where a massive gas leak has forced the evacuation of nearby residents from their homes. AFP PHOTO / Mark Ralston / AFP / MARK RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

Dean Musgrove/Los Angeles Daily News

In this Dec. 9, 2015, file pool photo, crews work on a relief well at the Aliso Canyon facility above the Porter Ranch area of Los Angeles. Southern California Gas Co. said announced Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018 that a nearly $120 million settlement has been reached in litigation stemming from a leak at a Los Angeles storage field where a massive methane release forced thousands from their homes. (Dean Musgrove /Los Angeles Daily News via AP, Pool, File)

A Nov. 3, 2015, file photo provided by Southern California Gas Co., shows equipment being used as SoCalGas crews and technical experts attempt to safely stop the flow of natural gas leaking from a storage well at the utilityâ s Aliso Canyon facility near Northridge section of Los Angeles. California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency on Jan. 6 over the prolonged leak near the community of Porter Ranch. (Javier Mendoza/SoCalGas via AP)

View from above the Porter Ranch neighborhood's that has been affected by the ongoing gas leak. Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews

Trucks enter the gates of Southern California Gas Company property where Aliso Canyon Storage Field is located as people continue to be affected by a massive natural-gas leak in the Porter Ranch neighborhood of the of the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California, on December 22, 2015. Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer announced that he will seek a court order on December 23 to speed up the relocation of families affected by the gas coming from the Aliso Canyon Storage Field since October 23. Los Angeles County officials have declared a state of emergency for Porter Ranch where more than 1,600 residents have been displaced. AFP PHOTO / DAVID MCNEW / AFP / DAVID MCNEW (Photo credit should read DAVID MCNEW/AFP/Getty Images)

Storm clouds hang over the city as people continue to be effected by a massive natural-gas leak in the Porter Ranch neighborhood of the of the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California, December 22, 2015. Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer announced that he will seek a court order December 23rd to speed up the relocation of families affected by the gas coming from the Aliso Canyon Storage Field since October 23rd. Los Angeles County officials have declared a state of emergency for Porter Ranch where more than 1,600 residents have been displaced. The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered a no-fly zone over the leak, and the Los Angeles Unified School District will relocate 1,870 students in kindergarten through eighth grade to schools farther away from the leak. AFP PHOTO / DAVID MCNEW / AFP / DAVID MCNEW (Photo credit should read DAVID MCNEW/AFP/Getty Images)

The boundary of Southern California Gas Company property, where Aliso Canyon Storage Field is located, is seen as people continue to be affected by a massive natural-gas leak in the Porter Ranch neighborhood of the of the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California, on December 22, 2015. Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer announced that he will seek a court order on December 23 to speed up the relocation of families affected by the gas coming from the Aliso Canyon Storage Field since October 23. Los Angeles County officials have declared a state of emergency for Porter Ranch where more than 1,600 residents have been displaced. AFP PHOTO / DAVID MCNEW / AFP / DAVID MCNEW (Photo credit should read DAVID MCNEW/AFP/Getty Images)