PG&E to face criminal trial for San Bruno blast in March 2016

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- PG&E has been given one more year to prepare for a criminal trial over the San Bruno pipeline explosion.

A federal judge has set a trial date for next March 8, five and a half years after the explosion that killed eight people and destroyed dozens of homes.

PG&E has pleaded not guilty to all charges: 27 counts of violating the federal Pipeline Safety Act and one count of obstructing a federal investigation.

The company also faces more than $2.5 billion in state and federal fines.