(AP) — California regulators have refunded $375,000 to Pacific Gas and Electric Co. over concerns the fine payment could jeopardize a potentially larger penalty against the utility for the deadly San Bruno pipeline explosion.

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The San Francisco Chronicle reports (http://bit.ly/1jBoDPU) that the Public Utilities Commission’s safety enforcement division sent a letter to PG&E on Friday that withdrew the citation and included a check for $375,000.

The safety division imposed the fine earlier this month after an audit determined that PG&E for decades lacked a procedure to systematically monitor its gas pipelines.

According to the Chronicle, attorneys involved in the San Bruno case are still worried PG&E would use the $375,0000 charge to challenge a potentially multi-billion dollar fine for the 2010 blast. That’s because both stem from many of the same gas system problems.