6 responses to “Slicing Up the PG&E Pie”

1. Joe

   October 7, 2019

   Here is the natural response to the liability of wildfires:
   Due to significantly windy weather conditions and high fire risk, PG&E has announced a possible Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) incident that is expected to affect up to 29 California counties, including San Mateo County. Initial estimates for San Mateo County indicate impacts to customers:
   •Coast-North Moss Beach/El Granada; Half Moon Bay to Santa Cruz border including Pescadero;
   •Foothills region mostly west of state route 280 including Portola Valley, Woodside and the surrounding unincorporated area
   Per PG&E, should it be required the power shutoff is anticipated to begin sometime on Wednesday Oct.9 (a.m.) and continue through Thursday morning, possibly longer with residents potentially without power for up to five days.

2. hollyroller@gmail.com

   October 8, 2019

   This is what happens when Monopolies control basic services for life and livelihood.
   We have to do whatever they want. Or we will have to live with their “punishment.”
   Same with ALL Cable, and Internet service’s.

3. Joe

   October 8, 2019

   Holly, unfortunately you drew the exact wrong conclusion from the article. The electric, gas and cable systems are natural monopolies for efficiency and to keep costs of the physical plant somewhat in check. (Internet service is different as it rides on top of cable or phone). Their profits are regulated based on the investment in plant.
   The regulators should have been riding PG&E harder on maintaining a fire safe space around transmission facilities and maintaining pipes but they were too wrapped up in getting them to add expensive green energy sources. Then the lawyers and politicians jump in to pick the bones of the dying utility and we all end up paying in money and reliable service.

4. hollyroller@gmail.com

   October 8, 2019

   If the only way for PG&E to avoid liability for Fires caused by their lack of “maintenance” is turning off the power to people who live by electricity, that sounds like “punishment” to me.
   I do agree with you.

5. Joe

   October 27, 2019

   Here are a few excerpts from the Friday editorial in the WSJ about the PG&E -Newsom -PUC – Legislature mess:
   The state Public Utilities Commission is in charge of enforcing state safety laws and regulations, which can carry penalties of up to $50,000 per violation per day. Yet PG&E received no safety fines related to its power-grid management over the last several years. The commission has instead focused on enforcing the Legislature’s climate mandates.
   Utilities must spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year to reduce the cost of green energy for low-income households. In 2018 PG&E spent $509 million on electric discounts for low-income customers in addition to $125 million for no-cost weatherization and efficiency upgrades for disadvantaged communities.
   Last year PG&E invested more than $150 million in battery storage and “sustainable” technologies, which was paid for by a special charge on ratepayers. PG&E is also spending $130 million over three years to install 7,500 electric-car charging stations and offers drivers a $800 “clean fuel” rebate.
   All of this has been part of a Democratic political strategy to use PG&E to advance their climate agenda without raising taxes. But Californians have instead paid through higher electric rates—PG&E rates are twice as high as in Oregon and Washington—while utilities have had to redirect capital and ratepayer revenue away from fortifying the grid and tree-trimming.
   ————-
   Seems pretty clear what is happening – do as they are told on everything else and grid maintenance sinks to the bottom of the list.

6. Laura

   October 28, 2019

   Joe, funny, Gavin doesn’t mention any of the above while he is bashing (his words) the greedy PG&E executives every time he gets a microphone in front of him.