Behind the scenes update
Behind the scene update!!!!!
Possible linkage with SF water district: The district is working to become a municipal utility district, thus breaking ties with PG$E. It’s looking promising.
We are communicating with the heads of SF water district.
We wanted to know if they would be willing to consider including western placer county as part of the MUD. They are taking the idea to their internal affairs department for discussion. More when when we hear back!!!….
Wheels in motion ….
It all begins with an idea.
PG&E: SOLUTIONS
Problem 1: PUC
1. Change to being elected (currently appointed by governor & approved by Senate)
2. Increase 7 commissioners broken up by region/districts as representatives of those areas plus 1 Financial Advocate who owes fiduciary duty & duty of loyalty to the public
a. Elected (no longer accountable to governor and subject to political influence; accountable to public instead)
b. 4-year terms (from 6yr terms)
c. Max of 2 terms
d. Staggered terms 2 years into 4 year term:
i. First stagger: 3 commissioners
ii. Second stagger: 2 commissioners & Financial Advocate
3. Termination of special interest and political donation funds to & from PUC through legislation and/or initiatives
4. Should salaries be decreased? They receive $228,965 per commissioner.
5. Should staff be reduced? There are ~1,200 employees.
6. Questions:
a. How much do the PUC commissioners receive in salary?
i. How can the public have control over those salaries?
ii. What are the regulatory agencies of the PUC?
1. Once identified, have mandatory training for PUC commissioners. Consider mandatory continuing education.
2. Are there potential issues with the regulatory agencies? (how are the people employed with these agencies? Is there any special interest or other political donation funds issues? Any other political influence issues? Etc.)
iii. What are the written regulations of the PUC?
1. Is there legal authority that PG&E can make up to a 10% profit?
Problem #2: Monopoly
1. Have utilities be offered to the public from a municipal district, whether through creation of a new organization or through expansion, such as or the creation of the San Francisco municipal utility district or SMUD. Benefits:
a. Utility company owned by the rate payers. Stockholders are eliminated.
b. Municipal district is a nonprofit, thereby removing profit incentives as a conflict of interest to the public.
c. The board members of the municipality are elected, with regional representatives.
2. Speak to politicians about the following, including Joe Patterson, Bill, Holden with the Rocklin city Council, county board of supervisors, other city council members, Roger Niello, city, Council members of San Francisco, etc.:
a. Legislation to terminate, all political and special interest, funds going into and out of the CPUC, as well as PG&E.
b. Breaking up PG&E as a declared monopoly. Note that this would be a temporary alternative until municipal districts could be formed.
c. Terminate NEM3
d. Reverse the approval for approximate 10,000 miles of underground for wires, particularly in rural areas. Instead, apply insulation to existing above ground wires and continue cleanup efforts, such as trimming of trees.
e. Consider the creation of community solar panels to offset/credit consumers using green energy. For example, ground cover panels can be installed on unused land, or applied to existing public structures, such as parking lots. Businesses can also choose to have panels on top of their buildings.
f. Support Joe Patterson and the 30% reduction of rates
3. John is in contact with SMUD regarding possible expansion into other areas.
Of interest: San Francisco is in the process of creating a municipal district and spending millions of dollars in legal fees to defend against an onslaught of PG&E lawsuits regarding this. Would it be possible (and advisable) two be included in San Francisco’s municipal district if it can create one? Would it be possible (and advisable) to be included in SMUD’s service area? Or would it be advisable to create a new municipal district in our areas? Bill Holden from the Rocklin city Council indicated that PG&E will begin an on site of legal battles as soon as it is announced that we are creating a municipal district, and the city does not have enough money in legal fees to defend against PG&E. This is where we may be able to get financial assistance from the federal government (Niello), although we need to be careful of federal funds, or any governmental funds that have strings attached (Spending Clause). We may be able to avoid reinventing the wheel and create a bond with the San Francisco city Council regarding their efforts against PG&E to create their own municipal district. Possible outreach to San Francisco city council members.