BALLOT INITIATIVE WOULD END PRIVATE UTILITIES, CREATE STATEWIDE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT

East County News Service

November 8, 2015 (Sacramento) – California’s Secretary of State has approved signature gathering for a ballot initiative that if approved by voters, would end private utility corporations such as San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas & Electric.

Under the measure, the state would buy out the companies and operate a publicly owned California Electrical Utility District that would set electricity rates, build infrastructure and provide power. Bonds or taxes could be levied to fund costs. The measure’s backer, Ben Davis Jr., contends the state can provide power at lower rates for California customers and notes that nationwide, public utilities have 15% lower rates on average than privately owned utilities.

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READER’S EDITORIAL: SDG&E’S LATEST ATTEMPT TO EXPLOIT ITS MONOPOLY STATUS & CORPORATE POWER

Editorials

By Joel A. Harrison, PhD, MPH
“If we had free market competition, SDG&E would have to absorb the costs of the fire. Quite simply, if
they raised their rates, consumers would switch to other providers.”

February 17, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) -- Sempra-owned utility San Diego Gas & Electric wants “San Diego-area utility customers to pay for nearly all of an estimated $463 million in cost not covered by insurance from the catastrophic 2007 wildfires that were triggered in large part by its power lines,” the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. “At stake is who ultimately pays for the fire’s destruction — ratepayers or shareholders.” SDG&E wants the ratepayers to cover 95 to 100 percent of excess wildfire and related litigation costs.

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INTERNATIONAL PHYSICIANS’ GROUP CALLS FOR HALT TO WIRELESS SMART METERS

Health/Fitness

Organization tells CPUC that smart meters pose health risks, especially for children

January 24, 2012 (San Diego)--The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) has become the first national physicians’ group to adopt a resolution calling for a halt to wireless smart meters.

The group sent a resolution to the California Public Utilities Commission opposing smart meters due to health risks and calling on the CPUC to take preventative actions to protect public health.

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