A few years ago, SDG&E and its thirsty shareholders jammed the Sunrise Power Link up our collective arses by pressing everyone in the political world, especially the useless CPUC, that is supposed to protect the ratepayers, that it was so sorely needed. By allowing the construction of this massive project across the desert, it would bring virtually unlimited electricity to San Diego County and minimize our need for such terrible things as brownouts that ruin our appliances and rolling blackouts.
Last summer, if you recall, San Onofre Nuclear Power Station, of which SDG&E owns 20%, was out of commission. In fact, it had been out of commission due to faulty equipment (who bought and paid for that do you think?..the ratepayers) since January 2012. No blackouts or brownouts occurred. Seems we had plenty of electricity to go around.
Yet on June 7, 2013 the plant was formally closed permanently, never to generate electricity again. Shortly thereafter, warnings began to circulate about brownouts and rolling blackouts should the summer heat warrant. Why? We didn't have San Onofre last summer, so why would it suddenly be necessary to cut the power this summer? To scare the consumers to allow another Power Link? To allow a huge rate hike to line the pockets of SDG&E's shareholders?
Frankly, folks, SDG&E never takes responsibility for their screw ups. When two of the three 2007 wildfires in San Diego County were attributed to SDG&E improper maintenance of power lines, SDG&E mounted a defense to delay payment to homeowners for years. Then went on the attack by trying to recoup the costs for future wildfire costs by nailing ratepayers ahead of the fact with large rate charges. That's like an individual asking you to put money into the bank in case he burns down his home because he is careless! He knows he's careless and knows he'll burn it down but wants to create a fund to cover the costs, but wants YOU to pay his bills first! Idiotic. And only to protect the shareholders. I thought this is a PUBLIC UTILITY where we the PUBLIC are supposed to be protected by the PUBLIC utilities commission. Guess not, at least here in Kalifornia!
I guess SDG&E really does stand for San Diego Gouge & Extort. Wish we had a way to just turn them off and move to more sources of power. I've gone solar and LED as much as possible. How about you?
Oh, one more thing:
From the San Diego Reader:
CPUC approves fat rate hike for SDG&E
Typical bill will jump 12.2%. Decision was unanimous
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today (May 9) approved a rate hike for San Diego Gas & Electric customers that will come to almost $10 a month for the average electric ratepayer. The vote of the commission was unanimous. SDG&E for many years has consistently had the highest electricity rates in the nation, but that apparently didn't dissuade the commission or the administrative law judge who earlier recommended an increase. The CPUC said the typical electric bill (500 kilowatt hours per month) will leap 12.2% or $9.95 per month; the average gas bill (33 therms per month) will rise 9.6% monthly or $3.55.
KPBS quoted Commissioner Mark Ferron commenting, "Safety and reliability do not come free. While we must do our best to contain costs, we do have to spend some more on safety and reliability." Some would challenge his reference to safety, since a division of the CPUC found SDG&E greatly responsible for significant parts of the 2007 wild fires, and customers going through blackouts have not been singing the praises of reliability.
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