Thus, a government/community takeover of PG&E could help solve a plethora of the issues within the country, mitigating the economic and health effects of climate change for millions of Californians. These companies are largely driven by the people they serve rather than the desire for profit.
On the whole, they respond more to public pressure to decarbonize and keep rates low.
This performance can be attributed to the fact that public utilities are governed by a board of directors accountable to the people they are serving. 40% of the electricity public utility companies produce is renewable, far above the American average of 12%. Public utility customers pay 11% less for electricity than people served by private utilities.Īdditionally, public utilities are more reliable, with customers only being without power an average of 62 minutes a year, compared to 152 minutes for private utilities. Public utilities are not rare in the United States one in seven Americans is served by not-for-profit, community-owned utilities. With PG&E controlling much of the Golden State’s power infrastructure, many are proposing converting PG&E to a publicly owned utility. In the status quo, we are already beginning to face worsening fire seasons, red skies, and hazardous AQIs. These wildfires will displace thousands of Californians, and have disastrous economic effects for our state. Climate change will lead to more severe drought conditions in California, and without improving energy infrastructure, sparks from faulty power lines will cause increasingly destructive wildfires. These powerful shareholders incentivize PG&E to focus on increasing profit margins, pressuring the company to raise rates this for-profit mindset has contributed to PG&E’s appearances in court, fighting against proper restitution for fire victims.Īs the effects of climate change worsen, safe, reliable, and affordable gas and electricity will become more important. These incidents raise the question: should PG&E continue to be privately owned? Should a company that provides an essential service such as electricity have a profit motive?Ĭurrently, PG&E is a privately owned company, with a variety of shareholders, including the Vanguard group and Black Rock, two of the largest asset managers in the world. More recently, PG&E has been in court surrounding the 2018 Camp Fire (the most destructive wildfire in California history) which was caused in part by faulty PG&E power lines. The coverup was exposed by activist Erin Brockovich and widely publicized by the hit film bearing her name starring Julia Roberts. In the 1950s and 60s PG&E misled and lied to customers about groundwater contamination in Hinkley, CA, which had devastating repercussions on community health. In the face of ongoing issues with the company, a number of Californians are voicing their concerns about the continued controversy and apparent mismanagement surrounding PG&E. and sunset is at 4:25 p.m.CALIFORNIA- Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) warns of more power shut off s this week to reduce the risk of wildfire. “Normals” for this time of year are highs of 2 C and lows of -6 C. There’s a 60 per cent chance of flurries Monday night. There’s a 40 per cent chance of flurries Saturday under mixed skies with a high of -2 C and low of -9 C.Ī mix of sun and cloud is forecast to return Sunday and Monday with a high of -2 C both days and lows of -8 C and -6 C. Periods of snow with a low of -7 C are in the forecast for Friday night. Wind becomes northwest at 40 km/h gusting to 60 late in the afternoon as the temperature drops to -2 C. Rain showers are forecast to switch to snow Friday morning with a total of 5 cm expected. Showers are on tap for Thursday night with fog patches developing near midnight and a steady temperature of 3 C.
Thursday’s forecast includes cloudy skies, a 60 per cent chance of showers and high of 5 C. Watch for taillights ahead and maintain a safe following distance.” Slow down driving in slippery conditions. “Take extra care when walking or driving in affected areas. National Capital Region's Top Employers.