Drag PG&E into the light

By Ann G. Daniels

Deadline: December 13 and keep the pressure on –

Dear readers, as we go into yet another damn PG&E power shutoff we hope that wherever you normally read our blog posts has power and that you are safe and warm and illuminated. And speaking of illuminated – it’s about time we shed some light on why we’re having to do without electricity in this highly technologically advanced State in this highly technologically advanced country, don’t you think? 

On November 13, 2019, the California Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously to do just that. The plan is to prevent catastrophic fires in the future, and to call PG&E to account for their behavior to date – behavior that has led to depriving millions of Californians of power while not preventing wildfires. All of the state’s utility companies must report to the CPUC by December 13. And the CPUC has already imposed “sanctions,” which are actually instructions to comply with procedures to improve its approach to planned power outages.

What you can do:

In the context of the ongoing investigation of PG&E, tell our state legislators you want PG&E to be thoroughly investigated, punished as appropriate, and made to put their customers and California residents, rather than their shareholders, first. Tell them:

• Support and insist on a thorough investigation of PG&E, including their: 
  • Causing wildfires through failure to maintain their infrastructure
  • Failure to work with local governments
  • Failure to communicate properly and coherently with their customers
  • Unnecessarily, dangerously and repeatedly depriving customers of power while still failing to prevent fires from their equipment
• Support legislation that adequately protects California residents and PG&E consumers, by, among other things:
  • Imposing specific requirements on utilities to protect the public from wildfires
  • Removing barriers to municipalization
  • Providing a pathway to energy security
  • Providing access to relevant documents and information
  • Protecting consumers from financial hardship while shareholders benefit
  • For more information on this subject, see the letter concerning AB 1054 that IEB signed on to in September, 2019.
• Support actual sanctions for wrongdoing, not merely instructions for new procedures

What to say:

My name is ___________, my zip code is __________, and I’m a member of Indivisible East Bay. I’m calling to ask ______ to support a thorough investigation of PG&E. Any investigation needs to include their role in the state’s wildfires, their failure to work with local governments, their horrible communication with their customers, and their putting us in the dark and at risk. I hope that _____________ will support sanctions for the things that PG&E has done wrong – not just a slap on the wrist or a list of things they need to change. We should be PG&E’s priority, and I hope _____ will do whatever it takes, including supporting legislation that protects California residents and PG&E consumers above PG&E shareholders, to make that happen.

Assembly:

• Buffy Wicks: email; District: 510-286-1400; Capitol: 916-319-2015
• Rob Bonta: email; District: 510-286-1670; Capitol: 916-319-2018
• Rebecca Bauer-Kahan: email; Capitol (handles legislative calls): 916-319-2016
• Bill Quirk: Capitol: 916-319-2020; District 510-583-8818

Senate: 

• Steve Glazer, District 7 (Contra Costa): email; 916-651-4007; Orinda 925-258-1176; Antioch 925-754-1461
• Nancy Skinner, District 9 (Alameda & Contra Costa): email; 916-651-4009, Oakland 510-286-1333
• Bob Wieckowski, District 10 (Alameda & Santa Clara): email; 916-651-4010, Fremont 510-794-3900

Don’t know who your state representatives are, or have friends outside the East Bay? Find legislators and their contact info here: http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/

Light bulb, photograph by Nguyễn Tự Khanh

Ann G. Daniels’ checkered professional background includes practicing law, reproductive rights advocacy, creating web content for nonprofits and educational organizations, and teaching adult and family literacy. She also designs jewelry, teaches knitting, and sings second soprano.