Every rate hearing that PG&E has requested additional revenue for proper maintenance, the CPUC has denied them.
They have to maintain 125,000 miles of lines, more than any utility in America. And they have the rights of way. They can take it down to bare dirt if they choose...and have the money.
But, CPUC denied an increase to get it done.
For 40 years.
It has nothing to do with environmentalists. Despicable as they are.
Incorrect.
It has EVERYTHING to do with environmentalists.
Several articles published over the last week have spelled out the reasons specifically.
Remember all of those lawsuits brought be environmentalists over the last several decades that were quietly settled in favor of said environmentalists? I certainly do.
That is insane! That being said my local utility has asked for an increase every other year and the public service commission bends us over without batting an eye. My power goes out at least five times a month from a few minutes to 7-8 hours because of trees. I want to know where the money is going because it sure as hell isn’t going to keeping their right of ways and lines cleared.
About ten years ago the lines going to my house and another had two huge pines on each side. The top of one in a thunderstorm broke and fell above the lines into the top of the other pine across the right of way and road. I called the utility company and told them it needs to be removed it’s dangerous because it is over the lines and the county road to my house. Oh we don’t touch them until they fall. Two weeks later another t-storm and I come home to both pines down, lines everywhere and a massive mess and I called them, told them lines were down and at the end of the call had to say told you so, now it will cost you more $ to clean up. They could have cared less about the money or the aggravation their lazy and unsafe attitude was toward a paying customer.
Perhaps the CPUC has environmentalist reasons for denying the cash flow...they couldn’t build more infrastructure for a better supply because of environmentalists.
If it’s Kalifornia, odds are environmentalism is a hefty part of the equation.