It is time for PG&E, Edison and SDG&E to be taken over as public utilities. Remove the corporate profits for a basic necessity, allow the focus to be on the common good (which encourages on-site homemade electricity as a benefit rather than a threat) and focus on safety and reliability rather than profits with the result that in areas serviced by for-profit corporations we see some of the highest local electricity rates in the nation.
Put the transmission lines underground, especially in sensitive areas. This would not only reduce exposure to wildfire risks, but also be less environmentally damaging in the long run and provide for greater service reliability.
Provide for on-site local battery storage to keep power on during periods of high winds or interruptions due to blackouts for other reasons.
Electricity generation and transmission is seen as a public commodity in many areas. It is morally absurd and in practical terms nonsensical to provide corporations with monopolistic control and then allow them to operate with a primary goal of profits for investors instead of an emphasis on safety, reliability and affordability for consumers.
There are certain things in our economy which have a profound, dramatic effect on our economy.
We must be able to communicate.
We must be able to transport goods and ideas from one place to another.
We must have equitable, fair, affordable health care.
We must have a reliable food and water system.
We must have reliable, dependable energy.
You lose one of these things (and there are probably more) our economy, our society cannot maintain itself.
Our government must be ready to regulate any of these when necessary. And, when necessary, we must be prepared for the government to take one of them over.
My electric company is a co-op. They buy electricty on the open market and sell it to their members. They have been pushing us to conserve, move to solar etc for a decade or more: The cheapest way to buy the next KwH is not to need to buy it. Co-ops are a great substitute for both for profits AND government operated.
DD Wiz Premium Member over 5 years ago
It is time for PG&E, Edison and SDG&E to be taken over as public utilities. Remove the corporate profits for a basic necessity, allow the focus to be on the common good (which encourages on-site homemade electricity as a benefit rather than a threat) and focus on safety and reliability rather than profits with the result that in areas serviced by for-profit corporations we see some of the highest local electricity rates in the nation.
Put the transmission lines underground, especially in sensitive areas. This would not only reduce exposure to wildfire risks, but also be less environmentally damaging in the long run and provide for greater service reliability.
Provide for on-site local battery storage to keep power on during periods of high winds or interruptions due to blackouts for other reasons.
Electricity generation and transmission is seen as a public commodity in many areas. It is morally absurd and in practical terms nonsensical to provide corporations with monopolistic control and then allow them to operate with a primary goal of profits for investors instead of an emphasis on safety, reliability and affordability for consumers.
Radish the wordsmith over 5 years ago
Maybe if PG&E cut down trees near power lines instead of giving their executives tons of money they would not be filing for bankruptcy now.
PO' DAWG over 5 years ago
Start jailing the execs.
Durak Premium Member over 5 years ago
There are certain things in our economy which have a profound, dramatic effect on our economy.
We must be able to communicate.
We must be able to transport goods and ideas from one place to another.
We must have equitable, fair, affordable health care.
We must have a reliable food and water system.
We must have reliable, dependable energy.
You lose one of these things (and there are probably more) our economy, our society cannot maintain itself.
Our government must be ready to regulate any of these when necessary. And, when necessary, we must be prepared for the government to take one of them over.
NeoconMan over 5 years ago
^ Rubbish. How am I supposed to make excessive profits THAT way?
Concretionist over 5 years ago
My electric company is a co-op. They buy electricty on the open market and sell it to their members. They have been pushing us to conserve, move to solar etc for a decade or more: The cheapest way to buy the next KwH is not to need to buy it. Co-ops are a great substitute for both for profits AND government operated.