Being a high propensity voter and a registered Republican, I got targeted on the Yes on 16 the “Taxpayers Right to Vote” mailing list. However the proposition is very deceptive and is merely an attempt for PG&E and other investor owned utilities to protect their monopolies from public power agencies that would run cheaper, competitive and efficient energy production.
Pacific Gas and Electric, the utility that runs from the Oregon border to Bakersfield is the chief proponent financing much of the 35 million that is being used to run this campaign. PG&E is fed up of local cities shutting down their relationships with their company and they want to protect their bottom line even though their service is expensive and inefficient. PG&E also has 6 billion in rate hikes pending in the public utilities commission in California pending so when voters get misled on Proposition 16, voters will end up paying the price in not researching what they voted on. Then if Proposition 16 wins, cities will be constrained with the 2/3rds requirement which prevents them from expanding, upgrading or implementing a public utility system competing against PG&E or even Southern California Edison.
If public utility agencies are mismanaging their budgets and misappropriating their resources there is accountability, we vote out our city officials and demand action. We do not need PG&E to do our job for us.
Read the ballot pamphlet that is mailed to you or visit the Secretary of State’s website before you vote. I bet if businesses in Riverside or Sacramento were under the auspices of PG&E and Southern California Edison I bet they would cry uncle at their high rates compared the rates charged via their public utility. If you like outages and high prices vote yes on 16. If you like choice in who should be your energy provider and reasonable rates, vote NO on 16.
