Energy RSS FeedSDG&E's Proposed Solar Tax is Rejected by Regulators
In a surprising but welcome move today, CPUC, the California Public Utilities Commission agreed with UCAN that SDG&E's attempt to raise rates and charge special fees to owners of solar photo-voltaic panels is illegal. SDG&E has been ordered to submit a new rate proposal that doesn't include this controversial charge. Full story.
Pat Zaharopoulos, Esq. and Murtaza H. Baxamusa named to UCAN's Board of Directors
UCAN has named Pat Zaharopoulos, Esq. and Dr. Murtaza H. Baxamusa to its Board of Directors. Details.
Smart Meter Opt Out - UPDATED
UPDATED 1/4/2012 - SDG&E has filed a proposed opt out policy for the CPUC to review. You can review the document yourself, but the cliff notes are that SDG&E is suggesting removing the wireless signal on existing meters and allowing a manual read each month. This cost will be passed on to consumers who want to opt out.
SDG&E reports 5,000 claims filed for damages and spoiled food from the September 8th blackout
Did you lose food or suffer property damages during the September 8th blackout? You may be able to get reimbursed by SDG&E. More.
East County residents burned by SDG&E's fire shut-off policy
Miriam Rafferty of East County Magazine is reporting that rural San Diego residents were intentionally left powerless by SDG&E due to a fire in Mexico. SDG&E shut off their power to limit its own insurance liability, thereby endangering the lives and property of San Diego ratepayers. More.
A "culture of corruption" at California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
On October 19, Katy Grimes of CalWatchdog reported on the "culture of corruption" at the California Public Utilities Commission. Here's our take.
How To Change Your SDG&E Billing Date
Does your SDG&E bill date fall on an inconvenient time? A few days before pay day when it would be so much easier if it was a few days after pay day? Here's a quick tip: you can actually change your SDG&E billing date without incurring any late fees.
SDG&E blasted in public hearings
It's usually a few degrees hotter in El Cajon, but on Wednesday, San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) got scorched as angry ratepayers descended on the Commission and made their voices heard. Details.
If you charged the highest rates in the nation, you wouldn't want to talk about it on TV, either.
In this KPBS Evening Edition interview on the details of the latest SDG&E rate hike, it is revealed that SDG&E refused to be interviewed alongside UCAN's Michael Shames. Can you blame them?
How SDG&E's Cunning Accounting Tricks Could Cost You
UCAN's experts catch Sempra trying to dump costs upon SDG&E customers via depreciation and accounting tricks. UCAN submitted a protest to SDG&E's informal filing with the PUC, in which the utility hoped to slip through some benefits for its parent company.
John Mattes is an embedded reporter for the New Media Rights Community Journalism Project investigating UCAN issues.
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General Rate Case - 2011
SDG&E has submitted its Notice of Intent to File a General Rate Case Application. SDG&E requests that the CPUC authorize a combined $1.5 billion in rates. An unprecendent 5% increase compared to currently effective rates. The filing with the Public Utilities Commission explains why. In the midst of the greatest economic recession in almost a century, SDG&E has requested the largest rate hike in its history. And it wants it to last for four years. For more details, read on.
Sunrise Powerlink
Visit our page dedicated to the Sunrise Powerlink Transmission Project. You will find news, data, legal hearings and testimony, open-letters from UCAN's executive director, and just about everything else you might want to know regarding this important proposal. Or, listen to Michael Shames explain UCAN's opposition to Sunrise in this UCAN.org podcast.
SDG&E Rate Increase - 2006
December 8th, 2006 was not a good day for San Diego. On that day, San Diego Gas & Electric asked state regulators for permission to raise base rates for electricity and natural gas customers by some $250 million annually for the years 2008 through 2013. You don't need a calculator to realize that adds up to a chilly $1.5 BILLION over those six years. Listen to Michael Shames explain UCAN's position on SDG&E's rate request.
The Electric Car --- cleaner than you'd think
So is the electric car an environmental blessing or curse? Some allege that they simply substitute one kind of pollution for another. Others see it as a second coming of environmental enlightenments. Usually, these kinds of disputes resolve somewhere in the middle. But, according to the Sierra Club, perhaps not.
Michael Gets All Wet & Fishy.....with an Aquaponic Experiment
Miracles don't happen often enough in our world. But when Michael starts growing his own fish and food in his garage, then you know that there's some divine intervention because Michael doesn't fish and he's got a brown thumb that makes all leafy things tremble. So how did Advocate Michael become Farmer Michael? One word: AQUAPONICS.
Undergrounding
From SDG&E to SBC, get the real story on undergrounding in San Diego inside this issue center.
Advanced Metering Initiative
In a filing with the Public Utilities Commission, SDG&E has asked for approval to deploy "real-time" advanced meters to all of SDG&E's small business and residential customers. Find out why the SDG&E AMI proposal needed to be substantially revised.
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