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.
SDG&E
SDG&E's Proposed Solar Tax is Rejected by Regulators
UCAN fighting SDG&E on rates for solar customers
An October 3rd proposal by SDG&E to change the way it charges customers for power is very likely illegal. In this second phase of its General Rate Case, SDG&E has proposed a new rate design, which includes a Network Use Charge, a Basic Service Fee and a Prepay Service option. UCAN has filed a motion asking the regulators to reject SDG&E's application and have them resubmit one that doesn't violate state laws.
The Great San Diego Double Blackout: The real cause behind it and what needs to change
What happened on September 8th should never have happened. No, we aren't talking about the miscue by Arizona Public Service that triggered the Great San Diego Blackout. That is not unusual and should not have caused anything more than perhaps a flicker of lights in a few isolated places in our county. That it triggered the most unprecedented and costly blackout in San Diego's history is what needs to be investigated and corrected. And it was a DOUBLE blackout because both electricity and wireless telephone systems were knocked out.
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.
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?
UCAN members needed at rate hearings!
The hearings are over. Many thanks to all who attended.
The Potential for Lower SDG&E Gas and Electric Rates in 2012
SDG&E claims that increasing costs of doing business necessitates $1.5 billion more of its customers’ money. For 2012, the increase would start at $168 million and grow over the following three years. UCAN and its team of experts poured through SDG&E’s books and reached an entirely different conclusion. Not only does SDG&E not need more money, in fact, it could actually use less money than it currently collects.
State regulators have the authority to decide whether SDG&E rates will increase or decrease. UCAN believes this boils down to an issue of fairness. While customers are in the midst of the worst recession in many of our lifetimes, should ratepayers be funding SDG&E’s wish list of expenditures or should state regulators actually reel in SDG&E’s spending to meet its actual need and spare its customers significantly increased costs?
CPUC Starts Sunrise Powerlink Information Hotline
The PUC sent out a press release regarding a toll-free hotline consumers can call for information about SDG&E's Sunrise Powerlink. See the press release after the jump.
UCAN TESTIMONY SDG&E GRC 2012
Date of Filing/Decision
Testimony on behalf of the Utility Consumers' Action Network submitted on September 22, 2011 in the San Diego Gas & Electric General Rate Case before the California Public Utilities Commission A.10-12-005 and A.10-12-006.
Local San Diego Businesses File Class Action Lawsuit Against SDG&E
We figured it would happen, we just didn't realize it would happen so soon!
According to a news article on NBC San Diego's website, a pair of local businessmen filed a class action lawsuit against SDG&E on September 12. This was just four days after what our Executive Director Michael Shames deemed to be one of the nation's first 21st century blackouts. The businessmen also filed suit against Arizona Public Service, the entity SDG&E is pointing its finger at for the blame of this eclipsing event.
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