This November, City Hall will once again ask San Francisco voters for the authority to serve as this city’s power company. San Francisco voters have rejected similar measures three times in six years; Asian American voters rejected a public power measure in 2002 by more than 60 percent.
AsianWeek urges another resounding “no” vote on Proposition H.
Besides the $4 billion price tag to take over the utility, which is currently run by PG&E, the proposed ordinance would allow the Board of Supervisors to issue revenue bonds to take over any utility without the vote of the people.
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Chinese Community Says No to Prop H
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What is at stake for Asian Americans in the city? We overwhelmingly pay our electric bills on time, and we get our electricity without problem. Asian Americans appreciate stability—in our homes, our jobs, our families and our utilities. We prefer to stick to what works. And this power system works.
Given the City’s penchant for mismanagement and waste (the municipal transit system, for example, is projected to incur a $200-million-dollar deficit next year), removing this voter safeguard would in essence give the City a blank check for future acts of mismanagement.
The larger problem with having a city-run electric utility is that the city government simply does not represent Asian American citizens. We make up more than a third of the City’s population, 46 percent of the city’s homeowners and 56 percent of San Francisco’s tenants. Yet there are no Asian American senior managers in the Mayor’s Office. There is but one Asian American on the Board of Supervisors—Carmen Chu, and she is also against Prop H. With almost no Asian Americans as part of leading city government, we know Asian American concerns will not be served.
The silver lining to Prop H is that PG&E has recognized Asian Americans as a major constituent base. They are currently working with members of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance, Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, California Chinese American Republican Association and Chinese American Democratic Club to fight this proposition. They are long-time contributors to various segments of our community.
There is a long term element to this as well. If PG&E can develop a continuing value relationship with our community, its ranks will expand with other political groups and corporate businesses seeing the value in our community.
For now, keep our gas and electric utilities safe. Vote “No” on Proposition H.
I cannot tell you enough how important it is to keep PGE private. Santa Clara city took over the power system with voter approval. After a Few months, (I am a PGE customer service rep) my floor was taking thousands of calls of really angry residents demanding to have PGE service them once again because of major incompetence by the city. NO leniency at all, high deposits and only one bill sent out. If not paid on time, lights out. Government only cares about revenue into the system and screws the people any chance they get. Do not let San Francisco do the same.
P.S. note to PGE customers, Calculate you tax on your bill and this should anger you.
Total electric Usage (mine is 634 Kilowatt hours) * $0.11559 = 73.28 this is PGE portion of the bill. I was billed $93.10. 19.81 dollars in Taxes. There is a Tier System in PGE as MANDATED by the CPUC
0-100% of baseline costs 0.11559 cents (This has dropped 1 cent per KWH since 2004, PGE Charge)
101-130% Over baseline 0.13142 cents (This stayed the same and is a Government surcharge of what the government says you should only use per month.
131-200% of baseline costs 0.22580 cents per kwh, This jumped from 15 cents per kwh.
So let me explain your baseline usage is what the Government (CPUC not including city taxes and I live outside SF city limits) says you can use before we charge you more per kwh. Any charge over KWH goes directly to state coffers already. PGE has already dropped our charge per KWH and the state of California increased their surcharge making PGE power rate lower and the taxes higher equaling higher monthly bills. This does not include any direct taxes on usage, these are just surcharges. Taxes are separate. If you really want to lower your utility bill, the public MUST:
Demand! The CPUC drop the surcharge scale. (These were imposed to FORCE California to pay for what they called excessive electrical use and reduce demand and a way to not allow new power plants from coming online. This is why blackout has been occurring. No new power plants and huge growth in demand. State raises utility costs forcing all of us to reduce usage. Tyranny if you ask me.
So in short, take your usage and multiply by 0.11559 and that is your PGE electric bill. Any dollar over that is CPUC (California public utilities Commission) and the state of California gouging your wallet.
I can’t believe AsianWeek is making the claim that it represents the Asian community on this issue. As far as I can tell, people are no longer easily duped by propaganda put out by Corporations. PG&E is spending millions of dollars defeating Prop H, where do you think the money came from.
It is a mistake for Asianweek to say NO on Prop H. It is sad that the only comment in support of your article is from an employee of PG&E. One should take with a grain of salt whatever self serving claims that are made by PG&E and its staff with obvious vested interest in defeating Prop H.
Vote YES on Prop H!
Note: this comment is completely self motivated as a resident of San Francisco and a consumer of electricity. Not paid for or otherwise prompted by any interest groups or any other individual. Not employed by PG&E , the City or any company in the industry.
I’m also an asian resident of San Francisco and consumer of electricity. From what I can tell, Prop H is endorced by the Sierra Club for good reason: PG&E does little to pave the way for renewable energy sources. Proposition H is about becoming greener, which PG&E is failing to do. I want green non-nuclear energy now!
Consider it a *long* term investment, and a wise one in that.
I am extremely disappointed that AsianWeek is opposing Proposition H. PG&E does NOT have our (City residents, Asian Americans, or anyone else’s, for that matter) interests at heart – they are a FOR PROFIT company, and their interests are the interests of their executives and shareholders, not the people of San Francisco. Why do you think they have spent MILLIONS of dollars (many in campaign contributions to Carmen Chu!) to ensure its failure? I would prefer that my city be in charge, not a lying corporation who has zero commitment to renewable energy…why do you think their slogan is “Stop the Blank Check”? Because “Vote against green energy!” or “Vote against wresting control of your own power system from the hands of a greedy corporation!” didn’t quite have the same ring…
After reading all the comments posted, I myself, a San Francisco born Chinese American still living in the heart of SF, am proud to see that people are thinking about this difficult issue. I know there is no easy solution to our energy problem, but I believe we as the human race must take a step towards finding sustainable clean energy at all cost because at the rate we are going, the future looks bleak. It saddens me to see that one my favorite publications such as AsianWeek is not a proponent for Prop H. It took me by surprise that AsianWeek would say they represent the Asian community and not support finding a better way to live with Mother Nature! I don’t understand why anyone on earth would continue living the way they are in this day and age, knowing of the abuses that we impose on this lovely blue planet. Do they not know we are rapidly dying?
I am very happy that Asian Week is saying No on Prop H. I have a small business here in San Francisco and PG&E has been a client of mine for a number of years. I have worked with various departments like the Solar Group & Savings By Design & Let’s Green this City, Bio fuel group & many more. The average consumer can not see all these green programs that PG&E has. I am very proud to have them as a client because of all the good that they do & all the green programs. I am very much into conservation and the preserving our environment. In the city at the Energy Center they offer free classes- I even took a class on getting solar panels on my house. Not only that they are very involved in the community here in San Francisco & in Northern California. PG&E is head quartered here in SF in two very large buildings, do you think they will stay here? I am sure they will leave & that will effect our local economy. Do you really think the city can manage this better than a company that has over 100 years experience?
I know it’s easy to hate big corporations these days. The majority of them have earned their reputation. PG&E isn’t perfect no utility is. But there are some things that impress me. As a transplant from AZ, it’s nice to see a utility that doesn’t rely on coal for it’s power.
We all want renewable power but think about this. It costs $800 to generate 200 watts of power. Imagine what it would cost to generate enough power to service the entire city? I’d rather they use the money to expand public transportation or fix the roads.
PG&E’s not perfect. But they are doing a much better job of fighting global warming then most utility companies. I really don’t think the city could do any better.
If the city gets into the utility business you better stock up on candles! Look at how many delays the Muni has! It’s kinda scary when you think about how many small business rely on reliable power to service their customers.
If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.
Guys:
No mzatter how you slice this sausage, it’s still salami, and redolent of “profit.”
For whom”
The stockholders?
Not very likely.
Check with all those Enron types.
No, guys, there should never be any “privatization” of PUBLIC utilities.
Let them amortize their investments in the “infrastructure,” and, then, make a proper and decent “profit,” bit, beyond that, they MUST be regulated. REregulated. Like those numbers punchers and creators of “innovative financial products” on Wall Street, with their billionaire CEOs and “socialist” calls for taxpayer “rescue.”
Time to restore both decency and logic to our “models” of governance AND social responsibility.
After all, WHO, individually or “corporate”ly, owns or deserves the harvests of “natural” gas, OR “crude” oil, for that matter?
They’ve already “sold” potable water in not-so-safe plastic containers, and they will gladly promote breathable air in balloons no doubt.
So. guys, don’t diss “[ublic” control of ANYthing, so long zs the “[ublic” can have oversight in the porocess.
Frank Eng
P.S.: Please note how the price of a gallon of gas has, thankfully, receded, now that “demand” has chastened “supply.”
But, unfortunately, natural gas for heat, and “power” for same or cooling in summer, are NOT similzarly a matter of choice OR necessity.
I sure hope most of you voted YES on this prop. The City can run a PUC. Look at Sacramento, it’s electrical company (SMUD) is already running a good chunk of it’s energy production via clean and renewable sources. As far as PGE goes, they are actually using LESS!!!! green energy now then they were two years ago! As for rates increasing?!?! An independant study showed that the City could actually cut business and resident energy bills by 15% and still make $400 million annually (which is more than four times the annual payback of the bonds is would take to buy out PGE), this is also more money than the City gets from PGE in taxes thus infusing our city budget with much needed money. The choice should have been simple today, but thanks to PGE’s $money$ poured into the anti Prop H campaign is will be closer than it should be.
I hope this Prop doesn’t pass. Besides costing billions to buy out the utility, to think that the city will manage and regulate power is SCARY. The city can barely manage itself! Like the article says, MUNI doesn’t run on time, potholes are everywhere..what makes you think the city can take care of managing utility. Alternative, renewable energy IS good, but having the city manage when it can’t mange itself will be DISASTROUS.
How does one find job openings at Asian Weekly