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San Francisco committee backs city intervention in PG&E rate cases
Summary
The Government Audit and Oversight Committee voted to forward a resolution directing the city attorney and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to participate in state and federal proceedings over Pacific Gas & Electric—s multi‑billion dollar rate proposals, aiming to protect local ratepayers from what members and advocates called unjustified charges.
The San Francisco Government Audit and Oversight Committee on Tuesday voted to forward to the full Board of Supervisors a resolution directing the city attorney and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) to participate in rate proceedings involving Pacific Gas & Electric Co.
The resolution, introduced by committee Chair Supervisor Aaron Peskin, responds to PG&E filings the committee described as large and frequent. Peskin noted PG&E—s May submission to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) asking for a $2.4 billion rate increase over six years and said much of that sum would be added to the company—s rate base. "PG and E is using the rate payers of its territory as an ATM machine, and it is absolutely wrong," Peskin said during debate.
The Utility Reform Network (TURN) testified in support of the resolution. "TURN enthusiastically supports the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in its effort to stand up for consumers and expose another shameless attempt when the CPUC has failed to do so," said Mark Toney, TURN—s executive director. He urged the city to challenge what he described as duplicative spending requests and executive compensation funded through rates.
SFPUC staff told the committee the agency already has participated in many of the CPUC dockets named in the resolution and welcomed formal City coordination at the state level. "We welcome the opportunity to reinforce the efforts we have at the California PUC with our interest being to protect San Francisco's ratepayers from overspending," said Barbara Hale of the SFPUC.
Several public commenters urged the board to act aggressively. Dr. Ahimsa Porter Sung Chai said the resolution lacked "the teeth of enforcement" but supported the city's intervention; other residents called for more local control of rates and investment in renewables rather than new gas plants.
The committee—s action sends a clear signal that the city intends to be an active participant in regulatory proceedings that could raise consumer power bills. The item was forwarded to the Board of Supervisors as a committee report with recommendation.
Next steps: the resolution will appear on the full Board of Supervisors agenda for further consideration and any additional direction to the city attorney and the SFPUC.
