PUBLIC POWER RALLY AT PG&E H.Q.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2002

PUBLIC POWER RALLY AT PG&E H.Q.:
LOCAL ENERGY SECURITY — AN ANTIDOTE TO WAR AND CORRUPTION

San Francisco—Scores of public power and utility reform advocates descended upon Pacific Gas and Electric's corporate headquarters late this afternoon, in protest against PG&E's infectious greed. The action featured speakers representing Union Labor, The Utility Reform Network (TURN), San Franciscans for Clean, Affordable Energy, and impacted residents from Bay View Hunters Point. Also staged was a mini-play depicting life-size puppets of a greedy pig a.k.a. "PiG&E," along with some caricatures of Mayor Willie Brown, President George Bush, and Enron.
The peaceful action funneled its dissent through art. A 15-minute play with props and music told the story of how PG&E helped steer California toward the disastrous era of energy deregulation, the precursor to the state energy crisis. Another act depicted PG&E's utter disregard for San Francisco and how it bleeds ratepayers amid its bankruptcy, sells electricity to the Central Valley at cheaper rates, while also transferring millions of local dollars to its parent corporation in Maryland. In its final act, the play culminated with public power vanquishing PG&E's greed. The crowd chanted supportive slogans throughout the play, such as: "No War for Oil”; “Stop PiG&E”; and “Clean Power—Yes on D.”
"PG&E 's bankruptcy plan and its transfer of millions of dollars to its unregulated out-of-state parent corporation is highway robbery," stated Nettie Hoge, Executive Director, TURN. "To offset PG&E's proposed plan of Reorganization (POR), cities like San Francisco need to start controlling, buying, and selling their own electricity," stated Hoge.
PG&E has been fighting a two-front war for well over a year: one front is to emerge from bankruptcy with clearance to continue its practice of raising electricity rates to compensate its creditors, while passing on its windfall profits to shareholders and to PGE Corp. The second front is to extinguish any electoral threat of public power.
In 2001, PG&E and its allies spent nearly $2.4 million (compare: proponents spent approx. $90k) to defeat the San Francisco public power campaign. Despite their slick media operation of misinformation, combined with a series of unexplained incidences involving lost or unguarded ballots and ballot box lids floating in the ocean, the public power ballot measure lost by approximately 500 votes.
This year Prop D offers a more incremental approach to public power. As reported in the September 16, 2002, San Francisco Chronicle, cities who rely on private utility companies such as San Francisco are more prone to blackouts and higher electric bills, and remain vulnerable to future crises, compared to public power cities like Sacramento. "Prop. D is simply a common-sense approach to our City's energy future—and that makes PG&E gag dollars," stated Ross Mirkarimi, Campaign Director, Yes on D.
Upon completion of the rally, advocates and puppets marched to the Sony Metreon Theater to greet Mayor Brown, who has received hefty donations from PG&E and Mirant for his own campaigns, and who also solicited his city commissioners to attend an anti-Proposition D event this evening. "Our march is in response to this practice of legalized bribery," stated Marc Tognotti, Rally Co-coordinator. "We need elected officials who'll protect the ratepayers, not just their corporate donors," stated Tognotti.
For more information on Prop. D, see http://www.powertothepeople.org.