SF Public Utilities Commission fails to cease the moment and address SF's electrical needs

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is the main agency that has jurisdiction of San Francisco's Electrical needs. Leading this charge for some years is Barbara Hale who has a Bachelor's degree in Arts and came to us from the California Public Utilities Commission. Susan Leal brought her in just to facilitate some drab issues that Susan Leal herself did not understand. The result we had one blind person leading another and in a very short time San Francisco's Energy needs we not addressed with time lines and goals. Susan Leal was fired and is history - but Susan still leaves a stench and with it her cronies that continue to undermine San Franciscans.

Just before Barbara Hale was given a position of Assistant Manager - a good man Ed Smelloff was fired by Susan Leal. A number of hasty decisions were made to consolidate power and in the bargain all the gains that some of us had fought for - was flushed down the drain. The loss of Ed Smelloff has not been repaired. Time will tell.

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) as it stands today is all talk and no action. It as failed with Hetch Hetchy that generates hydro-electricity. All of the power should flow to San Francisco directly on Transmission Lines that SFPUC owns. But, SFPUC does not have the leadership nor the ability to own what is San Francisco's less manage it. the SFPUC failed to complete the Transmission Line and the last few miles were completed by PG&E and now PG&E controls it all.

SFPUC would rather sell some of the hydro-electricity to towns like Tulare and then pretend that in San Francisco itself we look for other types of clean energy - wasting time and money expanding on projects and person hours - when all the time we have the energy at our disposal. It is this type of gimmicks that reveal that the leadership at SFPUC is drab, inept, and lacks full accountability and transparency.

As long as SFPUC does not have the ability to own and control any of the Transmission Lines in the City and County of San Francisco - all it can do as a dysfunctional entity is pontificate. All those sell outs that it embraces the likes of Joe Boss from Potrero Hill who have a hidden agenda - further complicate things for SFPUC.

Now let us set the stage for the world to know what has to happen to make things work in a meaningful manner. First SFPUC must announce what it can and cannot do. It reality SFPUC has not been able to deliver substantial electricity in the INNER city - some 6 Mega Watts or so on an average.

Our needs are about about 980 Mega Watts most of which are deliveredby PG&E and Mirant and monitored by California Independent Systems Operator (CAISO)- a non-profit entity that controls and monitors California's Energy needs. The entity that provides most our Energy needs is Pacific Electric and Gas (PG&E). PG&E owns the Transmission lines - the main transmission line that is called Jefferson-Martin and the smaller ones in the City itself like the Potrero-Hunters Point transmission lines.

The Mirant Power Plant once belonged to PG&E. PG&E sold the power plant to Mirant who continue to operator the plant under a special agreement with CAISO that is named Reliability Must Run (RMR). CAISO looks at the energy flow chart every single second and can give a minute by minute reading on all the Transmission Lines. There are times when San Francisco has the need for extra energy - these are called Peak Times - the Mirant Plant can step in and provide this power. Daily it contributes some depending on the need, what is called Inner City generation.

At this time we get the bulk of our energy needs from the Jefferson-Martin Transmission line that is controlled by PG&E and this comes from the South of San Francisco. The main hub is situated on Geneva Avenue in Daly City. SFPUC provides us less then 6 Mega Watts of Clean Energy - from the Solar Projects in has in a few spots. The technology used in each of these areas - Moscone West, Pier 96 and so on - are NOT state of the art and Solar experts feel the City and County of San Francisco was taken for a ride - by the company that was given the monopoly to install these inferior solar panels and positioned in a manner as to NOT to capture the maximum sunlight.

Before 2011 we hope to receive over 400 Mega Watts of electricity from a brand new underground cable called the underground TransBay Transmission line. As and when this line is tested - and as and when the circuits are tested - San Francisco will for the first time have excess electricity. We have to wait for this day that is coming - but we also have to have the ability to address and conserve our energy needs - in the interim.

One way to address energy needs and also to understand conservation is to calculate the cost of the energy per Kwh. The average price should range between 9 cents and 12 cents per kilo watt - anything above that is too much. Once we hear that some one wants to charge 13 cents to 20 cents - that is called gouging. And that is what happened in the year 2000.

Look at your PG&E bill and figure out how much you are charged. Now, imagine if you are charged 15 to 20 cents per Kwh. Most people do not study their PG&E bill but it is not too difficult to figure this out and to demand your rights. You can go to California Public Utilities Commission and speak out. Most people do not but when you do the organizations that pretend to fight for you will pay attention. There are organization making millions pretending to fight for consumers while all the time - raking in the money and filling their pockets.

There is a plan by SFPUC not understanding this concept to permit a company called Recurrent Energy to install a 5 Mega Watts Solar project on the Sunset Reservoir and charge us over 15 cents per kilo watt. Now, that is not a prudent way to address Clean Energy issues and for sure is not in keeping with conservation.

As I have stated we are capable in this City and County of San Francisco of exporting excess electricity once the TransBay Cable is in place and delivers over 400 Mega Watts to San Francisco before 2011. When this happens SFPUC will have little or no say in matters that are linked with Energy and the reason is simple - for years when it could have done something and assumed power it did nothing. Nothing what so ever. Now, with others having the control of access electricity - all it can do is watch from the side-lines and yawn.

At the many LAFCO meetings held at City Hall in Room 263 - SFPUC has shown little vision and no leadership. Before that at the many Stakeholder meetings held at 77 Beale - I did not hear the voice of SFPUC. It always uses consultants and pays them thousands of dollars - while all the while undermining the sane voice of San Franciscans - even to this day.

SFPUC that is in charge of the City's Electricity has restrains - one being that is cannot sell electricity within San Francisco. The Hetch Hetchy hydro-electricity is meant for Municipal, military, and our City's needs. However, SFPUC manages this electricity in dubious ways and an in depth investigation into this matter will reveal the corruption that prevails at SFPUC.

The Raiker Act gave San Francisco a lot of lee way, because of lack of leadership ten years later Pacific Gas and Electric and powerful politicians took the power from the then Water Department now SFPUC and gave it to PG&E. That happened around 1923 and has remained to this day. San Francisco is not only a hub for powerful politicians but ones that are RACIST too. Corrupt legal language was voted on to foster greed and deprive the former Water Department and now SFPUC to interfere with PG&E.

Let me explain besides the military - the folks in Public Housing were supposed to get free electricity. Later on subsidized. But, around 1996 when Willie L. Brown Jr. was the Mayor he made a deal with Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) and all those in Public Housing had to pay for their electric bill. Today, if the poor folks - mostly on fixed income do not pay their bill on time, no mercy is shown - the electricity is cut off.

When I worked for the Presidio of San Francisco - every year we negotiated with Pacific Gas and Electric. We had no metering at the Presidio of San Francisco. We sat down at the end of the year and paid our bill. I thought that was funny but that is the truth. That is why I made an attempt to study the Transmission Lines and other issues linked with our City's - electricity. This was way back in 1994.

Most folks do not know this history and the role of the SFPUC in shafting the poor and playing a significant role in propagating RACISM in San Francisco. Today, we have some Black sell outs - talking in generalities saying they have lived in the Bayview Hunters Point and other places for years - but these ignorant folks have NOT lifted one finger to help the community but what is more are ignorant on issues linked with Energy and the history of discrimination and SFPUC.

I would want the SF Board of Supervisors to find out when Public Housing first started paying PG&E for electricity. Why and how this came about? Can this City recover some of this money and how? Who within SFPUC can make this happen - since they talk so much? This is a simple challenge linked to RACISM but one that can shed light into the machinations and ploys that this City and County of San Francisco embraces daily.

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has failed to cease the moment and serve San Francisco well. It failed when the electricity came under the Water Department and today it is even worse under an Enterprise Agency called San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. One of the worst persons lacking any history and having no clue on matters related to Clean Energy needs and Electricity is Barbara Hale.

Yesterday, I was at the Land Use and Economic meeting held under the Chair of one Sophie Maxwell that has sold out the Bayview Hunters Point community. One Joe Boss from the Potrero Boosters Club made a statement - for what it was worth that he was born before me. Well, you may have been born before me - but if you were born a FOOL then for that whatever that counts - your statements are not worth the salt. Joe Boss has always been there with a hidden agenda - when Joe Boss sees GREEN as in money - he will make damn sure he is by that watering hole.

The fact of the matter is Joe Boss and Sophie Maxwell want Mirant to fold so that they can develop Pier 70 not know had billions of dollars are required to clean the very dirty toxic laden - Pier 70 and its surroundings. One of the greatest mess is coal tar, then there was a huge ammonia spill, hot spots of PCB's, mercury, lead, and other dangerous contaminants - all very harmful to living beings.

Barbara Hale has been lost in this quagmire trying to deal with Energy issues but having no history, less information, and trying to confuse simple issues with complicated ploys and machinations. Listening to Sophie Maxwell, Joe Boss, Dennis Herrera and other cronies that have a hidden agenda.

Most of us agree that we must hold Pacific Gas and Electric to higher standards. Some entities like the Bay Guardian want nothing what so ever to do with them. Well, we cannot fight PG&E when we have inept leadership at SFPUC that will not cooperate with LAFCO and the knowing constituents of San Francisco that know stuff about energy issues. It is mind boggling to deal with SFPUC they say one thing to your face and another behind your back.

We could have had the Community playing an important part in Energy Issues - but SFPUC has failed to provide leadership. Leading the pack one Barbara Hale.

The City at one time some years ago chose to build a conduit with high power electrical lines under Islais Creek by the Bridge by Cargo Way. The SFPUC, MUNI, and the Port all participated in this ploy that failed. Over 20 million dollars were wasted on this failed project. There was no SOIL TEST done and very little supervision on the Scope of Work.

Sophie Maxwell - dumb as she is approved this project. I caught her red-handed with some engineers on the day she and others were told that this stupid project could be completed in record time and power brought to the present MUNI Maintenance Facility by Pier 80. Sophie Maxwell will not talk too much about this project, today. I have yet to receive a letter from the City and County of San Francisco, the City Attorney, SFPUC, the SF County Transportation Authority. Every time I mention this fact - they promise to send me something in writing - but it has been years and I have got nothing.

In the bargain the conduits compromised the Force Main carrying over 100 million of treated sewage to the Bay by Pier 80. No one knows how much the repair of the 8 foot Force Main cost - San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and the SF City and County of San Francisco. SFPUC does not do the repairs of the Main Pipes and other Emergency Work - it is done by the Department of Public Works and the SF Water Department.

We must mention about the failed attempt by SFPUC to install 3 Combustion Turbines. We the community fought to NOT place them by Pier 80 next to the MUNI Maintenance Facility. We, the community had to fight SFPUC tooth and nail. We won.

PG&E expanded some money and used James A. Bryant President of the A.Phillip Randolph Institute to work with some entities - that received this money to jump on the band wagon on issues that were spear headed by Environmental Justice Advocacy and other decent human beings - that volunteered and fought SF Public Utilities Commission and stopped the placement of the 3 Combustion Turbines.

Again, it was at the Stake Holders Meetings held at 77 Beale that the California Independent Systems Operator (CAISO) agreed to incorporate Environmental Concerns - giving us 10% of the Pie Chart on issues dealing with Energy Issues. We, made CAISO fully understand that buying credits from elsewhere and allowing the very polluted Hunters Point Power Plant to operate was not - right. They agreed and shut down the power plant. We impressed on CAISO and the Stakeholders that in today's work we must address Cumulative Pollution, take a Holistic View of the Entire Region to do to a better - place.

Can you imagine who took credit for shutting down the Hunters Point Power Plant - folks like Sophie Maxwell, Linda Richardson, and so on. It must also be mentioned that CARE and Michael Boyd and Lynne Brown filed suits to shut down Hunters Point Power Plant - and further brought pressure on PG&E.

Mirant must be shut down and we can do this the right way - by having a meaningful dialog. The City of San Francisco with stupid leaders like Sophie Maxwell cannot dictate terms to CAISO. The City cannot try to stop the operation of Mirant by trying to sue Mirant because of some fake seismic issues - linked with the red-brick buildings. We have too many red-brick buildings that need seismic retrofit - the three main ones the SF General Hospital figure in this equation.

SF Public Utilities Commission has failed to cease the moment because of very poor leadership when it comes to Clean Energy Issues. The $100 million SF Bond Measure linked to Solar has yet
to see the light of day. Tom Ammiano initiated it - Mark Leno twicked it a bit - but we have yet to see the flare.

The right thing to do right now - is to sit down with Mirant and close those Turbines that are most polluting - the main one being Turbine 3. Turbines 4,5. and 6 can be shut down gradually as they are less polluting. How ever Turbine 3 should have been shut down a long time ago. This SF City chose first to sue PG&E and Mirant - and then after losing the law suits - used facilitators to talk sense. It simply does not work like that anymore. PG&E has money and power and can take the drab City Attorneys for a ride and have. Millions of dollars have been wasted and PG&E has won and is winning.

Millions of tax payers money has been wasted in law suits fighting PG&E and Mirant - today. However, there is an understanding, more because of the dire straits of our failing economy. We must create Clean Energy and not depend on imported fossil fuels. We must curtail dangerous particulates, mercury, lead, and other harmful elements that harm all life - including human life.
We must view all this by exercising the Precautionary Principle.

The Environmental Protection Agency has fine tuned its standards and Particulate Matter 2.5 should be the standard used - to bring Power Plants and other Industries spewing toxic matter into the air - into compliance.

Environmental Groups and that includes the Sierra Club have not taken a stand and really helped Bayview Hunters Point. Environmental Justice Advocacy has a track record and has had many victories on the Environmental Front. It has garnered thousands of good people that have helped the Bayview Hunters Point community. Including the fight against the Rogue Developer Lennar that Sophie Maxwell and the SFPUC favors.

Ed Harrington the present General Manager of the SF Public Utilities Commission has yet to figure out the complicated history of Energy Issues linked to the former Water Department and the present SFPUC. Once he figures that out - perhaps, better sense will prevail.

Right now SFPUC must position itself to deliver actual Clean Energy and deliver it at a low price - with the price range of 8cents to 13 cents - per kWh.


Francisco Da Costa
Director
Environmental Justice Advocacy


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