this post was submitted on 21 Mar 2025
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California

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 15 hours ago

Why has PG&E not been taken into receivership by the state of California? They can’t do their job, they won’t repair their infrastructure, and they are focused purely on profit, and obviously don’t care much about (1) providing electricity (2) in an ecologically sound and (3) efficient manner. Their organization leaders are clearly not fit for purpose.

But nothing will happen because Newsom is probably friends with most of their board.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 17 hours ago

I PAY $700 A MONTH TO PG&E JUST LIVING IN AN OLD HOUSE, NOT DOING ANY KIND OF ENERGY INTENSIVE ACTIVITIES.

YOU GET ENOUGH MONEY PG&E. FUCK ALL THE WAY OFF.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

JFC, they just had another 30% rate increase in January and they want more. We need to recall Newsom right now.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

They had 6 rate increases last year. They had reported 2.1b in profits only to want to raise again to compensate investors because they are 1% from other similar companies dividends....I'm sick of this.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 hour ago

because they are 1% from other similar companies dividends…

It's fucking absurd that any utilities are shareholder corporations to begin with!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago) (1 children)

Government sanctioned monopoly that is bleeding it's customer base dry. Idiots.

Companies need to stop going for unlimited growth and start aiming for profitable stability instead. This "line must go up" mentality at every company is a fucking poison.

Newsome is going to get replaced by the first person that promises to reign in PG&E.

Edit: spelling

[–] [email protected] 2 points 15 hours ago (2 children)

Companies literally cannot not go for infinite growth unless they are privately owned with no investors whatsoever (including bank loans to start the business)

And utilities shouldn't be companies, private or otherwise. No natural monopoly should have any capitalist entities involved with it, it should all be managed by the state (or in an anarchist utopia, a volunteer committee appointed by the people to complete the specific task of maintenance and expansion).

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 hour ago

Companies literally cannot not go for infinite growth unless they are privately owned with no investors whatsoever (including bank loans to start the business)

I know that's commonly claimed, but it is a lie and a misrepresentation of Dodge v. Ford Motor co. Don't fall for it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

None of this would be a problem if people had other options. Unfortunately unless you decide to go off grid entirely your only choice in pretty much the entirety of California is PG&E.

It's the same problem with Internet providers in so many areas. They only allow one provider in an area and that provider has no incentive to make a good product or a decent deal because it's not like they can lose your business to someone else and having Internet is basically a requirement in today's society.

I love California for its natural beauty and varied landscapes but the management here is really fucking shit up for everyone.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

No, it's still a problem in other places with multiple options, take Texas, for example. Your bill for a midsize house is going to be the same no matter where you go, and it's going to go up 10-20% every year. If you switch providers, if you're able to in an area, then guess what, you get a discount for a month.

Unless you get tricked into going for a wholesale provider, then randomly and without warning you will receive a 5 figure bill one month and will forfeit you security deposit when you can't pay.

There is no way a profit seeking entity can control a natural monopoly, even if you introduce artificial competition.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

You make a good point. Even if you have options if they all agree to hike rates at the same time then it basically doesn't matter.

Essential services shouldn't operate as for profit, but how do we fix the often ineptly ran government options?

There has to be a better option between greedy for profit corporation and borderline inept government run choices.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Don't let your government run it ineptly. It really is that simple.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Ah yes. Because they totally have a track record of not sucking absolute ass 24/7.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

They dont in competent countries. A government is a direct and exact reflection of its people. If your government sucks ass, you suck ass. Get involved and try to change it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Thats a very interesting take.

I want you to point out for me a single government where the people are happy with them across the board. Hell I'll take even 75% of a population thinking their government is doing a good job with everything.

What one person might find very important will not be important at all to someone else. Where one person might see governmental overreach another might see a perfectly reasonable government.

This is why government is so difficult. My idea of the ideal functioning government probably doesn't look exactly like what you would find to be an acceptable government.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 14 hours ago

There's no perfect government, because there are no perfect people, but it's infinitely better than a corporation.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 17 hours ago

OH FUCK OFF. AGAIN!?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 16 hours ago

Thank goodness we need to raise prices at least 7 more times so that each watt is the price of a loaf of bread.