CPUC Commissioners,
I am writing to urge you to deny PG&E's application to raise electricity rates by $44.5 million over ten years for "recovery of catastrophic event costs." Catastrophic events can occur in any industry, and responsible businesses do their best to prepare for such occurrences, setting aside funds from their normal operating revenues to cover the unexpected.
Additionally, government assistance is often available to businesses and others negatively impacted by disasters. If this application is approved, PG&E executives should be required as a condition of approval to publicly sign a statement on behalf of the company that they will neither request nor accept any form of government disaster assistance, as that would amount to double-dipping. If they won't sign such a promise, the application should be denied.
Furthermore, the proposed PG&E fuel cell facilities on the campuses of SF State and CSU East Bay, which according to the company's mailer will be studied as part of the curricula of these institutions, represent a significant positive public relations investment for the company. Ratepayers should not be expected to subsidize such PR activities.
Finally, many of the individuals, families, and businesses that are forced to depend on PG&E for electricity are already struggling during this economic downturn to make ends meet. Raising rates at this time, even marginally, could cause significant hardship in the community. Please deny this application and any other requests for rate increases by PG&E or other public utilities until the economy fully recovers.
Sincerely,
((( starchild )))
3531 16th Street,
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 621-7932