PG&E is raising rates again while… blocking our housing?!
Housing and affordability are two of the biggest challenges facing San Francisco, and it’s now clear that on both issues, PG&E is making the problem even worse. Exacerbating both crises, PG&E is trying to raise rates yet again while delaying critically needed new housing.
Housing
The San Francisco Chronicle summed up PG&E’s role in the housing crisis in a blockbuster story, aptly headlined: “Big holdup for new Northern California housing? PG&E.”
Hundreds of newly constructed apartment buildings and businesses in Northern California are sitting empty at any given time because the projects must wait on one entity, Pacific Gas and Electric Co., to turn on the lights.
PG&E, the state’s largest utility, has long had a bad reputation among builders for the pace at which it connects buildings to the electrical grid, a process known as interconnection that occurs before a finished building can be occupied. But housing advocates and developers say those delays have grown increasingly worse in recent years, forcing many to leave buildings vacant for months amid the state’s worsening housing shortage.
Senator Scott Wiener is introducing legislation to get PG&E to do its job more quickly:
“It’s completely unacceptable for completed projects to just sit there gathering dust because PG&E can’t get it together to turn on the power,” Wiener, D-San Francisco, told The Chronicle. “We’re in the middle of a housing crisis.”
Affordability
PG&E’s role in the housing crisis was detailed shortly after the corporation announced plans for massive rate hikes for residential customers. You probably saw the headlines about their attempt to raise rates by over $400 a year:
"Feeling sticker shock from your latest PG&E bill? It could only get worse from here.” PG&E To Hike Energy Bills—on Top of Already Sky-High Rates (The San Francisco Standard)
"Pacific Gas and Electric wants to increase charges for its average residential customers—retroactive to Jan. 1—with steep climbs over the next three years.” PG&E could raise your bill significantly this year (San Francisco Examiner)
"Customers who aren't enrolled in PG&E's public assistance programs may see [even bigger increases].” The average PG&E bill may soon be going up a shocking $35 a month (SF Gate)
Enough is Enough!
San Franciscans are fed up paying skyrocketing rates for poor service to a corporation that blocks much-needed housing. It’s time to take matters into our own hands and complete the shift to full public power.
Safe and Reliable: The City has been providing clean power for over 100 years—and San Francisco’s Hetch Hetchy and CleanPowerSF programs already provide over 70% of the electricity consumed in the City.
Affordable: Public power means lower rates—because unlike PG&E, the City doesn’t need ratepayers to fund Wall Street profits or bonuses for corporate executives.
Clean and Green: Locally controlled public power is 100% clean—aligned with San Francisco values in order to meet the city’s climate goals
After two bankruptcies in the last two decades, PG&E keeps giving San Francisco more and more reasons to make a change. San Francisco has offered PG&E $2.5 billion to purchase the local grid, and we’re ready to take the next step toward full public power. It’s time for San Francisco to control its energy destiny.
It’s Our City. It’s Our Power.
Join us and support the shift to a safer, cleaner, and more affordable power system. Sign up for updates, follow us on social media, and learn more at publicpowersf.org.
