Articles Tagged With ‘Utilities’




SLO rates rising despite abundance of water

By JOSH FRIEDMAN San Luis Obispo water rates will increase next month for the eighth consecutive year even though the city currently only uses about 55 percent of its annual supply of water. As the city continues to raise rates,... (Continue reading)

SLO approves conservation-punishing water rate hike

By JOSH FRIEDMAN The San Luis Obispo City Council approved sewer rate increases Tuesday night, as well as restructured water rates that will hit hardest those who conserve the most. The council voted 3-1 in favor of both the sewer... (Continue reading)

PG&E threatens to blast population of gnomes

Pacific Gas & Electric is threatening to exterminate gnome dwellings in Oakland. [SF Gate] The frequent presence of little men with pointy, red hats and large, white beards helps keep Oakland residents’ minds off crime while walking the city streets.... (Continue reading)

Turkey vulture shuts down Cuesta College

A turkey vulture striking a power line on Thursday caused San Luis Obispo Cuesta College campus officials to cancel evening classes because of a power outage. Power was lost to parts of the campus at 3:30 p.m. and the entire... (Continue reading)

PG&E considers compromise on SmartMeters

PG&E may be open to compromise in response to growing public concern over the installation of SmartMeters in homes and businesses throughout the state. [SF Chronicle] The new wireless meter reading system, currently being deployed in northern San Luis Obispo... (Continue reading)

Morro Bay Power Plant sold amid allegations of illegalities

NRG Energy agreed to purchase the Morro Bay Power Plant along with three additional energy facilities for nearly $1.9 billion on Friday in a complicated agreement in which allegations of breach of fiduciary duty have already been leveled. NRG Energy... (Continue reading)

The issue is water in Paso Robles

Opinion by KAREN REED The City of Paso Robles has taken the final steps to saddle us with exorbitant and irresponsible water rates. They have done a good job of making everyone believe this is a water issue. This is... (Continue reading)

Historic proposed state policy against use of sea water

By JACK McCURDY A landmark new state policy that for the first time would restrict and phase out use of estuary, delta and ocean water for cooling coastal power plants has drawn the adamant opposition of the Coastal Alliance on... (Continue reading)

PG&E facing customer revolt

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) has halted installation of the so-called “smart utility meter” in Bakersfield after hundreds of customers complained that the readings weren’t accurate.  [Bloomberg News] The meters, designed as the centerpiece of the Obama administration’s push to... (Continue reading)

The PG&E stealth measure

Is Pacific Gas and Electric trying to pull a fast one on California voters next November? Los Angeles Times business columnist Michael Hiltzik certainly thinks so, at least based on his Sunday column. According to Hiltzik, PG&E is the major force... (Continue reading)