Alliance of Local Groups Urges San Diego City Council to Form Public Utility — Council Chambers, Monday, June 22 at 2pm

From San Diego Energy Justice Alliance

With City studies concluding a not-for-profit utility would save San Diegans billions, a coalition of groups is calling on the City Council to begin organizing a public utility.
The most recent city-funded study will be presented to the council this Monday afternoon, June 22, during a meeting set to begin at 2 p.m. in council chambers.

Using the most conservative assumptions, the city’s consultants concluded in the study that not-for-profit public power would save utility customers $500 each year.
Under more realistic assumptions, projections, total savings for customers are projected to reach tens of billions of dollars in coming decades. An earlier city funded study also found a not-for-profit public utility would lower electric bills for customers.

“We have the studies and know the facts,” said Dorrie Bruggemann, a board member of Public Power San Diego, which is among the groups in the newly formed San Diego Energy Justice Coalition.

“Not-for-profit public power will lower rates and save local utility customers thousands of dollars in the coming decades. The council needs to begin the transition to public power and reduce rates for struggling San Diegans.”

San Diego Gas & Electric charges among the highest rates in the nation, often the highest. Earlier this month, the local utility applied for an increase in its electric rates of over 8 percent.

“That would raise month residential electric rates another $14, nearly $170 every year,” said Parke Troutman, utilities campaign manager for SD 350, also a member
of the San Diego Energy Justice Coalition.

“And that’s just for 2028. What’s to come in ’29 and beyond? More increases!”

There is an alternative: The City of San Diego’s charter allows it to cancel its franchise with SDG&E and organize public utility at any time, with a council vote. More than 40 California cities are already served by nonprofit public utilities. They differ in structure but all charge much less for electricity than SDG&E. Sacramento’s public utility, for example, charges about 50 percent less than SDG&E.

The local utility’s high rates have forced hundreds of thousands of San Diego residents into arrears on their utility bills. Hard-pressed customers say the bills force decisions about which bills to pay and which to delay.

“Electricity is a basic necessity every family depends on,” said Patricia Mendoza, an activist with Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, which is also a member of the San Diego Energy Justice Coalition.

“We need electricity to cook meals, keep the lights on after dark and wash clothes. No low-income family should be forced into debt simply to provide basic necessities.”

The San Diego Energy Justice Alliance is a coalition of San Diego-area groups that believe access to affordable electricity is a basic human right. The alliance advocates for lower utility rates and a transition to public power with strong protections for utility workers.

Member organizations include:

SanDiego350 is building a movement to prevent the worst impact of climate change and climate injustice through education and outreach, public policy advocacy, and mobilizing people to take action.

Public Power San Diego educates San Diegans on the benefits of replacing SDG&E with a locally controlled not-for-profit public utilities to ensure a more affordable, ethical and sustainable energy future.

Alliance for Californians for Community Empowerment is a multi-racial, democratic, nonprofit community organization that fights for economic, racial and social justice.

Climate Action Campaign is a Southern California-based community organization dedicated to building a 100 percent clean, affordable and reliable energy future.

In Good Company provides accessible climate education to drive justice-centered action.