Yet much of America has utilities run for profit with far cheaper rates than California, where PG&E operates as a vertically-integrated regulated monopoly.
As a California resident, I'm well aware. But that doesn't change anything; I still believe utilities should be run as non-profits (or co-ops or even just as government agencies, depending on what works best for local conditions).
The real problem in CA is that our governor is in PG&E's pocket, and the body that regulates the utility (with members appointed by the governor) is a textbook example of regulatory capture. I'm not sure why the legislature hasn't done anything about this, but I assume it has something to do with money, there, as well.
At this point I want SF to own its own grid, like Santa Clara and Palo Alto do. Of course, PG&E refuses to play ball with any plan/offer the city has put forth.
> that doesn't change anything; I still believe utilities should be run as non-profits
That's a valid position. My utility is a member-owned coöperative [1]. It pays me a dividend every year that I have the option of investing back into it for a return.
But that's not why its power is 10x cheaper than California's, despite my buying exclusively wind and hydro.
Yet much of America has utilities run for profit with far cheaper rates than California, where PG&E operates as a vertically-integrated regulated monopoly.