Get the latest tech news

Cities can cost effectively start their own utilities

I don't think PG&E ratepayers understand how much higher the rates they pay are than what it actually costs PG&E to generate and transmit the electricity to their house. The average PG&E electricity charge now starts at 40 cents per kilowatt hour and goes up from there.

Walnut Creek also has experience with public ownership of amenities - the City operates a golf course and a downtown parking garage with ground floor retail. If these homes could save $800 per year on their utility bill by joining Walnut Creek, this may provide an incentive to incorporate, which would ultimately lead to better governance. Even if Walnut Creek doesn't ultimately pursue its own utility, just investigating the possibility may lead PG&E to offer concessions such as undergrounding the transmission line over downtown.

Get the Android app