With Christmas right around the corner, I’d like to start a new tradition: The Scrooge Awards
Let me make a few nominations, you send yours, we’ll have a cup of cheer and vote the winner on Christmas Eve.
Candidate Number One: PG&E – I think you know why.
Candidate Number Two: Assemblyman Chris Holden (D, AD 41, northern San Gabriel Valley)
Maybe these two should be co-candidates, they’re thick as thieves. Holden is introducing a bill to let PG&E off the hook for wildfires they cause. I wish I could send them all a card – “Well Merry Christmas to you too, Assholes!”
From Insurance Journal:
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2018/11/20/509841.htm
“A bill that would help PG&E Corp. absorb liabilities from this year’s fatal wildfires in California is being drafted at the request of a state assemblyman who helped shepherd earlier legislation on the issue.”
Assemblyman Chris Holden is carrying this bill because, according to his staffer, “He is concerned about the instability of the utility and the adverse effect it could have on ratepayers and the ability to deliver services at a reasonable cost…”
I don’t believe he’s worried about the ratepayers, I think he’s more worried about the effect it would have on PG&E shareholders.
“News of the bill sent PG&E shares up as much as 5.8 percent in after-hours trading. The stock has plunged by more than half since the Camp Fire broke out on Nov. 8.”
I know people here are mad, screaming for lawsuits, some already filed, but this piece of legislation could allow PG&E to pass their liability on to the taxpayers/ratepayers. That’s all of us, including the direct victims of the fire.
“Holden’s bill may serve as a framework for lawmakers to consider relief for PG&E from the billions of dollars it faces in potential liability for death and property damage in Northern California’s Camp Fire, the deadliest in state history.”
They’ve already got away with passing the fines for the Santa Rosa fires on to the ratepayers.
“In response to deadly fires in 2017, lawmakers approved a legislative package that allows PG&E to sell bonds backed by customers [ratepayers] to cover liabilities.”
We need to pay attention, write our state lawmakers, write letters to the editor, tell friends to do same. This legislation should be sneaking around in early 2019, and needs a two/thirds vote to pass. If they think we’re not paying attention they’ll do the bidding of their benefactors at PG&E.
Here’s another article from the San Jose Mercury News:
Chico Taxpayers Association 
Sickening but not surprising. The real “Golden Rule” on display and here it is: “THOSE WHO HAVE THE GOLD MAKE THE RULES”
Yes – you probably know this – PG&E is a major donor to politicians up and down the state. In fact, according to Vote Smart, Holden received $8800 from PG&E last year and the same amount from Edison. The site says he accepted a total $41,000 from electric utility companies.
You may also know, $41,000 is about what the average family lives on for a year in Chico.