This headline from the Enterprise Record is misleading:
Chico City Council to commemorate Camp Fire anniversary, consider alternatives to PG&E
Read the article for yourself, see where Robin Epley says, “In such an agreement, Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. would continue with transmission and distribution of energy.”
How is that “an alternative” to PG&E? And no, a CCA does not guarantee lower power, especially when legislators and staffers will set the rates. They may even buy it from PG&E, and then resell it to us?
Here’s the DEAL KILLER – PG&E can shut down power at any time, and the city of Chico would have nothing to say about it.
I was glad to see Anthony Watts put the whammy down:
Two far-left city councilors, Karl Ory and Alex Brown have introduced a “Chico Green New Deal” patterned after the one Alexandria Ocasio Cortez made up.
One of the bullet points is: 100% clean electricity powering the City grid by 2030
This is impossible for two reasons.
1. There’s not enough growth in renewables in California to achieve that goal by that time. The state goal is 50% by 2030.
If passed, what will most likely happen is that Chico will buy make-believe “clean” electricity at a premium.
From the New York Times: “Analysts at Credit Suisse estimate that PG&E could save $2.2 billion a year by renegotiating renewable power contracts down to current market prices.”
PG&E spends over $2 billion yearly for overpriced liberal pie-in-the-sky electricity schemes, while the utility cannot afford even to inspect and repair their 100,000 miles of power lines. PG&E claims that inspecting the lines alone would require quadrupling their rates.
You think your electric bill is high now? Just wait.
If Ory’s and Brown’s plan passes, the City of Chico will be running straight towards this overpriced eco-madness for the sake of virtue signaling, with no net effect but to drain city coffers and wallets.
References: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/24/pge-says-it-might-have-to-quintuple-rates-if-forced-to-clear-trees.html
— Anthony Watts, Chico
You can read more from Anthony and friends at his super blog, What’s Up With That? Here’s an interesting post from last year:
Chico Taxpayers Association 
Actually there is a way to get 100% renewable electricity for Chico, and we could save money too.
Since 1921 the city of Redding has operated their own municipal power system, which is locally owned and controlled. They purchase most of their power from the Shasta Dam, plus local solar. All 100% renewable. The big benefit is that Redding residents pay about HALF what we pay in Chico for electricity.
Since PG&E is in bankruptcy, now would be the time for Chico to purchase our power system and do the same thing.
You mean, buy the infrastructure?
Yes. The city of Redding owns the electrical infrastructure, power lines and equipment. They also own and provide water and garbage service.
Of course the question is if we would trust the city management of Chico with our electrical power. Can they be worse than PG&E? Maybe?
My friends in Redding aren’t any happier with their city government then those of us in Chico. Then again they like paying half what we pay for electricity.
It’s interesting that the conservative city of Redding has socialized electricity, water and garbage. While the liberal city of Chico has privatized those services.
Making the California power system publicly owned is gaining a lot of consideration right now. San Francisco and many other cities are currently looking into it.
You hit the nail on the head – we have a very poor staff, mainly concerned with getting new sources of revenue. Look how they manage the sewer.
That’s great for Redding, but I don’t see it happening like that for Chico by way of this CCA deal.
Of course the question is if we would trust the city management of Chico with our electrical power.
You don’t have to look far for an answer. Just look at the streets for one example.
How can it not be obvious that they will put their pensions, raises and other benefits ahead of everything else? That’s what they’ve done for many years.
How can anyone not see that?
“How can it not be obvious that they will put their pensions, raises and other benefits ahead of everything else? That’s what they’ve done for many years.”
True. PG&E has done the same thing.
Well I don’t know about Bob, but what I’m saying is, I wouldn’t trust the staff or counsel we have now with anything this major. Until we have a complete turnover of management and Council in this town, as well as a major overhaul of our pension system , I wouldn’t even be willing to discuss such a venture.
Otherwise Jim, I’m with you – it would be a great idea if we had the staff and Council who could pull it off.
These clowns can’t even maintain the streets and now they want to take over our power?
And they have told people it will be cheaper than PG&E. That’s absurd. Not only are they incompetent they are liars.
This will just add another layer of incompetent bureaucracy on top of PG&E and give them the chance to skim off money for the pensions among other things.
And don’t forget, you will be forced into this unless you explicitly opt out.
Anyone who can’t see through this is an idiot.
Yeah, I’d need to trust the staff, and forget that
Two words, Cal Water.
Thanks for commenting Thomas, please explain.