Entries
Economic Indicators, SDG&E Profits Rise = Sempra Energy Revenue Down 20+%?
Despite improving local economic indicators and a rise in SDG&E earnings over the previous reported year, Sempra Energy dropped from $10.8 billion in 2008 to just $8.1 billion in 2009. By comparison, Sempra Energy reported revenues of $7.9 billion in …
Net Metering a Net Loss for 95% of SDG&E Customers?
According to Onell Soto, "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is poised to sign a bill to ensure that a key financial benefit for installing solar power systems doesn’t go away too soon." This is not a benefit for all. Even under the …
Alpine ALERT: Powerlink Digging Begins?
Alert residents in Alpine report that the main drag is being trenched in the middle of town. No SDG&E employees were reported in the sighting. Alpine has been a point of contention as residents were not given suitable warning that …
RBS Sempra Commodities Ready for Carving Up in Sales
In today's distinguished daily paper, Onell Soto reports that Sempra Energy is looking to sell off pieces of its share of RBS Sempra Commodities, a joint venture with Royal Bank of Scotland. News of the pending sales comes as Sempra …
Public Comments on National Disaster Recovery Framework to Close Friday
NDRF to be companion to National Response Framework The draft document: National Disaster Recovery Framework This document will be the guide to how federal priorities will be set in recovering from disasters. Recovery is the part of the emergency management …
Tree Crushes House in Ramona: SDG&E Veggie Management Program Strikes Again?
SDG&E; Tree-Tracking System at Center of Earlier Rice Wildfire A giant oak tree destroyed a home in Ramona during the Superbowl weekend, after SDG&E; or its contractors allegedly first trimmed the tree then returned to cut power lines holding the …
Reducing SDG&E Wildfire Liability = Another Stealth Rate Increase?
Onell Soto reports this morning in the business news of our distinguished daily paper that mediation in SDG&E's previously denied CPUC application to cut power in case of fire threats is "working for critics, SDG&E." According to Soto, "It's a …
Court's Failure to Take Notice of Law Unconstitutional in US v. SDG&E?
A recent federal court ruling against government prosecutors appears to be unconstitutional, potentially re-exposing San Diego Gas and Electric Company (SDG&E) to criminal liability under the Clean Air Act's National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). According to the …
CPUC to Rule on SDG&E WEBA Application
The California Public Utilities Commission is preparing to allow San Diego Gas and Electric Company (SDG&E) and other investor-owned utilities (IOUs) to pass wildfire legal costs through to customers. SDG&E and the other IOUs requested that the decision be announced …
FEMA National Advisory Council Nominations are Open
Any Readers Interested? In case you are, you should have already completed the seven courses for the Professional Development Series... WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has opened the application period for positions on …
Sempra Energy Credit Warning by Rating Agency Reported
Repercussion from JP Morgan Out as RBS Sempra Commodities Bidder? According to Onell Soto in our distinguished daily's business blurbs this morning, Fitch Ratings Ltd has issued a warning about Sempra Energy credit that may be tied to the fumbled …
RBS Sempra Commodities sale to JP Morgan off the table?
After comments by President Obama on regulating the size of the nation's largest banks, it appears that leading bidder JP Morgan will not purchase the Royal Bank of Scotland share of RBS Sempra Commodities LLC (http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/201002011217DOWJONESDJONLINE000318_FORTUNE5.htm). According to Margot Patrick …
An Electric Franchise Fee Proposal RE Grantee SDG&E
The following is a proposal to amend the City of San Diego Electric Franchise ordinance, changing the annual franchise fee paid by SDG&E to the City of San Diego from its current 3% of gross receipts to 20% until all …
Newly Much-Bigger City Solar Fee No Problem for Stand-Alone Systems?
At first, I was vastly disappointed by the huge hike in the permit fee that San Diego will be now charging for "all" solar systems, but it seems that "all" solar systems actually means "all that want to be counted …
San Diego City Council to Review SDG&E as to Electric Franchise?
It is about time, isn't it? The members of the San Diego City Council appear to have power under the Electric Franchise (city ordinance 10466 of 1970) to review the actions of the franchise grantee for illegalities. According to the …
On Opportunities for the Governator to Get Things Right: Prison Overcrowding, California Cadet Corps, and Pardons for Hazardous Heroic Duty
Certain things have to get done by the Governor of California today at the latest to have done the right thing for state prison overcrowding. At least that's the opinion of a juxtaposition of judges at the federal level who …
Adjusting the SDG&E Franchise Fee & Solving Our Short-Term Deficit
We need to increase the annual SDG&E electricity franchise fee from 3% to 20% (Section 17, Ordinance 10466). The fee was set after considerable negotiation in good faith in 1970. It has remained at 3% ever since then,, including after …
Good News: San Diego Budget Deficit Now Only $77M
Last night's State of the City address informs us that clever maneuverings have reduced the projected city budget deficit over the next 18 months to only $77 million. The mayor's address included a long list of expensive civic needful things. …
State of City Address Tonight -- One Night Only!
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders delivers his 2010 State of the City address tonight. What I am looking for is a concrete plan to increase funding to the City of San Diego without raising everybody's taxes. There is a way …
On the Utilitarian Calculus of Ideal Democracy in America
In America, the utilitarian calculus of an ideal democracy is that each person gets one vote on any matter of importance that requires us to vote on it, and after the vote, the majority rules. We are not living in …