Now is the Time to Adopt Community Choice

By San Diego Community Choice Alliance

San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) customers are already reeling from bills that come in at twice the national average. Even while customers take measures to reduce consumption during this summer’s heatwave, many San Diegans report hardships due to their most recent bills.impact on San Diego families and small businesses, who already suffer the highest rates in the state and some of the highest in the country.

According to the state’s Office of Ratepayer Advocates, SDG&E averages the highest energy rates in California and enacts the steepest increases among the state’s three monopoly utilities. The state ratepayer advocate felt compelled to ask for intervention, saying: “SDG&E’s rates have increased at an alarming pace.”

“And they are looking to raise our rates another 30 percent,” stated Nicole Capretz of the San Diego Community Choice Alliance.  “All while their profits soar. Competition in the marketplace is now more important than ever.”

Capretz isn’t alone in her frustration. Many locals say San Diego cannot wait another day for energy options. County Supervisor Dianne Jacob weighed in on Twitter, saying, “The sky-high power bills many folks are seeing this summer are not just because of the heat. SDG&E has among the highest rates in the US + wants to jack them up even more. I will continue to push for community choice aggregation. Ratepayers deserve real freedom of choice!”

“The time for San Diego to take action is now,” Capretz said.  “We will address the rate hikes and several other key topics at the 3rd Annual Community Choice Forum.”

The forum, hosted by Climate Action Campaign and the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy, will be held on Friday, Sept. 7 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Capretz said it will be an opportunity for elected and government officials, community choice experts, business leaders, and community advocates to discuss the local and state landscape as well as the benefits, challenges, and opportunities of community choice.

The keynote speaker of this year’s forum will be California State Assemblymember Dr. Shirley Weber, and San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer will provide opening remarks. Other speakers include Assemblymember Todd Gloria, Encinitas Mayor Catherine Blakespear, La Mesa Vice Mayor Kristine Alessio, San Diego City Council President Pro Tem Barbara Bry, and Chula Vista Councilmember Steve Padilla.

The San Diego region is making history with unprecedented commitments to reaching 100 percent clean energy. Six cities have committed to reaching that lofty goal by 2035. All six have identified community choice in their climate action plans as the pathway to success, and recently, Solana Beach became the first city in San Diego County to launch a community choice program.

“We are in the final stretch to achieving choice, fair rates and real energy independence in San Diego. Families deserve that choice,” Capretz said.

#CountdownToChoice

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San Diego Community Choice Alliance is a congregation of business, faith, community, elected and labor leaders calling for the adoption of the only tried-and-true pathway to 100% clean energy, Community Choice. Choice will accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy by creating a not-for-profit public agency that offers families choice, drives innovation, building the local economy, and keeps revenue in the community.

 

Check out our website: sdcommunitychoice.org
Facebook: @SDCommunityChoiceAlliance
Twitter & Instagram: @SDCCAlliance