Valley Headlines

Seated in the electric chair

Sacramento Bee. CA could lower customers’ energy bills significantly, 2 leading agencies report.
Synopsis: According to two reports released recently, the CPUC blames solar subsidies for allowing PG&E and others to raise their rates. It says that 27% of the “typical” bill goes to programs that benefit solar panels and that killing those programs would save the “typical” ratepayer 15%. The reports were compiled under orders of Gov. Newsom, but his office refused to release them. There are four hearings scheduled to review these reports and others in the coming weeks.
MAD Take: These reports are ugly enough. But every story and every report talks about the “typical” customer – which is someone on the coast. Customers in the Central Valley endure hotter summers and colder winters, and our bills are far, far, FAR greater than “typical” PG&E customers. PG&E says “typical” monthly bills are around $280. The “typical” monthly bill in the Valley exceeds $400 with many customers spending $600 a month. So, if these unnecessary components of our bills average 15%, we’re spending nearly $100 a month to subsidize other ratepayers. That’s on top of the $461 per year ($2.48 billion in profits divided by 5.6 million customers) we are providing for PG&E stockholders. We’re paying a higher percentage of that, too.

SF Chronicle. I was a CA energy strategist: Here’s how the state lets PG&E give you a raw deal.
Synopsis: Mark Ellis wrote this op-ed pointing out that rates are up 56% in 3 years and 35% in 2024 alone. Forget the official excuses or reasons for raising rates, he says the real reason for high rates is the artificially high “rate of return” considerations allowed for utility companies. If the CPUC insisted on a rate of return commensurate with federal bonds or the stock market (3.8%), the utility bills could be cut by 10% overnight.

CBS13. CA senators grill CPUC over approval of 6 PG&E rate hikes in past year.
Synopsis: Noting that a $500 utility bill can “break the bank,” Sen. Susan Rubio ripped into the CPUC. Among those asking pointed questions of CPUC president Alice Reynolds were Jerry McNerney, Suzette Valladares and Aisha Webb.
MAD Take: Talk is cheap. Where is the effort to remake the CPUC? To claw back record profits? To get relief?

A fire that didn’t grow

Modesto Bee. Modesto FD controls commercial yard fire within 15 minutes.
Synopsis: A significant fire was reported at 2:50 a.m. Wednesday morning on Yosemite and Glendale. Lots of flames, even more smoke, but the fire did not spread and damage was kept under control.

You’ll have to dial 1

Merced Sun Star. New area code is coming soon to Fresno, Merced; when will switch happen?
Synopsis: The new 357 area code will be overlaid for existing 559 customers next month. Basically, it means you have to be sure to dial 1 plus the area code –  559 or 357 – whenever making a call. It won’t impact prices, just your dialing finger.

What to do with $450 million

Mercury News. State considers how to spend nearly half-a-billion after collapse of Los Vaqueros.
Synopsis: The state loved the plan to expand the huge reservoir in Contra Costa County using $500 million from 2014’s Prop 1. But local agencies backed out and the project fell apart. Now there’s $450 million left in the kitty. A significant beneficiary could be Valley Water, which is building Pacheco Reservoir on the edge of Santa Clara County, close to Merced and Stanislaus counties. Sites could also get a few more bucks as could groundwater projects in Kern and Sacramento counties. Members of the CA Water Commission – which approves Prop 1 expenditures – say they don’t want to go through the application process a second time. The first time took 8 years.

Want to buy an airport?

Merced Sun Star. World War II aviation history for sale, tucked away in Central CA farmland. 
Synopsis: Just outside the Tulare town of Strathmore is a farm with an airstrip that is listed for $1.275 million. It was called Trauger Auxiliary Field when it was created for training in WW2. It’s not a commercial airport, but local pilots use the 2,000-foot strip and some of the hangars. It’s listed as “niche aviation real estate.” For comparison, the runways at Crows Landing are 7,000 feet and a commercial airliner needs about 8,000 feet. Steve McQueen used to fly into the airport.

Higher gas fees on hold

Sacramento Bee. New rules that could increase CA gas prices put on hold. 
Synopsis: The Office of Administrative Law told the CA Air Resources Board that its plan to require changes to make fuel cleaner were not clear or legally valid. Now, the air board has decided not to invoke the changes, which were calculated to add 47 cents to the price of a gallon of gas. The air board says notification was “routine,” and the agency would resubmit the rule changes for approval. The air board pointed out once again that prices are set by oil companies – not the board.

Trying to kill high-speed rail

ABC10. Trump administration orders review of CA’s high-speed rail project.
Synopsis: The Federal Railroad Administration launched a review of the CA High-Speed Raul Authority in an effort to repurpose the $4 billion originally designated to help complete the segment from Bakersfield to Merced. Vince Fong and Kevin Kiley both hate the project which has created at least 7,000 jobs in the region.

Newman well has nitrates

Westside Connect. Elevated nitrate levels found in Newman drinking water.
Synopsis: Sabra Stafford reports on the warning from the state that Newman’s Well No. 5 showed nitrates of 10.5 mg on Jan. 8, exceeding the maximum level of 10.0. A follow-up on Jan. 14 found levels of 10.7. Previous tests had all been below 9.0. Well 5 is a backup to supplement demand and supplied less than 2% of demand through Jan. 14. The water is fine for showing, washing things and irrigation.

It’s all politics

GV Wire. Will Soria run for state senate instead of Assembly?
Synopsis: David Taub writes about the political merry-go-round, suggesting Esmeralda Soria could run to replace termed-out Anna Caballero in District 14 next year. That would put her up against Nelson Esparza, who announced months ago that he wanted the seat. Soria isn’t saying anything. But it’s a huge district that includes most of Fresno, Madera, Merced and the West Side. Complicating the situation is that Melissa Hurtado, currently the senator from D-16, could return to her hometown – which is in D14. She’s also considering a run against David Valadao in Congress. A lot of this came up on Alexan Balekian’s KMJ radio show. If Soria remains in AD27, she will have to face former Merced Mayor Mike Murphy, who is considerably more popular than Soria’s opponent 4 months ago.
https://youtu.be/EG8OJcFQZAc

Valley Sun. Democratic donors rally behind Tubbs for Lt. Gov amid speculation Harris will run for Lt. Gov.
Synopsis: Daniel Gligich reports on “rumors” (originally published in the SF Chronicle) that former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs is getting “a major boost” for his campaign from big-boy donor Steve Phillips.

Fresno Bee. Central Valley Democrats who backed Laken Riley Act betrayed Latino communities.
Synopsis: Espi Sandoval has decided that a bill largely seen as a means of deporting criminals provides an excellent opportunity to express his opinion. He says Laken Riley perpetuates harmful stereotypes and causes immigrants to live in fear. He calls out Jim Costa, Adam Gray and Josh Harder for their votes in support.
MAD Take: As far as I can find, Laken Riley has been used in one deportation case. A Guatemalan citizen living in Indiana was deported after causing a fatal accident. 

Tracking crime in real time

Merced County Times. Real-time info center expands Merced police surveillance, data capabilities.
Synopsis: The old dispatch center is now filled with video screens linked to 225 cameras mounted at various locations in the city. Information is fed into computers which analyze images to help solve crimes. It took 6 months to build and opened last week. Soon, the department hopes to link a drone into the system.

Commish is ‘charmed’

Sacramento Bee. MLB Commissioner calls West Sacramento ballpark ‘charming.’ 
Synopsis: Rob Manfredi was generally upbeat about RiverCats park, which will have 14,000 seats for major league baseball in May. Interestingly, that’s only the second-smallest major league venue this season. The Tampa Bay Rays will play at Steinbrenner Field, a minor-league park repurposed after Hurricane Milton ripped the roof off Tropicana Field in October.
MAD Take: “Charming”? Sounds like something you’d say of a small child who thinks the bowtie makes him look all grown up.