Re “Does local energy and local control translate into lower rates">April 19): Carolyn Chase’s commentary about a “nonprofit municipal utility” being pushed by Power San Diego is lacking one significant factor — a detailed business plan clearly demonstrating that such a brand-new public entity can generate all the pluses she lists after having to make the loan payments for the debt issued to pay for the assets being acquired from SDG&E, which is estimated to be in the multibillion-dollar range. That dollar amount can only be firmed up after an appraisal of said assets and that hasn’t been done. Then add in high-priced “qualified management,” plus union staff that she states has to be used to honor pre-existing labor agreements of for-profit utilities.
Debt payments are made from net profits, so will the proposed nonprofit utility have the net profits needed to do that? Too many unknowns to make an informed decision. This petition is premature! Oh, and do you trust this city to manage such a significant business entity?
— Lou Cumming, La Jolla
Like many San Diegans who have chosen a career in eldercare, I have a running concern that some day I will have to decide to change to a higher-paying job or to leave San Diego all together. One of those factors is the utility bills, especially the SDG&E bill. Why a necessity like electricity/gas is being provided by a for-profit company will always baffle me. Let’s hope Power San Diego succeeds this voting year.
— Therese Krentz, Paradise Hills
