Emails Repute That PUC Chair Doubted Survival of Municipal Aggregations
October 07,2014
Pacific Gas & Electric has published another series of ex parte emails between its staff and California PUC officials, and in one of the emails, a PG&E staffer characterizes the position of PUC President Michael Peevey regarding community choice aggregation.
A 2010 email from Brian Cherry, former PG&E Vice President - Rates and Regulation, who had previously dined with Peevey, sent to others at PG&E says of Peevey that, "He believes that nasent [sic] CCAs will fail," but was said to have told Cherry that negative campaigns by PG&E against CCAs, "turn off even the greatest admirers of our company."
Regarding CCAs, "Mike reiterated his belief that our 'low road' tactics were not only ineffective but beneath us and have caused more harm than good. He believes we need to simply compare services and take a more positive and proactive outreach. He believes the negative campaign that we have utilized has created the perception again that we are the bully on the block."
According to Cherry's emails, "Mike said he doesn't really support CCA, but it is the law."
The emails also indicate Peevey pressed for PG&E to contribute to defeat a ballot initiative, and to fund a gala celebrating the PUC's 100th anniversary. See the latest emails for more