PD Editorial: Giving locals a choice on power

<p>A tentative plan to create a local public power agency in Sonoma County is generating plenty of energy on its own. The proposal, unanimously endorsed by the Board of Supervisors Tuesday, is backed by a long list of past and present elected officials, environmentalists and business leaders from throughout the region.</p><p>What's not to like about a program that would give residents a chance to cut ties with PG&E and do business with a local agency committed to getting more of its power from renewable energy sources and cutting greenhouse gas emissions?</p><p>It's a laudable goal. And Sonoma County has the added benefit of being able to learn from Marin County's so-far successful experience in creating a similar agency.</p><p>At the same time, supervisors should proceed with caution with this “community choice aggregation” program.</p><p>The county is about to delve into an area in which it has little expertise. And as California learned from its disastrous attempt at deregulation a decade ago, it's easy to get burned when playing with energy markets.</p><p>A $150,000 feasibility study ordered by supervisors earlier this year has concluded that creating a public power agency is possible for the region.</p><p>But at what cost?</p><p>The analysis shows that over a 20-year period, the typical customer would pay on average $4 to $10 more per month to get their power from a local public agency rather than from PG&E. Higher rates would occur at the beginning.</p><p>For many, $50 to $100 a year may not seem like a lot, but for those living paycheck to paycheck, it's one more hit among many on their budgets. And it adds up. The cost increase would result in county consumers paying roughly $33.5 million more for power each year.</p><p>Granted, customers who don't want be part of the system can opt out and go back to dealing directly with PG&E. But there's the rub. Customers would have to take an active role in getting out of the system. Our initial reaction would be more favorable were consumers allowed to opt in to the new system rather than to opt out.</p><p>Many other questions and concerns need to be addressed about what this fundamental change in infrastructure will mean for the county, residents and the local economy.</p><p>So far, supervisors have directed the Water Agency to oversee the initial studies. But doesn't the Water Agency have enough to do? The analysis indicates that the county could save money by joining the existing Marin Energy Authority program, the community choice aggregation program set up two years ago by the county and eight other communities. This is an option the county should explore.</p><p>Finally, consumers deserve a sober assessment of not only the additional costs but also the incremental “green” benefits of investing in this new power agency. We applaud the idea of getting more power from renewable sources and lessening greenhouse gasses, but consumers need to be given a clear idea of what those environment benefits would be. After all, it's what they would be paying for.</p>