SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego Gas & Electric customers on Wednesday spoke about the company’s electric bills.
“It’s always been a ripoff and it continues to be a ripoff,” said Julie from Mission Valley.
“I think our bill keeps going up,” added Melissa from Pine Valley.
But Vini from San Diego says, “I think they’re great. I have received exceptional service from them. Their customer service is very good.”
She is actually not alone, while other customers feel trapped
“All of us are stuck basically with SDG&E. Is there another choice?” Melissa asked.
In North County in District 5, there is. The Clean Energy Alliance is a nonprofit formed to create clean energy at lower rates. San Marcos and Escondido are already in, and Vista and Oceanside will be joining on April 1. But residents can opt-out.
The savings per customer last year was minimal, but then SDG&E lowered rates this year.
“I’m gonna stick with the devil, I know,” said County supervisor Jim Desmond who also likes SDG&E because the CEA is run by government officials which sets the rates.
“I’m in government, I don’t trust government,” Desmond said.
SDG&E sent this statement about the alliance: “While SDG&E will no longer be responsible for buying electricity to serve CEA customers, we will continue to operate and build the infrastructure needed to deliver clean, safe and reliable electricity to them, as well as provide billing, meter reading and other customer services. We are committed to doing everything we can to ensure a seamless transition.”
Meanwhile, in San Diego, there’s a push to purchase the grid from SDG&E and make it municipal.
“SDG&E’s latest report is garbage,” said Bill Powers from Power San Diego.
Powers and his group are trying to gather enough signatures to put a measure on the November ballot to let voters decide if the city should buy the grid, but says SDG&E is gaslighting the figures.
“Our total number is $3.5 billion. Their total number ranges from $9 billion to $13 billion,” Powers said.
Power San Diego still needs about 80,000 signatures to get the measure on the November ballot.