October 21, 2005

Prop 80 - what should I vote for?

Honestly… this proposition system is awful. I spend a lot of researching this stuff, and still I get somewhat confused. Take a look at Proposition 80 for example:

Proposition 80: Electric Service Providers. Regulation - California State Government

Proposition 80
Electric Service Providers. Regulation
State of California
Initiative Statute

Should the state expand its regulation of the electric industry?

Summary Prepared by the State Attorney General:
Subjects electric service providers to regulation by California Public Utilities Commission. Restricts electricity customers’ ability to switch from private utilities to other providers. Requires all retail electric sellers to increase renewable energy resource procurement by 2010.

Fiscal Impact from the Legislative Analyst:
Potential annual administrative costs ranging from negligible to $4 million, paid by fees. Unknown net impact on state and local costs and revenues from uncertain impact on electricity rates.

Meaning of Voting Yes/No
A YES vote on this measure means:
The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) would have broadened authority to regulate electric service providers. The PUC’s current policies related to the electricity procurement process, resource adequacy requirements, and the renewables portfolio standard would be put into law. Small electricity customers in existing buildings could not be required to accept time-differentiated electricity rates without their consent. The current prohibition on new “direct access” for electricity service would be continued beyond 2015.

A NO vote on this measure means:
The PUC would not have broadened authority to regulate electric service providers. The PUC’s current policies related to the electricity procurement process, resource adequacy requirements, and the renewables portfolio standard would not be put into law. The PUC would determine whether and how small electricity customers in existing buildings would be required to have time-differentiated electricity service. New “direct access” for electricity service would continue to be prohibited until 2015, after which time it would be allowed.

Alright… I’m stumped. Ii’m pretty much set with all the other propositions, but just not this one. How should I vote on this one? Thoughts?

Posted by: dtc @ 10:35 pm

5 Comments to “Prop 80 - what should I vote for?”

  1. Dave Cortright Says:

    When in doubt, vote “No”.

  2. Dennis T Cheung Says:

    Good point!

  3. David M. Says:

    why not vote for it? the move to more renewable energy forms alone seems worth it.

  4. David M. Says:

    why not vote for it? the move to more renewable energy forms alone seems worth it. that plus the fact that the energy companies are funding the no campaign…

  5. Dennis T Cheung Says:

    Is that really true?

    http://www.voterguide.ss.ca.gov/prop80/args_rebuttals.shtml

    Note this:

    >>>>
    Proposition 80 IS A HIGH RISK PROPOSITION THAT WILL HURT CONSUMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT. Vote NO on Proposition 80.

    LES NELSON, President
    California Solar Energy Industries Association

    KARL GAWELL, Executive Director
    Geothermal Energy Association

    JAMES SWEENEY, Co-Director of the Energy,
    Natural Resources and the Environment Program at the
    Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research
    <<<<

    Those are energy companies indeed - but renewable ones!

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