PG&E seeks big increases in monthly electricity, gas bills
PG&E, even before it seeks potential rate hikes linked to wildfire liabilities and lawsuits, on Thursday asked state regulators for large increases in monthly electricity and gas bills, according to new official filings by the embattled utility behemoth.
Customers who receive both gas and electricity services from PG&E can expect to pay $12.55 more a month in their power bills if the state Public Utilities Commission approves two sets of proposed increases, according to estimates provided Thursday by PG&E. The current average monthly bill for residential gas and electricity customers is $165.94 a month.
“This is alarming,” said Mark Toney, executive director with The Utility Reform Network, a consumer group. “PG&E is asking for a bailout.”
https://www.chicoer.com/2018/12/14/pge-seeks-big-increases-in-monthly-electricity-gas-bills/
Farm bill headed to Trump without forest management measures
After months of debate and negotiation, Congress voted final approval Wednesday to a massive farm bill that will provide more than $400 billion for agriculture subsidies, conservation programs and food aid.
However changes sought to the forestry section of the bill in response to deadly wildfires in California, giving more authority to the Agriculture and Interior departments to clear forests and other public lands, were not included in the final bill.
During a Nov. 26 visit to Paradise, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue had touted those provisions as a way to prevent deadly blazes like the Camp Fire.
They would have included provisions for salvage logging after fires, removal of dead and dying trees, clearing brush and using control burns, among other things. They were included in the House version of the bill, but not the Senate’s. The final bill does not substantially authorize wider use of what Perdue called “common-sense steps that we know work,” during his visit to Paradise.
The House voted 369-47 for the legislation, which sets federal agricultural and food policy for five years, after the Senate approved it 87-13 on Tuesday. It is now headed to the desk of President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it.
https://www.chicoer.com/2018/12/14/farm-bill-headed-to-trump-without-forest-management-measures/
It's a thing these days
It's all related anon.
Be safe.
First I'd heard of it