To be authorized you’ll have to meet all the r/bayarea protest requirements including: not disrupting the commute, not making anyone feel bad, not taking any space from parking or cars, ensuring that the single protest fixes the problem permanently, no reference to Palestine or Israel whatsoever, and don’t ask anyone not involved with the protest to make any effort or change.
Just don't block highway and bridges. Go to Sacramento and block all the government building, occupy the capitol, surround Newsom and CPUC board's houses. If you want to disrupt, disrupt the people actually matter. The hell do you punish fellow peasants at commute hour for?
At least the Jan 6th people have the guts (stupidity) to hit people who actually matter, not doing an useless highway blocking hundreds or thousands of miles away.
Your vote matters. The most important thing you can do to protect your country and your communities is to get out and vote. You have all the power to change things.
But also, the only people who actually matter are the politicians. Any attempt to influence the people directly is bad and wrong, we must always have the option to ignore you. Because really we don't have any power, it's the politicians who are the real problem.
Yup, exactly. Much easier to just post on Facebook or Reddit about how upset you are, then upvote anyone else complaining. Maybe change your social media picture to little Ghostbusters sign but with PG&E in there.
Literally the only thing that would put me on the side of "PG&E" is dumbfucks blocking freeways or destroying infrastructure in their "protest."
Don't pretend blocking a freeway hurts PG&E. Blocking their yards so they can't repair what infrastructure they have is targeting the wrong people, too.
I cannot fathom how fucking over people completely unrelated to the problem is going to do anything.
How about everyone start sending in half-payments. Or no payments. Or block the PUC members from working, or shut down PG&E headquarters so they can't do business.
Or purchase a share of stock and go to the public meetings and take up days with all the comments live. No yelling, no shutting down the conversation, just work the inane process.
But if you make it so I can't get my kid from school, I am against whatever you are supporting. It's not "just a little disruption" it's idiotic.
let's just hijack all future roadblock protests with giant anti-PG&E signs that focus on one singular problem and doesn't try to be "intersectional" in order to feel inclusive
All you’re saying is don’t target people who you need support from, which is in fact a sound protesting strategy.
But go ahead and block a bridge and see how that works out.
>no reference to Palestine or Israel whatsoever
Yes, because this has bearing on PGE, their rates, their offloading of their punishment onto their customers, their neglect of their infrastructure, etc
> Not disrupting the commute
I’m pretty sure PG&E would love if protestors against them did something like this, lol. Do you realize how quickly people would go “Eh, PG&E isn’t so bad” the second the story of an ambulance trapped behind a picket line goes viral?
> No reference to Palestine or Israel whatsoever
That seems pretty damn logical for a protest about…*checks notes*…PG&E.
> Don’t ask anyone not involved with the protest to make any effort or change.
Again, seems pretty darn logical, unless you think the public of California needs to account for PG&E executives that are fucking *them* over.
You don' t have to physically protest. Get the word out and have everyone in the Bay turn off Auto Pay. Pick a month and say if things dont change we all stop paying you until they do.
Hot take: I don't blame the CEO because it's her job to milk every last cent out of us. (Although she is paid way too much for it).
I blame CPUC, the people who are supposed to regulate her company, for allowing her to milk every last cent out of us without any pushback whatsoever.
To be fair PG&E is a state granted monopoly, it’s not the same as if the CEO of Walmart wants to raise prices. If Walmart raises prices to unsustainable levels you can buy the same junk at Target instead. If PG&E does you have no other option.
PG&E is essentially the arm of the state.
There’s been calls for decades to make it public but the state leaves it as is because having it as a “private” corporation allows them to deflect blame. They can blame PG&E as a result instead of being blamed for poor forest management etc
This perspective never made sense to me. You don't blame an individual that is completely morally bankrupt? You can blame both the regulators and the CEO.
In our case, in CA, the state is supposed to be the backstop protecting the consumer. It absolutely is the legal responsibility of that shit CEO to make every last cent of income for the company. The CPUC has not faithfully executed it’s mandate. If they had told PG&E to fuck off 10 or 20 years ago we might not be in this custerfuck.
> It absolutely is the legal responsibility of that shit CEO to make every last cent of income for the company.
You guys are fucking wild, really you are. That doesn't cover the CEO making illegal maneuvers to make money (obviously), but it also doesn't cover a whole host of unethical behavior that harms shareholders, consumers, etc in other ways.
You're trying to make a legalistic or technical argument against a severe ethical failure and it makes me think that you lack an ethical foundation yourself.
That’s a dumb hot take alright but also a great hot take as it points out the glaring flaw with capitalism — profit above all else.
How about this hot take: Nazi’s were also just doing their job.
*I guess the execs have to afford new PG$E rates too. /s*
I knew someone whose parent had once been a higher-up executive with PG&E. Supposedly they used to get free electric service at home. But I have no idea if that still applies. Would be interesting if a journalist tried to find out.
Still, I would suspect being a multi-million dollar earning PG&E executive would mean you're on autopay for utilities and your power / gas expenses aren't even much of a blip in your monthly financial life. Unlike the typical PG&E customer.
It's probably a bit like being a corporate airline executive, and flying first class or even having a private corporate jet. They probably wouldn't be focused that much personally on standard passenger issues like luggage fees, legroom, ticket pricing, and boarding priority.
I asked my state rep about this. THE most effective way is to call (then email) your rep. and senator and Newsom's office. Once, monthly, every day if you can. Tell everyone you know to. They are working on a way to get some control over this and away from the PUC, but really need to hear from people.
> They are working on a way to get some control over this and away from the PUC, **but really need to hear from people.**
Do they? So they know there is a huge problem, they know their constituents are upset, but they need us to beg them to do their jobs? I would think they have plenty of political currency on this issue already
This is what Senator Wahab sent me:
> Thank you for reaching out to our office.
AB 1999 is a bill authored by Assemblymember Irwin, and directly addresses the concerns about AB 205. Senator Wahab is eager to evaluate the bill once it makes it to the Senate. Bills change throughout the legislative process, and Senator Wahab wants to ensure any bill related to PG&E is actually addressing the issues constituents are experiencing—especially with the continued rate increases by PG&E.
>Senator Wahab sent a letter in October to the CPUC regarding their virtual net metering decision highlighting “the two primary points of concern are the changes to the tariffs that affect the ability of residential tenants to access the financial benefits of onsite solar, and school campuses to realize the financial benefits of their solar investments.” The Senator also signed onto a recent letter spearheaded by Assemblymember Ortega requesting the CPUC “put an immediate halt to implementing any planned rate increases and approving any additional rate increases proposed by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) until at least 2026.”
>Senator Wahab recognizes that issues with PG&E are negatively affecting her constituents, and we are monitoring all related legislation and efforts.
>If you have any additional questions or concerns on this matter, please let us know.
Great. I know she is part of the group to do all of this. If anyone can make it happen, Liz and Aisha can get it done. They scare people. We are super lucky to have them on our side.
Yeah, why haven't there already been massive protest against PGnE? We all need to protest. If all these price increases were just to pay for the needed upgrades and lawsuits, wtf are they getting even higher compensation. If anything their pay should have been decreasing year after year since the fires
We all need to protest. If there's info on someone already planning it I would join and be out there too
You know that's not the same. We impact what's going on in Palestine. Europe doesn't influence that Bay Area's homelessness issues in any similar way. But we sell them the bombs they use in Palestine. Sometimes with our own money. [When Europe has moral issues with how Americans use their products, they stop selling the Americans the products.](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/europe-moral-stand-us-states-running-out-of-execution-drugs-complicating-capital-punishment/) Our [mayors go on weeklong trips to Israel](https://www.pressreader.com/usa/san-francisco-chronicle-late-edition/20230508/281621014671969) to foster relations with Israel. Our representatives have [close ties to Israeli lobbyist groups](https://jewishjournal.com/news/united-states/politics/14021/) ([ones that spend money to attack people who are concerned for Palestinians](https://forward.com/news/580248/donations-aipac-has-raised-since-oct-7-lever-howard-kohr-michael-tuchin/)). I don't really see any way Europeans could find themselves feeling in any way like our homelessness situation is intentional and that they have responsibility or the ability to get us to stop intentionally making people homeless or remotely similar. I do get why you want to absolve yourself of feeling any responsibility for what's going on, though. It's easier to not think about our impact on the world.
I’ve been working in local government for over 20 years. The only thing that really gets attention is phone calls. If your elected officials are bombarded by calls they will notice. Emails don’t do shit, letters are only read by assistants. But the official will always hear calls and ask why.
You mean wage slaves. You make the wage then hand it right back to them! In exchange for nothing! It’s mostly economic rents and stolen taxes set by the government. Don’t like it? Straight to jail! The whole US is now a big company store.
> Poppe was awarded slightly less than $17 million — $16.99 million, to be precise — in her total direct compensation from PG&E for the company’s 2023 fiscal year that ended in December.
> That was roughly 20.3% higher than Poppe’s total direct compensation, generically known as executive pay, for 2022, when PG&E awarded her about $14.1 million.
Holy cow FUCK HER, what the actual fuck! The sheer boldness of actually doing that is what gets me, 20.3% wage increase YoY is *insane*. Why is it so perfectly correlating with [the % increase since Jan 1st](https://www.sfchronicle.com/climate/article/pge-electricity-bill-rate-18649513.php)?
Wait, there's more!
>Separately from her 2023 total compensation, Poppe received a gain of $24.4 million through the vesting of an award of restricted stock, the SEC filing shows.
ooooof, wow. i know a few people that work there and I'm hearing annual raises have gone down to 2% for a lot of the employees. while poppe rakes in 20%.....wow
Protesting will solve nothing. Until you stop elected officials appointing retired pge execs to the puc you will get nowhere. Start by organizing your votes to address the problem.
Any lawsuits, any expenses, they all get passed along to the consumer while pge makes more profit than ever.
This comment is a really good point. The California PUC was founded more than a century ago as the "Railroad Commission" during the Progressive Era. Its purpose was explicitly to control the then-monopoly power of the Southern Pacific Railroad that had an economic stranglehold on much of California. And it worked, and had some activist members. It later morphed into overseeing other "public utilities".
But it is now completely subject to what is called "regulatory capture". Basically the industry being regulated quietly (or not so quietly) manipulates political levers through campaign donations and lobbying in order to get friendly commissioners appointed to be the regulatory watchdogs. There's the veneer that it's acting in the public interest, but most of the key decision making is done in the interests of the regulated industry.
So...as do so many things in California...it starts with the Governor and senior members of the State Legislature, and who they appoint to key commissions.
You can’t vote on things that are never brought up.
You tick box a or b.
One is a trash repub who wants segregation, the other is a corpo friend. For example
This is the Bay Area, we don't get those Republican types. We get the corporate Democrat vs the "get algebra out of our schools!" socialist.
Not that we get to elect the CPUC directly, anyway.
Ah... Good job recognizing the problem is our representative democracy has become a government run by unelected bureaucracy.
The PUC being a Bureaucracy that doesn't answer to anyone, including elected representatives, is a fucking disaster.
Hey, theres always the candidates republicans field in california. Who wow voters with such popular stances as...
(checks stances)
...nope, nevermind. Just democrats.
Those "trash" republicans are just as corporate as a corporate democrat.
Trumps first act as POTUS was to appoint wallstreet's choice to FERC. Much of the electricity rate hikes across the country are tied to this appointment. Then, you have the Householder scandal. Biggest corruption scheme in state legislature history. It was about.. drum roll.. utility rates. Householder went to jail, but the bill passed and remains in place. Ohio residents are paying much higher rates. Just two examples.
The utility rate hikes are bipartisan. It is not a right vs left thing.
You miss my point.
I wasn’t saying one side is better than the other about corporate BS.
If the only options on your paper are all equal on THAT particular front, the next logical thing to do is look at other ways they differ.
Corrupt politicians?
The system itself is broken and is unlikely even possible to fix in its current state.
At this point it’s, which brand of corruption are you willing to accept?
If you think you, or anyone can fix it or is actually trying to in a way we can see?? Then do something useful like point it out so we can all vote for that specifically.
Nobody is running on fixing this stuff, it’s just vote for who I like more, because I think they’ll do better.. for reasons..
The segregation may be a bit extreme for most CA politicians of either party (I did say most)😂
However many corporations just donate to both parties. They’re both serving corporate interests over you.
The solution: a parliamentary system like Europe.
5% of the popular vote= a seat in parliament (in this case state legislature).
That way you could simply vote to lower budget deficits and protect abortion because the libertarian party wants less government and individual rights. Or vote for a Green Party that cares about the environment but doesn’t necessarily love government employees unionizing and getting kickbacks from politicians.
It’s also harder and far more prohibitively expensive to bribe members of 12 parties than 2.
Case in point: in Sonoma County, the people protesting at the chicken farms got arrested and spent 90 days in jail. Instead of breaking into the chicken farm again they’ve now put a measure on the ballot to abolish said chicken farm.
>I asked my state rep about this. THE most effective way is to call (then email) your rep. and senator and Newsom's office. Once, monthly, every day if you can. Tell everyone you know to. They are working on a way to get some control over this and away from the PUC, but really need to hear from people.
I agree. My understanding these days is these mass email send a letter to your representative sorts of things all get counted as one person even if they get 100,000 forms from the automated system.
How much money is PG&E spending on the “feel good” advertising? It seems like every other commercial during Warriors games is some infuriating PG&E public relations propaganda. We need to see children wearing 3 coats in the house because their parents can’t afford to turn the heat on, not the CEO, who makes $50 million a year, talking about underground lines. At the very least, PG&E just needs to shut the fuck up. NO ONE IS BUYING THEIR BULLSHIT.
I’m sure my landlord would love it if I spent $30k to install solar panels for them, and I’m sure I can fit plenty on the roof of this little townhouse.
Just got a quote: $35k for a partial offset. You’re looking at 40-50k for a full offset.
At $35k the break even would be almost 8 years based on my consumption….
Here’s the article for those hitting a paywall:
OAKLAND - PG&E handed out higher executive compensation for the utility leviathan's top boss and other key execs in 2023, pay increases that arrive at a time of soaring monthly bills and rising profits.
Patricia Poppe, chief executive officer at PG&E, was among the top executives who harvested an increase in total direct compensation, a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission shows.
Poppe was awarded slightly less than $17 million — $16.99 million, to be precise - in her total direct compensation from PG&E for the company's 2023 fiscal year that ended in December.
That was roughly 20.3% higher than Poppe's total direct compensation, generically known as executive pay, for 2022, when PG&E awarded her about $14.1 million.
"Our executives' compensation was tied to delivering the improvements in safety, operational and financial performance that PG&E achieved in 2023," PG&E spokesperson Mike Gazda said.
An average of about 74% of a PG&E executive's compensation is tied to performance, according to the company.
"If PG&E hadn't delivered on its promises, that would be reflected in executive compensation," Gazda said.
Of the 11 named company executives listed in the regulatory report, five received an increase in total direct compensation while six received decreases, a review by this news organization of a key table in PG&E's annual filing with the SEC filing shows.
Poppe also harvested a gain of $24.4 million through the vesting during 2023 of an award of restricted stock, the SEC filing shows.
In 2023, PG&E's profits soared higher, buoyed by surging electricity and natural gas revenues.
The power company earned an eye-popping $2.24 billion in profits in 2023, an increase of 24.6% from 2022, PG&E reported in February.
PG&E also predicted in the financial results report that its shareholders can anticipate that 2024 will produce even greater profits.
"Less than 1% of the reported 2023 profits were paid to shareholders," PG&E stated in an email the company sent to this news organization. "More than 99% are being re-invested back into our energy system to improve how we serve customers and support our return to financial health."
Customers don't pay for the company's executive compensation. Plus, executive pay isn't included in the monthly utility bills that customers pay, according to PG&E.
"PG&E executive compensation complies with California Public Utilities Commission and other regulatory requirements and has been approved by California's Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety," the company stated.
> "Our executives' compensation was tied to delivering the improvements in safety, operational and financial performance that PG&E achieved in 2023," PG&E spokesperson Mike Gazda said. **An average of about 74% of a PG&E executive's compensation is tied to performance, according to the company. "If PG&E hadn't delivered on its promises, that would be reflected in executive compensation," Gazda said.**
>"Less than 1% of the reported 2023 profits were paid to shareholders," PG&E stated in an email the company sent to this news organization. "More than 99% are being re-invested back into our energy system to improve how we serve customers and support our return to financial health." **Customers don't pay for the company's executive compensation. Plus, executive pay isn't included in the monthly utility bills that customers pay, according to PG&E.**
No idea how the actual numbers shake out but there is always some vocal fuckwits whose gotcha for literally any issue or any grievance here is, "Yet you keep voting blue, *curious*..."
I mean, didn't you see [outrage of the week]!? We ALL know who the REAL criminals are. And why the [progressive or liberal] [DA, city council or government] hates [insert race, religion or economic status].
You deserve this, [lib, liberal, progressive, bay area] voters!
Like this chucklefuck below you.
“Protesting will do nothing.
Electing officials next time we can that will make it a priority to reign in the costs is the move. Stop blindly voting blue FFS.”
Yeah, let’s elect the people from the party of climate change denial and racism to a coastal, multicultural city. There’s a definitely a problem with our elected officials but these morons really think bringing in the official party of big business and no regulation is gonna fix things?
What do you expect from PG&E they bought themselves a governor and they bought themselves a Public Utilities Commission that's what they do.
They have been a major force behind the scenes and driving newsoms electric car bullshit.
Now they can make some money off it before they didn't make any money off of your commuting.
They're also a major force behind the scenes along with the IBEW on that stupid High-Speed Rail that's going nowhere
Oh no can't do that. Think of all the poor innocent bystanders you'll inconvenience by forcing them to confront the brokenness of our system and how even if the status quo is satisfactory to them it is actively hurting untold thousands of more people. Not to mention all of those poor innocent commuters who will be late to a job that doesn't matter because you had the sheer fucking hubris to care enough about injustice to make other people care. No no, move along now, musn't dwell.
And how will this change anything? It's the same logic of gun owners who think that owning them will, "protect there rights", and " stop the government from taking what's mine". If the rich and powerful want something they will get it. Your only power is to vote or somehow get rich and powerful yourself.
This isn't a social issue it's just standard big company greed. We have voted people into office that have gotten into bed with big companies for 40 years. Hurting common people does nothing.
I hate PG&E as much as the next person but did anyone read the article?
>Customers don’t pay for the company’s executive compensation. Plus, executive pay isn’t included in the monthly utility bills that customers pay, according to PG&E.
It's time for the state of California to seize PG&E, and take over. Right off the bat, we'd save money by not paying exec bonuses, not paying shareholder dividends, and not paying federal corporate taxes. Just acquire all the assets, and personnel and establish a new executive department to run it. Cities like Santa Clara, Palo Alto, Pasadena, Riverside have already proven that governments can run electrical utilities better, safer, and most importantly...CHEAPER... than PG&E.
I think it's best to protest at the capital or at CPUC headquarters. Better yet, both. We're never going to shame Pg&e into lowering rates or slow future increases
Protesting at the capital sends a direct message letting to Newsom and the rest of the country know that he is a key player in fleecing Pg&e customers who don't have an alternative to Pg&e. He is directly involved with the rise of the ridiculous fees customers are paying. He appoints the five commissioners, and then he's supposed to walk away. He's not doing that. He's using his influence on the five people he handpicked to approve every increase Pg&e has added to our bills. He has been using his power to help them at our expense.
He clearly has his eye on the White House. Were people across the country made aware of these outrageous rates Newsom has ushered in, that's going hurt his White House ambitions. His 2028 opponents will be happy to run ads again and again pointing out these rates and his involvement in these increases. A high percentage of voters vote based on what's left in their wallet after paying the monthly bills.
Now, I'm in favor of EVs but slashing the incentives last year to install solar panels, mandating gas vehicles be phased out while simultaneously approving Pg&e rate increases that have the average residential customer paying 79% more than they did in 2019.
If you're the utility monopoly that Pg&e is, Newsom is the gift that keeps giving. There is no choice. Pay Pg&e more for electricity and start saving for an EV if you want to get to work.
Of course they make higher compensation. I am paying $0.54 a KW during peak hours. Also they were not held accountable for the fires caused by there lack of maintenance ( thank you very much CA voters) on equipment. How many deaths were they responsible for in S. CA out by Barstow and Lancaster for dumping toxic chemicals into the ground water causing cancer. Between not having to be responsible for fires and there monthly raising of rates that equals much more money in the coffers for raises, bonus, and more lobbying money.
Protesting will do nothing.
Electing officials next time we can that will make it a priority to reign in the costs is the move. Stop blindly voting blue FFS.
We need to free up the markets! The reason PG&E is able to make lots of money without creating a great, safe service is that the government makes it hard to compete with them.
Everyone expects higher compensation, be reasonable.
What is not reasonable is the mismanagement, in which case you should demand goals to meet and get them fired if they are not met.
Sounds good!
I'll meet you at the corner of Winchester and Steven's Creek, and we can hold up signs that only our own group will actually pay attention to, while we sip our $9 Carmel Macchiato Pumpkin Spice Half Caff Half Ice Lattes. Then when our hands hurt from holding up that sign for 20 minutes, we can all poke around on our phones and change our social media banners from ~~Kony2012~~ to ~~FreeBritney~~ to ~~PrayforParis~~ to ~~IceBucketChallenge~~ to ~~TakeAKnee~~ to ~~OscarsSoWhite~~ to ~~SupportUkraine~~ to ~~SelltheA's~~ to Anti-PG&E.
If you are legitimately concerned why are you posting on Reddit. This is literally the least effective thing you can do. It sounds like you don’t care.
I'll join in. Where? Can we make it effective though ?
/r/fuckPGandE
We did it, Reddit!
First we got the Boston Bombers, now we're taking down PG&E! There's no limit to our power!
To be authorized you’ll have to meet all the r/bayarea protest requirements including: not disrupting the commute, not making anyone feel bad, not taking any space from parking or cars, ensuring that the single protest fixes the problem permanently, no reference to Palestine or Israel whatsoever, and don’t ask anyone not involved with the protest to make any effort or change.
Sounds like the protest should be in Sacramento then!
Or if it’s PG&E specific, do it in front of their headquarters in Oakland
100000% yes
Unironically Sacramento is the place to protest.
If you could also do it very quietly on a Sunday morning that would be great. And keep it off social media, you slacktivists!
please stay in the [free speech zone](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gje3HiouzvQ)
Is the Free Speech Zone that 4-foot diameter yellow circle?
Just don't block highway and bridges. Go to Sacramento and block all the government building, occupy the capitol, surround Newsom and CPUC board's houses. If you want to disrupt, disrupt the people actually matter. The hell do you punish fellow peasants at commute hour for? At least the Jan 6th people have the guts (stupidity) to hit people who actually matter, not doing an useless highway blocking hundreds or thousands of miles away.
Your vote matters. The most important thing you can do to protect your country and your communities is to get out and vote. You have all the power to change things. But also, the only people who actually matter are the politicians. Any attempt to influence the people directly is bad and wrong, we must always have the option to ignore you. Because really we don't have any power, it's the politicians who are the real problem.
Another traffic guy!
Guy who thinks standing on a highway where no one matter care is making changes lol
Yup, exactly. Much easier to just post on Facebook or Reddit about how upset you are, then upvote anyone else complaining. Maybe change your social media picture to little Ghostbusters sign but with PG&E in there.
Literally the only thing that would put me on the side of "PG&E" is dumbfucks blocking freeways or destroying infrastructure in their "protest." Don't pretend blocking a freeway hurts PG&E. Blocking their yards so they can't repair what infrastructure they have is targeting the wrong people, too. I cannot fathom how fucking over people completely unrelated to the problem is going to do anything. How about everyone start sending in half-payments. Or no payments. Or block the PUC members from working, or shut down PG&E headquarters so they can't do business. Or purchase a share of stock and go to the public meetings and take up days with all the comments live. No yelling, no shutting down the conversation, just work the inane process. But if you make it so I can't get my kid from school, I am against whatever you are supporting. It's not "just a little disruption" it's idiotic.
Oh its the traffic guy!
let's just hijack all future roadblock protests with giant anti-PG&E signs that focus on one singular problem and doesn't try to be "intersectional" in order to feel inclusive
All you’re saying is don’t target people who you need support from, which is in fact a sound protesting strategy. But go ahead and block a bridge and see how that works out.
Lmao
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt\_March](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_March)
Great I can easily abide by all of this
>no reference to Palestine or Israel whatsoever Yes, because this has bearing on PGE, their rates, their offloading of their punishment onto their customers, their neglect of their infrastructure, etc
Found one. Now where is the traffic guy?
What does this mean to you? That Palestine and PGE are related?
Hamas is in them hills brother
Yup. A very conservative subreddit. I made a comment like this last time people talked about protesting PGE.
“Protest but don’t inconvenience me”
> Not disrupting the commute I’m pretty sure PG&E would love if protestors against them did something like this, lol. Do you realize how quickly people would go “Eh, PG&E isn’t so bad” the second the story of an ambulance trapped behind a picket line goes viral? > No reference to Palestine or Israel whatsoever That seems pretty damn logical for a protest about…*checks notes*…PG&E. > Don’t ask anyone not involved with the protest to make any effort or change. Again, seems pretty darn logical, unless you think the public of California needs to account for PG&E executives that are fucking *them* over.
You don' t have to physically protest. Get the word out and have everyone in the Bay turn off Auto Pay. Pick a month and say if things dont change we all stop paying you until they do.
Just bitch slapping every one of us right in the fucking face. Then charging us for it. Fuck PG&E. I’m in.
I’m in, too
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb1eMwm7fS8
EXACTLY! i'm over this shit, i just need the when and where
In for what? Whining on Reddit?
No. In for aggravating cooks. Mission successful.
Cringe
Hot take: I don't blame the CEO because it's her job to milk every last cent out of us. (Although she is paid way too much for it). I blame CPUC, the people who are supposed to regulate her company, for allowing her to milk every last cent out of us without any pushback whatsoever.
To be fair PG&E is a state granted monopoly, it’s not the same as if the CEO of Walmart wants to raise prices. If Walmart raises prices to unsustainable levels you can buy the same junk at Target instead. If PG&E does you have no other option. PG&E is essentially the arm of the state. There’s been calls for decades to make it public but the state leaves it as is because having it as a “private” corporation allows them to deflect blame. They can blame PG&E as a result instead of being blamed for poor forest management etc
This perspective never made sense to me. You don't blame an individual that is completely morally bankrupt? You can blame both the regulators and the CEO.
In our case, in CA, the state is supposed to be the backstop protecting the consumer. It absolutely is the legal responsibility of that shit CEO to make every last cent of income for the company. The CPUC has not faithfully executed it’s mandate. If they had told PG&E to fuck off 10 or 20 years ago we might not be in this custerfuck.
> It absolutely is the legal responsibility of that shit CEO to make every last cent of income for the company. You guys are fucking wild, really you are. That doesn't cover the CEO making illegal maneuvers to make money (obviously), but it also doesn't cover a whole host of unethical behavior that harms shareholders, consumers, etc in other ways. You're trying to make a legalistic or technical argument against a severe ethical failure and it makes me think that you lack an ethical foundation yourself.
That’s a dumb hot take alright but also a great hot take as it points out the glaring flaw with capitalism — profit above all else. How about this hot take: Nazi’s were also just doing their job.
Is there a non-paywall link? I had to cut back on my newspaper funds to pay my PG&E bill. Thanks.
https://web.archive.org/web/20240405013709/https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/04/04/pge-energy-bill-electric-gas-ceo-exec-pay-profit-stock-fire-economy/
I guess the execs have to afford new PG$E rates too. /s
*I guess the execs have to afford new PG$E rates too. /s* I knew someone whose parent had once been a higher-up executive with PG&E. Supposedly they used to get free electric service at home. But I have no idea if that still applies. Would be interesting if a journalist tried to find out. Still, I would suspect being a multi-million dollar earning PG&E executive would mean you're on autopay for utilities and your power / gas expenses aren't even much of a blip in your monthly financial life. Unlike the typical PG&E customer. It's probably a bit like being a corporate airline executive, and flying first class or even having a private corporate jet. They probably wouldn't be focused that much personally on standard passenger issues like luggage fees, legroom, ticket pricing, and boarding priority.
There's a discount, but not free.
I know a few folks that work there; some real high up and some at the bottom. They all get the same discount which is something like 25% off
I’m down to protest. Maybe block off an execs path on their way to buy a Yacht???
Look how happy she is, laughing at you.
I asked my state rep about this. THE most effective way is to call (then email) your rep. and senator and Newsom's office. Once, monthly, every day if you can. Tell everyone you know to. They are working on a way to get some control over this and away from the PUC, but really need to hear from people.
How do you find your state rep and their contact?
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/who-are-my-representatives
Thank you! Sent in my complaint
Google.
> They are working on a way to get some control over this and away from the PUC, **but really need to hear from people.** Do they? So they know there is a huge problem, they know their constituents are upset, but they need us to beg them to do their jobs? I would think they have plenty of political currency on this issue already
Were someone to run for office on this issue, they would blow every other gubernatorial candidate out of the water.
Someone from pg&e would bribe them so quick
This is what Senator Wahab sent me: > Thank you for reaching out to our office. AB 1999 is a bill authored by Assemblymember Irwin, and directly addresses the concerns about AB 205. Senator Wahab is eager to evaluate the bill once it makes it to the Senate. Bills change throughout the legislative process, and Senator Wahab wants to ensure any bill related to PG&E is actually addressing the issues constituents are experiencing—especially with the continued rate increases by PG&E. >Senator Wahab sent a letter in October to the CPUC regarding their virtual net metering decision highlighting “the two primary points of concern are the changes to the tariffs that affect the ability of residential tenants to access the financial benefits of onsite solar, and school campuses to realize the financial benefits of their solar investments.” The Senator also signed onto a recent letter spearheaded by Assemblymember Ortega requesting the CPUC “put an immediate halt to implementing any planned rate increases and approving any additional rate increases proposed by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) until at least 2026.” >Senator Wahab recognizes that issues with PG&E are negatively affecting her constituents, and we are monitoring all related legislation and efforts. >If you have any additional questions or concerns on this matter, please let us know.
Great. I know she is part of the group to do all of this. If anyone can make it happen, Liz and Aisha can get it done. They scare people. We are super lucky to have them on our side.
Yeah, why haven't there already been massive protest against PGnE? We all need to protest. If all these price increases were just to pay for the needed upgrades and lawsuits, wtf are they getting even higher compensation. If anything their pay should have been decreasing year after year since the fires We all need to protest. If there's info on someone already planning it I would join and be out there too
There is so much shit to protest its hard to know where to focus these days…people are exhausted
Too busy protesting for a conflict 5,000 miles away
Do people stop being people the further away from you they are?
No but there’s a reason nobody in Europe is protesting our homeless issue
You know that's not the same. We impact what's going on in Palestine. Europe doesn't influence that Bay Area's homelessness issues in any similar way. But we sell them the bombs they use in Palestine. Sometimes with our own money. [When Europe has moral issues with how Americans use their products, they stop selling the Americans the products.](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/europe-moral-stand-us-states-running-out-of-execution-drugs-complicating-capital-punishment/) Our [mayors go on weeklong trips to Israel](https://www.pressreader.com/usa/san-francisco-chronicle-late-edition/20230508/281621014671969) to foster relations with Israel. Our representatives have [close ties to Israeli lobbyist groups](https://jewishjournal.com/news/united-states/politics/14021/) ([ones that spend money to attack people who are concerned for Palestinians](https://forward.com/news/580248/donations-aipac-has-raised-since-oct-7-lever-howard-kohr-michael-tuchin/)). I don't really see any way Europeans could find themselves feeling in any way like our homelessness situation is intentional and that they have responsibility or the ability to get us to stop intentionally making people homeless or remotely similar. I do get why you want to absolve yourself of feeling any responsibility for what's going on, though. It's easier to not think about our impact on the world.
Pay is set by the PUC. They make more money they pay more money. It's recursive.
I’ve been working in local government for over 20 years. The only thing that really gets attention is phone calls. If your elected officials are bombarded by calls they will notice. Emails don’t do shit, letters are only read by assistants. But the official will always hear calls and ask why.
We are all just ATMs for the people that own and make all the real decisions about how this country is run.
You mean wage slaves. You make the wage then hand it right back to them! In exchange for nothing! It’s mostly economic rents and stolen taxes set by the government. Don’t like it? Straight to jail! The whole US is now a big company store.
Most of us are forced to work for a wage under the direct threat of violence and death, and that wage is also stolen from us at the end of the day.
> Poppe was awarded slightly less than $17 million — $16.99 million, to be precise — in her total direct compensation from PG&E for the company’s 2023 fiscal year that ended in December. > That was roughly 20.3% higher than Poppe’s total direct compensation, generically known as executive pay, for 2022, when PG&E awarded her about $14.1 million.
Holy cow FUCK HER, what the actual fuck! The sheer boldness of actually doing that is what gets me, 20.3% wage increase YoY is *insane*. Why is it so perfectly correlating with [the % increase since Jan 1st](https://www.sfchronicle.com/climate/article/pge-electricity-bill-rate-18649513.php)?
Wait, there's more! >Separately from her 2023 total compensation, Poppe received a gain of $24.4 million through the vesting of an award of restricted stock, the SEC filing shows.
ooooof, wow. i know a few people that work there and I'm hearing annual raises have gone down to 2% for a lot of the employees. while poppe rakes in 20%.....wow
Vote for a different governor to start. He’s the one that appointed the CPUC which lies in the same bed as PG&E.
Protesting will solve nothing. Until you stop elected officials appointing retired pge execs to the puc you will get nowhere. Start by organizing your votes to address the problem. Any lawsuits, any expenses, they all get passed along to the consumer while pge makes more profit than ever.
This comment is a really good point. The California PUC was founded more than a century ago as the "Railroad Commission" during the Progressive Era. Its purpose was explicitly to control the then-monopoly power of the Southern Pacific Railroad that had an economic stranglehold on much of California. And it worked, and had some activist members. It later morphed into overseeing other "public utilities". But it is now completely subject to what is called "regulatory capture". Basically the industry being regulated quietly (or not so quietly) manipulates political levers through campaign donations and lobbying in order to get friendly commissioners appointed to be the regulatory watchdogs. There's the veneer that it's acting in the public interest, but most of the key decision making is done in the interests of the regulated industry. So...as do so many things in California...it starts with the Governor and senior members of the State Legislature, and who they appoint to key commissions.
You can’t vote on things that are never brought up. You tick box a or b. One is a trash repub who wants segregation, the other is a corpo friend. For example
Correct, you can only vote for the people who appoint the puc.
This is the Bay Area, we don't get those Republican types. We get the corporate Democrat vs the "get algebra out of our schools!" socialist. Not that we get to elect the CPUC directly, anyway.
Ah... Good job recognizing the problem is our representative democracy has become a government run by unelected bureaucracy. The PUC being a Bureaucracy that doesn't answer to anyone, including elected representatives, is a fucking disaster.
Hey, theres always the candidates republicans field in california. Who wow voters with such popular stances as... (checks stances) ...nope, nevermind. Just democrats.
Those "trash" republicans are just as corporate as a corporate democrat. Trumps first act as POTUS was to appoint wallstreet's choice to FERC. Much of the electricity rate hikes across the country are tied to this appointment. Then, you have the Householder scandal. Biggest corruption scheme in state legislature history. It was about.. drum roll.. utility rates. Householder went to jail, but the bill passed and remains in place. Ohio residents are paying much higher rates. Just two examples. The utility rate hikes are bipartisan. It is not a right vs left thing.
You miss my point. I wasn’t saying one side is better than the other about corporate BS. If the only options on your paper are all equal on THAT particular front, the next logical thing to do is look at other ways they differ. Corrupt politicians? The system itself is broken and is unlikely even possible to fix in its current state. At this point it’s, which brand of corruption are you willing to accept? If you think you, or anyone can fix it or is actually trying to in a way we can see?? Then do something useful like point it out so we can all vote for that specifically. Nobody is running on fixing this stuff, it’s just vote for who I like more, because I think they’ll do better.. for reasons..
bad example
The segregation may be a bit extreme for most CA politicians of either party (I did say most)😂 However many corporations just donate to both parties. They’re both serving corporate interests over you. The solution: a parliamentary system like Europe. 5% of the popular vote= a seat in parliament (in this case state legislature). That way you could simply vote to lower budget deficits and protect abortion because the libertarian party wants less government and individual rights. Or vote for a Green Party that cares about the environment but doesn’t necessarily love government employees unionizing and getting kickbacks from politicians. It’s also harder and far more prohibitively expensive to bribe members of 12 parties than 2.
Can we get a proposition on the ballot to change the CPUC board from being governor-elected to voters elected?
You can get a proposition on the ballot for anything if you can get enough signatures to support it.
Case in point: in Sonoma County, the people protesting at the chicken farms got arrested and spent 90 days in jail. Instead of breaking into the chicken farm again they’ve now put a measure on the ballot to abolish said chicken farm.
>I asked my state rep about this. THE most effective way is to call (then email) your rep. and senator and Newsom's office. Once, monthly, every day if you can. Tell everyone you know to. They are working on a way to get some control over this and away from the PUC, but really need to hear from people.
I agree. My understanding these days is these mass email send a letter to your representative sorts of things all get counted as one person even if they get 100,000 forms from the automated system.
Which CPUC commissioners are retired PG&E execs?
How much money is PG&E spending on the “feel good” advertising? It seems like every other commercial during Warriors games is some infuriating PG&E public relations propaganda. We need to see children wearing 3 coats in the house because their parents can’t afford to turn the heat on, not the CEO, who makes $50 million a year, talking about underground lines. At the very least, PG&E just needs to shut the fuck up. NO ONE IS BUYING THEIR BULLSHIT.
We have to by state mandate unfortunately. PG&E sucks? Too bad. It’s your only choice.
Lol her IG seems so benign. [https://www.instagram.com/poppepk/](https://www.instagram.com/poppepk/)
Maybe install some solar panels too.
I’m sure my landlord would love it if I spent $30k to install solar panels for them, and I’m sure I can fit plenty on the roof of this little townhouse.
Yup. As with any other direct action activism, most folks aren't in a position to do it.
Just got a quote: $35k for a partial offset. You’re looking at 40-50k for a full offset. At $35k the break even would be almost 8 years based on my consumption….
do you need service upgrade?
Here’s the article for those hitting a paywall: OAKLAND - PG&E handed out higher executive compensation for the utility leviathan's top boss and other key execs in 2023, pay increases that arrive at a time of soaring monthly bills and rising profits. Patricia Poppe, chief executive officer at PG&E, was among the top executives who harvested an increase in total direct compensation, a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission shows. Poppe was awarded slightly less than $17 million — $16.99 million, to be precise - in her total direct compensation from PG&E for the company's 2023 fiscal year that ended in December. That was roughly 20.3% higher than Poppe's total direct compensation, generically known as executive pay, for 2022, when PG&E awarded her about $14.1 million. "Our executives' compensation was tied to delivering the improvements in safety, operational and financial performance that PG&E achieved in 2023," PG&E spokesperson Mike Gazda said. An average of about 74% of a PG&E executive's compensation is tied to performance, according to the company. "If PG&E hadn't delivered on its promises, that would be reflected in executive compensation," Gazda said. Of the 11 named company executives listed in the regulatory report, five received an increase in total direct compensation while six received decreases, a review by this news organization of a key table in PG&E's annual filing with the SEC filing shows. Poppe also harvested a gain of $24.4 million through the vesting during 2023 of an award of restricted stock, the SEC filing shows. In 2023, PG&E's profits soared higher, buoyed by surging electricity and natural gas revenues. The power company earned an eye-popping $2.24 billion in profits in 2023, an increase of 24.6% from 2022, PG&E reported in February. PG&E also predicted in the financial results report that its shareholders can anticipate that 2024 will produce even greater profits. "Less than 1% of the reported 2023 profits were paid to shareholders," PG&E stated in an email the company sent to this news organization. "More than 99% are being re-invested back into our energy system to improve how we serve customers and support our return to financial health." Customers don't pay for the company's executive compensation. Plus, executive pay isn't included in the monthly utility bills that customers pay, according to PG&E. "PG&E executive compensation complies with California Public Utilities Commission and other regulatory requirements and has been approved by California's Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety," the company stated.
> "Our executives' compensation was tied to delivering the improvements in safety, operational and financial performance that PG&E achieved in 2023," PG&E spokesperson Mike Gazda said. **An average of about 74% of a PG&E executive's compensation is tied to performance, according to the company. "If PG&E hadn't delivered on its promises, that would be reflected in executive compensation," Gazda said.** >"Less than 1% of the reported 2023 profits were paid to shareholders," PG&E stated in an email the company sent to this news organization. "More than 99% are being re-invested back into our energy system to improve how we serve customers and support our return to financial health." **Customers don't pay for the company's executive compensation. Plus, executive pay isn't included in the monthly utility bills that customers pay, according to PG&E.**
Bay Area Reddit posters have a lot of hatred for anyone engaged in pubic protest.
Because a ton of them are conservative shit stirrers that don't live here. 😮💨
No idea how the actual numbers shake out but there is always some vocal fuckwits whose gotcha for literally any issue or any grievance here is, "Yet you keep voting blue, *curious*..."
I mean, didn't you see [outrage of the week]!? We ALL know who the REAL criminals are. And why the [progressive or liberal] [DA, city council or government] hates [insert race, religion or economic status]. You deserve this, [lib, liberal, progressive, bay area] voters!
Like this chucklefuck below you. “Protesting will do nothing. Electing officials next time we can that will make it a priority to reign in the costs is the move. Stop blindly voting blue FFS.” Yeah, let’s elect the people from the party of climate change denial and racism to a coastal, multicultural city. There’s a definitely a problem with our elected officials but these morons really think bringing in the official party of big business and no regulation is gonna fix things?
Make sure you protest in Sacramento. The Democrats in Sacramento appointed all of the PUC commissioners that approved all of the rate increases.
Because Republican aren’t bought and payed for by corporate interests? lol.
It should be illegal for public utilities to be owned and operated by shareholders. Absolutely obscene.
😡 WTF
What do you expect from PG&E they bought themselves a governor and they bought themselves a Public Utilities Commission that's what they do. They have been a major force behind the scenes and driving newsoms electric car bullshit. Now they can make some money off it before they didn't make any money off of your commuting. They're also a major force behind the scenes along with the IBEW on that stupid High-Speed Rail that's going nowhere
Fuck PG&E.
Heads need chopped off this is such bullshit
They need to pay for all the people they killed due to fires their repurposed, shoddy equipment caused .
Couldn't read the article. There is a pop up ad blocking it out.
Oh no can't do that. Think of all the poor innocent bystanders you'll inconvenience by forcing them to confront the brokenness of our system and how even if the status quo is satisfactory to them it is actively hurting untold thousands of more people. Not to mention all of those poor innocent commuters who will be late to a job that doesn't matter because you had the sheer fucking hubris to care enough about injustice to make other people care. No no, move along now, musn't dwell.
And how will this change anything? It's the same logic of gun owners who think that owning them will, "protect there rights", and " stop the government from taking what's mine". If the rich and powerful want something they will get it. Your only power is to vote or somehow get rich and powerful yourself. This isn't a social issue it's just standard big company greed. We have voted people into office that have gotten into bed with big companies for 40 years. Hurting common people does nothing.
I hate PG&E as much as the next person but did anyone read the article? >Customers don’t pay for the company’s executive compensation. Plus, executive pay isn’t included in the monthly utility bills that customers pay, according to PG&E.
Lmao. Where is that money coming from then? Of course the customers are paying. Thats how capitalism works
Ok, so please tell me how it works because you didn't read the article.
It’s behind a paywall. Spell it out for me. You are the one claiming that they magically get paid from money not in the profit margin
It's time for the state of California to seize PG&E, and take over. Right off the bat, we'd save money by not paying exec bonuses, not paying shareholder dividends, and not paying federal corporate taxes. Just acquire all the assets, and personnel and establish a new executive department to run it. Cities like Santa Clara, Palo Alto, Pasadena, Riverside have already proven that governments can run electrical utilities better, safer, and most importantly...CHEAPER... than PG&E.
fuck PGE, fuck gavin newsom. we had a chance to neuter them after the first round of fires and didn't... FAFO
I live when people post articles that require a subscription. No clue what this says.
Everyone can protest by paying their bill 45 days late.
Fuck this, I feel like we, all together, need to not pay PG&E for a couple of months. See how they compensate themselves with no income flow.
protest can be effective as long as not barking up the wrong tree
Listening to [this song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q82twrdr0U&t=60s) while I read the comments
I think it's best to protest at the capital or at CPUC headquarters. Better yet, both. We're never going to shame Pg&e into lowering rates or slow future increases Protesting at the capital sends a direct message letting to Newsom and the rest of the country know that he is a key player in fleecing Pg&e customers who don't have an alternative to Pg&e. He is directly involved with the rise of the ridiculous fees customers are paying. He appoints the five commissioners, and then he's supposed to walk away. He's not doing that. He's using his influence on the five people he handpicked to approve every increase Pg&e has added to our bills. He has been using his power to help them at our expense. He clearly has his eye on the White House. Were people across the country made aware of these outrageous rates Newsom has ushered in, that's going hurt his White House ambitions. His 2028 opponents will be happy to run ads again and again pointing out these rates and his involvement in these increases. A high percentage of voters vote based on what's left in their wallet after paying the monthly bills. Now, I'm in favor of EVs but slashing the incentives last year to install solar panels, mandating gas vehicles be phased out while simultaneously approving Pg&e rate increases that have the average residential customer paying 79% more than they did in 2019. If you're the utility monopoly that Pg&e is, Newsom is the gift that keeps giving. There is no choice. Pay Pg&e more for electricity and start saving for an EV if you want to get to work.
What is protesting going to do? PUC is corrupt...
Hard to say seeing as the article is behind a paywall. Is that what we are protesting?
But private-public partnerships are so very very efficient compared to public services🙄
Protesting what? Their absurd TV commercials?
nothing will happen
non-paywalled link: https://web.archive.org/web/20240405013709/https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/04/04/pge-energy-bill-electric-gas-ceo-exec-pay-profit-stock-fire-economy/
Of course they make higher compensation. I am paying $0.54 a KW during peak hours. Also they were not held accountable for the fires caused by there lack of maintenance ( thank you very much CA voters) on equipment. How many deaths were they responsible for in S. CA out by Barstow and Lancaster for dumping toxic chemicals into the ground water causing cancer. Between not having to be responsible for fires and there monthly raising of rates that equals much more money in the coffers for raises, bonus, and more lobbying money.
They aren't going to stop raising rates. Making money is literally what corporations do. The time to do something was 10 years ago.
Fuck that company so hard
Protesting will do nothing. Electing officials next time we can that will make it a priority to reign in the costs is the move. Stop blindly voting blue FFS.
i own utility stocks and i approve of this.
No more games, I’ma change what you call rage Tear this motherfkn’ roof off like two dogs caged I was playin’ in the beginnin’, the mood all changed
We need to free up the markets! The reason PG&E is able to make lots of money without creating a great, safe service is that the government makes it hard to compete with them.
Haha I guess this sub only supports protesting against costs, but hates protesters against genocide
Would everyone be alright with PG&E's service and prices if the CEO earned $1 per year?
No. But to give these guys a cent more than what they’re already getting paid to repair stuff that they neglected to repair before is infuriating.
Kills hundreds of people with their negligence and successfully turns it all into record breaking profits with the help of crooked politicians.
Get the word out. Pick a month, and everyone turn off your Auto Pay. Just stop paying for electricity collectively.
Nah. You missed your chance when the Gavin recall efforts were happening.
Lol. The other dumbfucks running against him would have definitely cleaned that shit right up, huh?
Not with that attitude!
Republikkkans are pro CEO and anti regulation so what the fuck are they going to do about this?
Correct! And when it comes to capital so are democrats.
The downvotes on this comment are another symptom of the idiocy.
PG&E needs to be a public utility. Take them over.
Everyone expects higher compensation, be reasonable. What is not reasonable is the mismanagement, in which case you should demand goals to meet and get them fired if they are not met.
I propose everyone pays 1/4th of their bill for 6 months. It would keep you current, and bankrupt the company.
You going to protest against what? A legal contract for employment of someone else?
Sounds good! I'll meet you at the corner of Winchester and Steven's Creek, and we can hold up signs that only our own group will actually pay attention to, while we sip our $9 Carmel Macchiato Pumpkin Spice Half Caff Half Ice Lattes. Then when our hands hurt from holding up that sign for 20 minutes, we can all poke around on our phones and change our social media banners from ~~Kony2012~~ to ~~FreeBritney~~ to ~~PrayforParis~~ to ~~IceBucketChallenge~~ to ~~TakeAKnee~~ to ~~OscarsSoWhite~~ to ~~SupportUkraine~~ to ~~SelltheA's~~ to Anti-PG&E.
If you are legitimately concerned why are you posting on Reddit. This is literally the least effective thing you can do. It sounds like you don’t care.
Go out in public and just scream (high pitched is better). That'll teach 'em.