Blog
PG&E Seeks Reliably Higher Rates From California Public Utilities Commission
by Mark Toney, PhD, TURN Executive Director
June 18th, 2008
by Mark Toney, PhD, TURN Executive Director
June 18th, 2008
Unfortunately, the most reliable thing about PG&E is their greed. Despite all the extra money PG&E has already collected, it claims consumers in northern California must pay even more if they are tired of substandard service.
Just say NO to PG&E's high rates
PG&E currently has proposals for $4 billion in new rate hikes pending at the CPUC. Do you think PG&E’s rates are too high already? Speak out against PG&E's unfair rate hikes.
San Francisco calls for an immediate Smart Meter moratorium
by TURN
by TURN
San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera joined TURN's call for a Smart Meter moratorium, condemning PG&E's Smart Meter program as a fiasco.
Despite Spending $50 Million, California Rejects PG&E
by Paul Hogarth, California Progress Report
June 9th, 2010
by Paul Hogarth, California Progress Report
June 9th, 2010
Despite PG&E's record-breaking campaign expenses, California voters rejected their power grab.
PG&E wastes your money on corporate boondoggles
by TURN
by TURN
PG&E wastes billions of customer dollars on their mistakes and malfeasance, and now they want to change the California constitution to lock in high rates and lock out public power.
Jon Stewart to Apple: If you wanna break down someone's door, why don't you start with AT&T?
by TURN
April 29th, 2010
by TURN
April 29th, 2010
Jon Stewart weighs in on the iphone leak controversy, telling Apple to go after AT&T for making "your amazing phone unusable as a phone!" in an amazing Daily Show rant.
'Ya Gotta Beat 16' Song
by TURN
by TURN
VIDEO: Cool take-off on the Tennessee Ernie Ford favorite, 'Ya Load 16 Tons,' was produced by unpaid, all-volunteer individuals for Creative Commons, open source use.
Leno & TURN team up for a “ratepayers' right to vote act”
by Rebecca Bowe, San Francisco Bay Guardian
April 20th, 2010
by Rebecca Bowe, San Francisco Bay Guardian
April 20th, 2010
New law would require PG&E to get a 2/3 vote from ratepayers to spend their money on political campaigns.
It’s Our Internet, Not Theirs
by TURN
April 8th, 2010
by TURN
April 8th, 2010
This is worth doing if you want to keep AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, etc from controlling the internet - it's a real threat.
Charles McGlashan on TV for No on Prop 16
by TURN
April 8th, 2010
by TURN
April 8th, 2010
Marin County Supervisor Charles McGlashan and PG&E spokesperson Joe Nation debate PG&E's Prop 16 on Marin Voices and Views.
No on Prop 16 Demonstration at the CPUC
by TURN
by TURN
Video of press conference held in front of the CPUC demanding they oppose PG&E's Prop 16 that will lock high rates into the California constitution.
Rate Relief PG&E Style
Apparently PG&E spells relief H-I-G-H-E-R B-I-L-L-S. Real relief is lower rates.
Smartmeters need further testing
by TURN
March 26th, 2010
by TURN
March 26th, 2010
Letter from a Milpitas resident asking that the CPUC stop smart meter installations until complaints and issues are resolved.
EFF warns that smart meters put privacy at risk
by TURN
March 11th, 2010
by TURN
March 11th, 2010
The EFF is asking the CPUC to set privacy rules to protect smart meter customers.
VIDEO: 'Smart Grid' may be vulnerable to hackers
by TURN
by TURN
A cyber-security firm showed CNN how a hacker to cripple the grid with $500 of equipment.
Does PG&E Fully Understand the Recklessness of Peter Darbee's Proposition 16 Gamble?
by John Geesman, PG&E Ballot Initiative Fact Sheet
March 7th, 2010
by John Geesman, PG&E Ballot Initiative Fact Sheet
March 7th, 2010
California Voters to Choose: PG&E and Refineries or Clean Energy and the Climate
by Mike Sandler, Co-founder of the Climate Protection Campaign, Huffington Post
March 5th, 2010
by Mike Sandler, Co-founder of the Climate Protection Campaign, Huffington Post
March 5th, 2010
Mike Sandler, Co-founder of the Climate Protection Campaign, writes about PG&E's ballot initiative to lock PG&E's high rates into the California Constitution by locking out public power and community choice.
Storm brewing over PG&E smart meters
by TURN
March 2nd, 2010
by TURN
March 2nd, 2010
A good article in the Bakersfield Californian on the national controversy erupting from Bakersfield's struggle with smart meters.
Former energy commissioner compares PG&E ballot initiative to a tapeworm
by TURN
February 24th, 2010
by TURN
February 24th, 2010
Former Executive Director of the California Energy Commission John Geesman tells the California legislature that PG&E's monopoly protection act is a tapeworm.
Lois Henry observes that PG&E needs to get SmartMeter story straight
by TURN
February 24th, 2010
by TURN
February 24th, 2010
Lois Henry has another great column in the Bakersfield Californian about the ongoing PG&E smart meter debacle.
Prop 16. PG&E's Trojan Horse?
by Larry Gilbert, Orange Juice
February 17th, 2010
by Larry Gilbert, Orange Juice
February 17th, 2010
Blogger Larry Gilbert warns against PG&E's ballot initiative to protect its monopoly and keep rates high.
CA Worst Ballot Proposition: Proposition 16, PG&E Power Grab
by Gangster Octopus, Daily Kos
February 16th, 2010
by Gangster Octopus, Daily Kos
February 16th, 2010
A diarist over at Daily Kos has a great take on prop 16:
Imagine if you will that a large company, let's call them Pacific Goats and Elephants, wrote a Proposition that basically made a Constitutional Amendment stating, "Pacific Goats and Elephants shall be given a monopoly on the sale and distribution of Goats and Elephants and any public entity wishing to do so can only do so by 2/3rds vote of its jurisdiction."
Prop 16's Massive Drafting Errors and how the Chamber Conveniently Overlooked Them
by Brian Leubitz, Calitics
February 16th, 2010
by Brian Leubitz, Calitics
February 16th, 2010
Calitics says PG&E's sloppily-written ballot measure can - and must - be defeated through grassroots activism and common sense.
Utilities Commission to investigate PG&E 'smart meters'
by Michael Finney, ABC KGO 7 On Your Side
by Michael Finney, ABC KGO 7 On Your Side
Video: Mark Toney talks to 7 On Your Side about the upcoming investigation into PG&E Smart Meters.
Sac Bee Editorial takes an early stand against PG&E power grab
by Sacramento Bee Editorial, Sacramento Bee
January 19th, 2010
by Sacramento Bee Editorial, Sacramento Bee
January 19th, 2010
It is unusual for The Bee to come out against a ballot measure before the campaign has really started. The PG&E initiative deserves special attention. It's that bad.
TURN Defends Consumer Choice, Opposes Initiative to Lock In High PG&E Rates
January 13th, 2010
January 13th, 2010
TURN's response to PG&E's unfair power grab
Right Call By Senate on Tainted Commissioner
by Mark Toney, California Progress Report
December 24th, 2009
by Mark Toney, California Progress Report
December 24th, 2009
Mark Toney's message about TURN's victory for consumers in persuading the California Senate to reject the nomination of AT&T-backed Commissioner Rachelle Chong.













