**READ/SHARE: IF YOU LIVE IN NORTH TAHOE, SQUAW, NORTHSTAR, MARTIS, or ALPINE MEADOWS** -Potential EXTREME power bill increase- An energy company based out of Ontario, Liberty Energy, has slid quietly into the region and purchased a small portion of Sierra Pacific Power Co. This small portion is one that services North Lake Tahoe, Northstar, Squaw Valley and the small towns in-between, about 50,000 residents in total. This number is important, as you’ll soon see. Liberty Energy has deemed that the power lines and poles that service these areas, all of them, must be replaced. In 2010, when Sierra Pacific first submitted this same proposal, they estimated the cost to be $23 million to be spread between about 2.3 million customers, making the rate increase insignificant. Liberty Energy has estimated this cost to be $50 MILLION. Fifty million dollars split between 50,000 customers. Liberty Energy has more than doubled this cost of the project for no presumable reason other than to capitalize on the government mandated 11% returns on their investment. The fact that the US government guarantees this return makes public utilities a VERY profitable investment, and one that’s difficult to find in other industries. As a result, it encourages private companies, such as Liberty, to spend unnecessary money in order to increase returns. Why would they invest 23 million, making only $2.5, when they can invest $50 million and come out with $5.5 million?! Liberty Energy has pushed this proposition through the TRPA and it is now hanging in the balance at the California Utilities Commission. The vote of the 4 representatives there appears to be Liberty’s biggest hurdle. And it is the point in the process where your voice, your letters and emails, can be submitted and make the largest impact. (I’ve included the information below). Liberty’s Sam Rohn was quoted saying, “We will increase the voltage lines are able to carry, handle additional build-out at Martis Camp, Squaw Valley, and Northstar…” which is the crux of the problem. Liberty justifies this massive kilowatt increase by planning for resort growth that has not yet happened, may never actually occur, and if so should be the financial burden of these resorts… not the 50,000 residents who would be gouged without recourse. Mike Florio: Commissioner California Public Utilities Commission 505 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102 Email: [email protected] Michael Rosauer: CPUC Project Manager California Public Utilities Commission 505 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102 Email: [email protected] Jack M Mulligan: Legal Counsel California Public Utilities Commission 505 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102 Email: [email protected] Cleveland Lee California Public Utilities Commission Office of Ratepayer Advocates 505 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102 Email: [email protected] Please read the following for reference: trpa.org/get-involved/major-projects/ laketahoenews.net/2013/03/letter-liberty-ratepayers-will-be-unfairly-charged/ laketahoenews.net/2013/12/liberty-without-new-lines-blackouts-possible/ laketahoenews.net/2013/03/liberty-utilities-current-n-shore-system-inadequate/
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 20:45:27 +0000
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