• Sonori@beehaw.org
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    4 hours ago

    It’s worth noting that this state of affairs is highly localized. Like my power company (Public Utility District) is run by the county government distributing power generated by a federal government organization(Bonneville Power Administration). Electricity is at sub 9c per kwh plus 52 dollars a month for a line. The BVA also somehow manages to keep its transmission lines trimmed despite a bunch of heavy forest.

    Not only is a better system possible, it has provided power to millions for nearly a century right here in America a few hours drive away. Cali could absolutely copy Washington’s homework, but that would involve actually undoing something Ragen did to benefit private industry at taxpayers expense and so Newsom isn’t exactly rushing to make it happen.

    • I live in a city (in California) where the power and water is regulated by a public quasi-government thing. It’s not a private business, and it claims to be not-for-profit. Everywhere surrounding the city (including all the smaller towns) is handled by PG&E afaik, tho.

    • reallykindasorta@slrpnk.net
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      3 hours ago

      This makes me both sad and happy (to know there’s a working solution right nextdoor where wildfires are also an issue).