Living 'Edison' free

By gedward on July 21, 2006 9:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Living in Riverside has its advantages, one of which is being free from the energy hassles, er...rates, of Southern California Edison.

Ever since the energy deregulation fiasco in California a few years ago, those whom receive their power from Edison have seen their monthly bills skyrocket -- an average of 17% this year alone on three separate rate increases (and, it's only July). And come August 1st, yet another increase is set to begin, with the heaviest users expected to see rate jumps of up to 55% -- just in time to greet hot summer temperatures:

"Oh my God, there's another one?" Ann Willens, administrative director at the Palos Verdes Art Center, asked after hearing about Edison's upcoming price increase. "The last bill we got was $1,000 more than the previous bill. I was sure there was a mistake."
Los Angeles Times

Oh, and Edison already has approvals for overall rate increases of nearly 5% in 2007 and 2008. Ouch.

Fortunately, there is an alternative. Well, for some of us lucky ones anyhow. It's called 'municipal utility.' And, if you live within the city of Riverside, you are indeed one of the lucky ones.

Construction of solar panel
structure atop Riverside City Hall
The Press-Enterprise

For over 100 years, customers of the municipally-owned Riverside Public Utility (RPU) have benefited from lower average rates, higher customer service and direct community investment. Smaller bureaucracies, lack of pressure from profit-minded investors and managers, combined with long-term energy contracts have helped make municipal utilities like Riverside's steady and reliable energy service providers. Moreover, residents and businesses alike are among a handful of municipal utility customers statewide who were -- and remain -- least affected by the whole deregulation debacle.

Granted, not all rate increases can be attributed to deregulation alone as power rates have risen across the country as a whole. However, there's no doubt that California's attempt at deregulation, coupled with the Enron scandal, has been costly to all ratepayers, particularly to those of non-municipal customers.

Also, with less bureaucratic oversight, RPU is fast expanding its eco-friendly power purchases. Currently, the city obtains 13% (2006) of its energy from renewable energy resources, or "green" power, with a goal of reaching 20% by 2015. Within the last few years alone, the city has built 7 photovoltaic (solar panel) systems across the city, capturing nearly 1% of the city's energy needs via the sun.

Finally, as residents of Riverside, we are part-owners of the city's utility. And as customers, we are investors as well, both of which translate into millions of dollars "reinvested" back into city coffers -- money which is spent in Riverside and not stuffed in some CEO's or investor's pocket in Texas -- or Los Angeles. In fact, between 1998 and 2005, RPU has returned $35 million back into the community, something Edison certainly could not -- and would not -- do.

Thus, for all you in the city's "sphere of influence" considering the pros and cons of annexation to Riverside (particularly those residing within the southern sphere), Edison's continuing rate increases and lack of community reinvestment provides some serious "pros" to joining forces with Riverside.

Oh, and for businesses looking for a new location -- RPU has numerous business and commercial programs and high-tech incentives designed to save businesses money and bring better jobs to the city.

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