Former California Public Utilities Commission President Loretta Lynch spearheads the critique, specifically targeting a recent video statement from PG&E CEO Patti Poppe. Poppe claimed the utility lacks the capital to build new safety equipment without additional borrowing and rate hikes. Lynch dismissed this as a fabrication, noting that ratepayers have already funded these projects through existing rate hikes that include a 10% profit markup and tax coverage.
Consumer Watchdog Accuses PG&E of Bailout Blackmail
Consumer Watchdog has launched a campaign alleging that PG&E is holding essential infrastructure upgrades hostage to force legislative approval for a bailout. The group contends the utility is deliberately withholding $2 billion in planned work, effectively bypassing the legislature’s previous refusal to grant the company broad legal immunity for its past negligence.
Consumer Watchdog has filed a formal petition with the PUC, demanding an order to show cause for why the utility is withholding funds already collected from customers. Lynch argues that PG&E is leveraging its monopoly position to secure a legal shield against liability for its own operational failures. The group is now calling for a comprehensive audit of the company’s finances to determine where these collected funds are being directed if they are not being used for their intended infrastructure purposes.
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