Letter to the Editor: SDG&E

Dear Editor:

I was glad to read about the Escondido Chamber of Commerce's decision to back away from supporting San Diego Gas & Electric's plan to ask the ratepayers to pay for the cost of the 2007 wildfire that struck our county.

When I spoke before the California Public Utilities Commission recently in opposition to SDG&E's plan, I did so because the idea was unjust. Two reasons drove my decision.

First, at the same time that SDG&E proposed this plan, its stockholders were enjoying new stock dividends. These dividends are a result of SDG&E's profits.

Second, the citizens of this county did not cause the 2007 fire. SDG&E equipment failure did. SDG&E made mistakes. And like all businesses, they must be held accountable. To ask us to pay for the fire damage is wrong. So for me, opposing the plan was the right thing to do.

If I accidently burned down my house, I would not ask my neighbors to pay to rebuild my home. I would rebuild it myself.

SDG&E needs to own up to the problem. SDG&E’s plan is passing the buck while asking for the bucks. It's just plain wrong.

SDG&E would be better served and more admired to take their lumps, withdraw their plan, and move on.

Dave Roberts

Deputy Mayor

City of Solana Beach