Timeline

PG&E customers in Manteca using 750 kilowatt hours of electricity each month are now paying $237 more a month than those households using the same amount of power in Modesto.

SSJID will pay 2.5 percent of its retail power gross receipts collected within each of the entities to replace franchise fees and property taxes they would lose when PG&E no longer provides retail power within district boundaries.

Households, businesses, and schools would have had at least $174.5 million more in their collective pockets over the past decade if South San Joaquin Irrigation District had been the retail power provider in Manteca, Ripon, and Escalon instead of PG&E.

PG&E rates rise 50.4% since 2020. County may weigh steps it can take. Supervisor Robert Rickman wants San Joaquin County to back legislation in Sacramento aimed at addressing runaway PG&E bills.

Manteca Avoids paying PG&E $400,000 Yearly Thanks To SSJID South San Joaquin Irrigation District hasn’t yet cleared the final court hurdles to become Manteca’s retail electricity provider, but they have already been saving residents and businesses money when it comes to PG&E costs.

Supervisor Rickman and Board Encourage Residents to Contact CPUC Over Proposed Rate Increases The San Joaquin Board of Supervisors oppose the latest round of rate hikes proposed by PG&E.  The Board voted to oppose these rate hikes and encouraged the public to reach out to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to express how the recent and proposed rate hikes will impact their budgets and livelihoods.

SSJID Readies For ‘Right to Take” Trial With PG&E There is light at the end of the regulatory and judicial tunnel South San Joaquin Irrigation District has been traversing for 20 years to deliver on its promise of providing retail electricity to Manteca, Ripon, and Escalon at 15 percent below PG&E rates.

Listen to SSJID’s General Manager discuss efforts to provide local retail electric service in an interview with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Local Energy Rules Podcast. Electric customers in the San Joaquin Valley buy their electricity from Pacific Gas & Electric — a utility notoriously liable for causing wildfires and filing bankruptcy. Peter Rietkerk is sure that a public utility, specifically the South San Joaquin Irrigation District (SSJID), could do a better job than PG&E.

New Electric Utility Manager Will Spearhead Public Power Initiative In a move to bring more dependable and affordable electric utility service to residents and businesses, South San Joaquin Irrigation District established and filled a new role to manage its retail and wholesale electric programs.

High court refuses PG&E’s request for appeal The California Supreme Court refuses a request by PG&E to appeal a lower court decision. This decision will allow SSJID to continue with its eminent domain efforts which could eventually force PG&E to sell the electrical system to SSJID.

As PG&E wobbles, we can’t let the utility stop the growth of public power in California After emerging from bankruptcy for the second time in two decades, PG&E is defending itself in court over recent wildfires, fending off growing dissatisfaction with its service and trying to raise its already sky-high rates to stay afloat.

Appellate court rules SSJID can use eminent domain to buy PG&E’s assets.

SSJID prevails in legal appeal; one step closer to replacing PG&E The Third District Court of Appeal handed SSJID an important legal victory, ruling the district can pursue PG&E’s electrical assets through eminent domain. The court also validated the San Joaquin County approval process that determined SSJID has the ability and authority to provide electric utility service to its customers.

SSJID and PG&E submitted all necessary briefs to the appellate court PG&E and the South San Joaquin Irrigation District are awaiting the appellate court to move forward with ongoing litigation. SSJID is hopeful that the court may consider oral argument before the end of 2021, and if not, in early 2022. We encourage our community-owners to stay updated by signing up for email alerts and following us on Facebook.

SSJID files its final briefs for appellate cases.

An approved stipulation with PG&E allows court cases involving SSJID's campaign to advance before the appellate court.

SSJID introduces Powered By Purpose, a public education campaign to explain local bid for PG&E assets The South San Joaquin Irrigation District has launched a public education effort named Powered By Purpose as part of its continuing project to replace Pacific Gas and Electric as the retail electric power provider for Manteca, Escalon, Ripon and the surrounding areas.

California regulator wants PG&E reorganization plan changes, proposes $2 billion fine A California regulator has asked PG&E Corp for governance and oversight changes to its reorganization plan, while proposing about $2 billion in penalties for the San-Francisco based utility’s role in causing the devastating 2017 and 2018 wildfires in California.

SSJID and PG&E agree to allow ongoing litigation between the two parties to continue. In early 2015, PG&E challenged terms of San Joaquin County Local Agency Formation Commission’s approval of SSJID’s plan to provide retail electric service. SSJID proceeded with a condemnation action against PG&E in 2016 to advance its project. Both court cases are now under appeal, but the timelines were suspended due to PG&E’s bankruptcy. This stipulation will allow for final briefs to be filed and for the appellate court to take the appeals under consideration.

Nevada Irrigation District, serving Nevada and Placer Counties, offers $300 million for PG&E’s assets within its service area.

Valley Clean Energy, a community choice aggregator serving Yolo County, offers $300 million for PG&E’s assets