"But San Francisco doesn't need a bill by Sen. Wiener to "break up" with PG&E. All the city needs is the local political will to move on seizing the company's distribution system through eminent domain. The law allowing that already exists. The federal law requiring it has existed for 100 years. It would cost the taxpayers nothing, and bring in hundreds of millions a year."
"The city's Public Utilities Commission supports this, and has asked the state PUC to evaluate what PG&E's system is worth. That's a nice idea: If the CPUC settles on a number, then the city can offer that number, and when the eminent domain case goes to court, as it will, the city will be in a good position to defend itself."
"But Gov. Gavin Newsom's CPUC has had more than a year to do that work, and has come to no conclusion. None of the commissioners has a background in public power; the closest is Matthew Baker, who 30 years ago worked for the Public Interest Research Group, which supports turning private utilities into public entities. The CPUC has to worry about the statewide implications of San Francisco's moves: taking away the most profitable part of PG&E's system will have implications in other areas."
State Sen. Scott Wiener supports public power and plans legislation to let San Francisco split from PG&E after a severe blackout. He attempted a similar measure in 2020 that never received a committee hearing. San Francisco can pursue eminent domain to acquire PG&E's distribution system because federal and state laws permit such action. The city's Public Utilities Commission backs valuation and asked the state CPUC to assess the system's worth, but the CPUC has delayed a decision and has limited public-power experience. Transitioning Northern California to public power would be complex, but the city can initiate the process without waiting for the legislature.
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