The South San Joaquin Irrigation District would do a much better job — at a lower cost — of providing electric service to its customers than PG&E. That’s the opinion of the Modesto Bee, which criticizes PG&E for rejecting SSJID’s $116 million offer to buy PG&E’s assets in southern San Joaquin County. The newspaper calls on Gov. Gavin Newsom to use his influence to promote SSJID’s bid, saying the people of Manteca, Escalon and Ripon “deserve the chance to own their own power.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom says “greed” and “mismanagement” led to PG&E’s decision this week to cut off power to millions of people in Northern California. He accused the utility of putting profits ahead of public safety. SSJID would never do that. As a not-for-profit public agency, the needs of our customers always come first. PG&E’s actions this week underscore again why SSJID seeks to become the power provider for Manteca, Escalon and Ripon. We will deliver power with purpose, recognizing how vital it is to deliver safe and accountable electric service to everyone.

Montali has encouraged PG&E and some of its major creditors to pursue a deal that would leave current PG&E shareholders with only a small stake in the company.  Part of that deal could include PG&E sell off valuable assets to SSJID and other local agencies. SSJID is convinced this is fair not only to PG&E’s shareholders and customers, but also to the thousands of people and businesses in San Joaquin County who would benefit from lower electric rates.

San Francisco is joining South San Joaquin Irrigation District in a bid to convince a federal bankruptcy court that selling them PG&E retail distribution assets within their jurisdiction will give the financially shaky for-profit utility cash to help cover $30 billion in liabilities.

The South San Joaquin Irrigation District has submitted an offer to buy electric assets from Pacific Gas & Electric in the utility company’s ongoing federal bankruptcy proceeding. The $116 million offer would provide additional cash to creditors and other claimants who expect to suffer losses in the PG&E bankruptcy.