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The vast minority of utilities in the United States, by number of customers served, are investor-owned; publicly-owned and co-operative utilities only cover 50m
by lwf 4y ago
The vast minority of utilities in the United States, by number of customers served, are investor-owned; publicly-owned and co-operative utilities only cover 50m people.[1]
Theoretically, the grid is supervised by the California Public Utilities Commission, which has wide latitude to set standards and regulations for PG&E and others. The Public Utility Code is the highest law in the state of California[2], so IMHO a large part of the blame for PG&E's failures fall on CPUC's failed oversight[3][4]
[1]: https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=40913 https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=40913
[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Public_Utilities_Commission#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Public_Utilities_Co...
[3]: http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/CPUC-head-Michael-Peevey-to-step-down-5812009.php http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/CPUC-head-Michael-Peev...
[4]: https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/pge-probation-lifted/3094194/ https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/pge-probation-lift...