|
|
 |
Advantages
of a People's Utility District
- Locally
elected boards make energy policy decisions with one mandate – to
provide reliable energy at "cost";
- PUDs
receive priority access to less expensive Bonneville power administration
(BPA) power and services;
- Formation
and operations of PUDs are a completely open process, offering
ratepayers maximum input and accountability;
- PUDs
can issue attractive tax-free revenue bonds to purchase utilities;
- Once
formed, PUDs can cooperate under an intergovernmental agreement
written to preserve
maximum autonomy for each county while facilitating
cooperation in the “wheeling” of power between counties,
joint purchase of generation assets or shared use of facilities.
Local water PUDs already use this model.
- The
buying of politicians will end;
- Publicly
owned power companies don't pay income taxes because they don't
make a profit off ratepayers.
- Ratepayers
will stop being ripped-off for federal and state income taxes they
pay as part of their bill. From 1997 through May 2005, PGE/Enron has charged ratepayers
over $750 million yet has only paid about $210,000. (add about $2 million per week);
- There
will be no shareholders to put profits above ratepayer's well being;
- There
will be no million-dollar salaries for executives or multiple rounds
of multi-million dollar executive bonuses;
- PGE/Enron
stock fraud that caused people to lose their life savings will
not occur;
- PGE
employees won't be cheated out of their hard-earned pensions;
- Assets
won't be sold out from under ratepayers who've paid
for them. Instead, they'll be retained for our benefit;
- The
PUD will not be banned from federal contracts, wholesale power
transactions, and California energy markets, something that occurred
to PGE/Enron;
- There
will be an increased focus on environmentally friendly alternatives
if ratepayers decide upon it;
- A
dedication to renewable energy and weatherization may take place;
- There
will be adequate subsidies for low-income ratepayers;
- The
manipulation of energy markets that caused huge electric rate
increases, the closing of businesses and industries, and
Oregon having
the highest unemployment rate in the nation will no longer occur;
- Area residents will benefit from lower electric rates due to
lower costs.
We deserve a public-powered utility that's
locally controlled and can be trusted to provide reliable energy at
the lowest possible cost. Please join our efforts by volunteering or
making a donation.
Oregon Public Power Coalition (OPPC)
www.cheappower.org
|
|
|
