CHICO, Calif. — Dozens of people made their way to the Butte County Association of Government Chambers in Chico for a public hearing on Pacific Gas & Electric Company's request for a rate hike next year.
As people made their way inside, they passed 85 pairs of shoes.
“The shoes represent each and every life that was taken,” said James Henson, Camp Fire survivor. “Each of them represents a life that should have still lived even today.”
They were placed there by those against the rate hike to show PG&E and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) the lives lost in the fire.
“For many years they’ve [PG&E] produced power, but they’ve gotten too big, too powerful, and it’s a necessity,” said Michael Ranney, Camp Fire survivor.
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The public hearing was held to hear how people feel about PG&E’s proposal to increase rates. About 30 people signed up to speak against the rate increase.
The company said an average residential customer would see their bills go up by about $10.50 a month. The money would go toward wildfire prevention such as hardening wires and pools, enhanced vegetation management, weather stations, and high definition cameras. It would also go toward liability insurance because of the increased risk of wildfires.
“The fact they’re a convicted felon on probation. They don’t deserve this rate increase,” Ranney said. “There has to be a breaking point. Enough is enough.”
Ranney survived the Camp Fire with his wife.
“We went from an 1,800 square foot house and a garage and a shop to a little trailer,” Ranney said.
We spoke with a PG&E representative, Robert Kenney, who is the vice president of regulatory affairs. He said he understands any rate increase will be difficult, but the money would go toward making their system safer.
“I think the other thing to point out is where the money is not going toward,” Kenney said. “It’s not going to executive compensation. It’s not going to my salary or my colleagues. It’s not going to pay for any potential claims associated with the North Bay and 2018 wildfires.”