"They're Ba-a-a-a-c-k!"; Edison Lobbying for New Car Showrooms Cut by Judge.SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 5, 1995--Behind the closed doors of President Daniel Fessler's office at the California Public Utilities Commission The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC; also often commonly referred to as simply the PUC) [1] is a state Public Utilities Commission which regulates privately-owned utilities in the state of California, including electric power, , three Southern California Edison Southern California Edison (or SCE Corp), the largest subsidiary of Edison International (NYSE: EIX), is the primary electricity supply company for much of Southern California. It provides 11 million people with electricity. lobbyists asked the commission to reinstate funding for a new electric car showroom and lobbying expenses for a pro-electric car group just weeks after CPUC CPUC California Public Utilities Commission CPUC Current Procurement Unit Cost Judge Steven Weissman cut funding for these programs. Judge Weissman's decision, which cut applications for electricity and gas rate increases from an original $600 million to $160 million, specifically denied funding for the new car showroom Edison seeks. Judge Weissman's decision stated: "Edison has not demonstrated that the legislative and regulatory education function to be performed by the center (showroom) comprises something other than the type of lobbyist expenses for which recovery from the ratepayer is normally disallowed." Judge Weissman also denied Edison's request to use more than $1 million in ratepayer funds to subsidize the elecric car lobbying group CALSTART. "Commissioners should reject Edison's special pleadings," said California Manufacturers Association President Bill Campbell. "New car showrooms should be paid for by car dealers, not electric utility customers. Rather than seeking the most cost-effective way to safely recharge electric vehicles, Edison remains devoted to the most expensive, wasteful and unnecessary electric car promotion in the state. "We have no problem with Edison providing the necessary infrastructure to accommodate electric cars," said Max Turchen of the Congress of California Seniors/LA. "But there is no reason ratepayers should be forced to pay for new car showrooms, marketing programs and lobbying expenses to promote electric cars." Utility rate increases to pay for electric and natural gas vehicle programs are opposed by a large and growing coalition which includes Toward Utility Rate Normalization (TURN), the California Manufacturers Association, Congress of California Seniors, Latin Business Ass'n, Retired Public Employees Ass'n, National Ass'n for the Hispanic Elderly, Oil, Chemical & Atomic Workers Int'l Union (AFL-CIO AFL-CIO: see American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. AFL-CIO in full American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations U.S. ), United Agribusiness League, Congress of Racial Equality Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), civil-rights organization founded (1942) in Chicago by James Farmer. Dedicated to the use of nonviolent direct action, CORE initially sought to promote better race relations and end racial discrimination in the United States. , Western States Petroleum Ass'n, California League of Food Processors, National Federation of Independent Business The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is a lobbying organization with offices in Washington, D.C. USA, and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB claims a membership base in excess of 600,000. (NFIB), American Frozen Food Institute American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) is a trade association and lobbying group based in McLean, Virginia for manufacturers and distributors of frozen food. AFFI promotes frozen food to consumers and other groups, and organizes conventions for its members. , Consumer Federation of America The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1968 to advance the consumer interest through research, education and advocacy. According to CFA's website, its members are approximately 300 consumer-oriented non-profits, which themselves have , Pacific Egg and Poultry Ass'n, California Business Alliance, Apricot Producers Association, California Highway Users Conference, California Seed Ass'n, California State Floral Ass'n, People's Advocate, Nisei Farmers League, Seniors for Action -- and tens of thousands of California citizens. CONTACT: Californians Against Utility Company Abuse Barbara Simpson, 415/340-0470 |
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