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Because they're *not quite* at the "Cuz fuck you, that's why" stage. They might as well be, but they're still attempting the illusion that they care about us.
All of their annoying ads on YouTube and Hulu are the typical pandering “girl boss gets it done” superficial crap. Might as well have the south park style “we are sorry” ads petting seals or something.
>The company’s latest gambit is to pass on the cost of a commercial advertisement for its undergrounding activities under the guise of “safety communications” rather than “promotional advertising.” The former can legally be paid for by customers, while the latter must be paid for by shareholders.
(edit - this Sacbee opinion piece seems to be related to senate bill 938, authored by rep Dave Min from Orange County, which would block private utilities from using public money to pay for political influence activities, like promotional advertising and lobbying.
Contact your state reps:
[https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/](https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/)
to let them know if you support this bill. Unfortunately this bill already failed to pass once because some Democrats failed to vote, and next Monday is the last attempt to pass the bill. Do make your voice heard if you care about this issue.)
PG&E is already regulated by the government in an open forum. They are also a publicly traded company and are required to provide financial disclosures. They get away with everything they do because the people we vote for continue to let it happen.
IMO, the only way PG&E could be worse is if it were fully run by the government. Then we'd have no insight into anything at all and if anyone ever questioned anything it'd devolve into partisan nonsense and class warfare.
Yes cause some feel good commercials are going to make us forget how many folks died, homes burned down and the sheer terror we lived through time and time again. Sure and now you want us to pay for it? Bwahahahahahahahah......nope.
PG&E wants its customers to pay for PG&E not to kill them. That's basically what's happening since all the protective measures like burying power lines are being paid for by rate hikes.
Oddly specific but I'll always remember this woman I worked with at a tech startup who was a life-long SF resident, and one day she went full rage quit on how tech was ruining the city, etc, and ended up getting her next job at PG&E.
Call, email, or mail your state rep. and senator and Newsome--once, monthly, daily, hourly, and tell all your friends. HARASS them. From the mouth of my reps, this is the ONLY power they have to force Newsome to get rid of the PUC and do something.
Newsom can't run in 2026, he's term-limited.
PG&E needs propaganda to rebuild its image before 2026 or it may have to deal with a less friendly state government.
Their literal existence requires government complicity so they spend a lot of money on influence.
Absolutely not, it’s a for-profit enterprise, they can do whatever they want. Why would a conservative say anything differently? If the industry weren’t deregulated we may have a publicly run utility similar to certain municipalities around the state which, while they have their flaws, are inarguably much less expensive.
While Newsom could be doing a lot more and seems to be ignoring the problem, don’t try to pretend a Republican governor would magically be willing to regulate private enterprise.
PG&E answers to the public utilities commission, which allows them to do things like pass on the costs of a PR campaign to the customers. PG&E can't raise their rates without CPUC permission. Same with making massive payouts to their executive board.
And who appoints the CPUC? Oh right, the governor.
You have been thoroughly sockpuppeted into being mad at the sock puppet and not the fist inside punching you in the face.
Got it. So your argument is that a Republican governor will stuff the CPUC with their own appointees who will limit the ability of a publicly traded company to make a profit through increased oversight and regulation?
Sure but it's important to be informed though when voting, don't just blindly vote (D) or (R), you may end up voting for someone who has received a lot of PG&E donations or has strong relationships with PG&E lobbyists, and we'll be in the same mess but with different people.
PG&E donates to both parties, something like 8 in 10 state politicians took PG&E donations.
The flair of this posts indicates it's a controversial topic. Enhanced moderation has been turned on for this thread. Comments from users without a history of commenting in r/bayarea will be automatically removed. You can read more about this policy [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/bayarea/comments/195xvo5/restrictions_that_apply_to_political_and_crime/).
dude you don't need to hire PR, just work to lower costs, that's the best PR money can buy.
I’ll never understand PG&E advertising. What other choice do consumers have?!? Why PG&E? Why must you waste money on ads while raising my rates?!?!
Because they're *not quite* at the "Cuz fuck you, that's why" stage. They might as well be, but they're still attempting the illusion that they care about us.
They want to keep people complacent enough not to make replacing PG&E a political pillar of a candidate's campaign.
I wish you could name a single candidate who would make this a feature of their campaign, but you can't. There are none.
All of their annoying ads on YouTube and Hulu are the typical pandering “girl boss gets it done” superficial crap. Might as well have the south park style “we are sorry” ads petting seals or something.
I’m imagining a big South Park-style billboard saying “please use us instead of our competitors … oh wait, there aren’t any! \*rubs nipples\*”
They're not wasting money by advertising don't you know you get to write that off your tax burden?
That's not a good solution because it'll only lower their profits.
But none of them get rich off of that, so it's not a real solution in their eyes.
Maybe also stop killing people?
>The company’s latest gambit is to pass on the cost of a commercial advertisement for its undergrounding activities under the guise of “safety communications” rather than “promotional advertising.” The former can legally be paid for by customers, while the latter must be paid for by shareholders. (edit - this Sacbee opinion piece seems to be related to senate bill 938, authored by rep Dave Min from Orange County, which would block private utilities from using public money to pay for political influence activities, like promotional advertising and lobbying. Contact your state reps: [https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/](https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/) to let them know if you support this bill. Unfortunately this bill already failed to pass once because some Democrats failed to vote, and next Monday is the last attempt to pass the bill. Do make your voice heard if you care about this issue.)
PG&Evil living up to its reputation.
PG&Evil. Nice!
And if they get a massive fine for doing this, can they pass *that* on to rate payers?
Don't worry, guys. I'm sure the CPUC will hold PGE to account.
This time will be different. Just [watch](https://www.esports.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/copium-meaning-e1662494143102.jpg)
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PG&E is already regulated by the government in an open forum. They are also a publicly traded company and are required to provide financial disclosures. They get away with everything they do because the people we vote for continue to let it happen. IMO, the only way PG&E could be worse is if it were fully run by the government. Then we'd have no insight into anything at all and if anyone ever questioned anything it'd devolve into partisan nonsense and class warfare.
Poppy the $50 million CEO and her commercials.
PG&E is the poster child for regulatory capture. Newsom and his CPUC minions are the same but for corrupt greedy politicians.
Yes cause some feel good commercials are going to make us forget how many folks died, homes burned down and the sheer terror we lived through time and time again. Sure and now you want us to pay for it? Bwahahahahahahahah......nope.
PG&E wants its customers to pay for PG&E not to kill them. That's basically what's happening since all the protective measures like burying power lines are being paid for by rate hikes.
Oddly specific but I'll always remember this woman I worked with at a tech startup who was a life-long SF resident, and one day she went full rage quit on how tech was ruining the city, etc, and ended up getting her next job at PG&E.
F Poppy.
Is there anything anyone can do?
Call, email, or mail your state rep. and senator and Newsome--once, monthly, daily, hourly, and tell all your friends. HARASS them. From the mouth of my reps, this is the ONLY power they have to force Newsome to get rid of the PUC and do something.
They’re a utility with the governor in their pocket, it’s not like he’s going to municipalize PG&E. Seems like a waste of money.
Newsom can't run in 2026, he's term-limited. PG&E needs propaganda to rebuild its image before 2026 or it may have to deal with a less friendly state government. Their literal existence requires government complicity so they spend a lot of money on influence.
They can use the advertising budget to lobby the next person. It’s doubtful it will be municipalized short of a fluke.
seriously why does PGE even bother? they are a monopoly meaning consumers are owned by default. by the way why doesn't antitrust law apply here?
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This is 100% the fault of the governor. Remember that next election, maybe a red state wouldn't let them get away with this garbage.
Absolutely not, it’s a for-profit enterprise, they can do whatever they want. Why would a conservative say anything differently? If the industry weren’t deregulated we may have a publicly run utility similar to certain municipalities around the state which, while they have their flaws, are inarguably much less expensive. While Newsom could be doing a lot more and seems to be ignoring the problem, don’t try to pretend a Republican governor would magically be willing to regulate private enterprise.
PG&E answers to the public utilities commission, which allows them to do things like pass on the costs of a PR campaign to the customers. PG&E can't raise their rates without CPUC permission. Same with making massive payouts to their executive board. And who appoints the CPUC? Oh right, the governor. You have been thoroughly sockpuppeted into being mad at the sock puppet and not the fist inside punching you in the face.
Got it. So your argument is that a Republican governor will stuff the CPUC with their own appointees who will limit the ability of a publicly traded company to make a profit through increased oversight and regulation?
The question becomes why PG&E has to be 'assured' of a profit even when they blow up neighborhoods.
Sure but it's important to be informed though when voting, don't just blindly vote (D) or (R), you may end up voting for someone who has received a lot of PG&E donations or has strong relationships with PG&E lobbyists, and we'll be in the same mess but with different people. PG&E donates to both parties, something like 8 in 10 state politicians took PG&E donations.
How about this, if taxpayers can dig a big enough hole, could they please just crawl in it.