Off Course: PUC fee reflects a bizarre mission departure

HollisterFreelance.com | Off Course: PUC fee reflects a bizarre mission departure

Feel like Californians don't pay enough in taxes and fees?

Well, then, you will be glad to learn that the California Public Utilities Commission will be collecting $600 million from utility ratepayers over the next 10 years to fund a global warming think tank.

There are so many astonishing aspects to this bizarre departure from the PUC's mission that it is hard to know where to start.

First of all, what makes the unelected commissioners, who are charged with ensuring a reliable and reasonably priced power supply, believe they have the right to impose a new fee on California ratepayers for a pet project, however worthy?

Then there is the price tag. ... For that kind of dough the California Institute for Climate Solutions, as the commission has dubbed its modest enterprise, should take a shot at delivering world peace in addition to solving global warming.