r/IBEW • u/Sweaty-Ad-2536 • 5d ago

Robert Reich

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=U98fgLqo-UA&t=9ohshQ

Private vs public utilities and what that means for us and for customers.

In summary: Private utilities (exelon, pg&e, etc.) = higher utility bills for customers and less pay for the electricians and lineman working on their systems thanks to republican presidents and corporate greed.

70 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

31

u/Hefty-Profession-310 5d ago

I don't remember all the details, but I thought I saw a local in California come out against turning a private utility company, public.

I'm completely in favour of public ownership of utilities, it should extend to public options for mobile phone plans, cable, and Internet.

21

u/Sweaty-Ad-2536 5d ago

This and utilities need to be banned again from political donations

8

u/socalibew 5d ago

It was Local 465 in San Diego, CA.

The reason was "our contract is with SDG&E."

Even though the legislation said that all existing contracts would still be honored/enforced.

https://voiceofsandiego.org/2024/04/22/unions-busted-public-power-stormwater-fix-is-nigh/

16

u/Stillwater-Scorp1381 5d ago

I love our publicly owned utility company here in the Midwestern US. Saves us oodles.

8

u/toterola451 5d ago

Publicly owned utilities are easier to bargain with. It's political will versus personal enrichment with the public/private stuff. When a candidate and union workers come together to sell stuff to the public that saves them money and puts money into the local economy, everyone's palm gets greased.