PG&E feels more heat from class action lawsuit
Last Update: 12/04 8:14 am

Pacific Gas & Electric company is getting a cool reception from more than 500 people who have joined a class action lawsuit, the majority from Bakersfield. The lawsuit accuses PG&E of negligence, fraud, deceit, and false advertisement.

The attorney who filed the lawsuit last month, says Bakersfield temperatures this past summer were actually cooler than 2008, putting the heat on PG&E's claim that temperatures caused power bills to soar.

"If temperatures are a consistent 90 degrees and you were consistently cooling your house to 78 degrees your bill would stay the same," PG&E spokesman Denny Boyles said. "When the temperature fluctuates, when it gets warmer, it's going to take more electricity to cool your house to reach that same lower temperature."

However, the attorney representing a class action lawsuit showed 17 News data to prove that statement wrong.

"2008 was considerably higher in terms of cooling degree days than either 2007 or 2009," attorney Michael Kelly said.

Kelly says a weather analysis by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association cools down PG&E's claims. 17's Pinpoint Weather system showed similar data.

"In May was the only month we say a big difference and that was only seven degrees," 17's Kevin Charette explained. "Is that enough to effect a PG&E bill? I'm not sure but I won't think that would be a huge difference. Seven degrees isn't much and the rest of the months, they were only 3 degrees warmer or cooler."

PG&E says a recent rate change caused the biggest increases in customer bills. Kelly responded by saying no stone will be left unturned in the case.

"They're saying it's not the temp, now it's the rate increase, then I guess we know which stone to look under next," Kelly said.

Shafter state Senator Dean Florez sent a letter to PG&E's CEO today, questioning the utility company's pledge to "investigate and resolve" each customer complaint.

"We're really wary about full-page ads that say they are going to investigate," Florez said. '"Investigate" is a very interesting term because it doesn't simply tell us that each and every customer's concern is being met, and i think the reason for that is the meters have a lot of problems and still need to be looked into."

Senator Florez "challenges PG&E's commitment to resolve each and every customer's issue" and says PG&E should contact each customer with a SmartMeter by mail. Florez called the commitment to thoroughly investigate customer issues "vague" and also questioned where the SmartMeters go once they are replaced.

http://www.kget.com/news/local/story/PG-E-feels-more-heat-from-class-action-lawsuit/5X1mwB9iiUKOTwu7FGMOQw.cspx