Paul Baxter: Gilman will hold MID accountable for high rates
A couple of weeks ago I met Stu Gilman when he was walking door to door in my neighborhood. I was extremely impressed with his knowledge of the issues surrounding MID, our local electrical provider, as well as his even-handed manner in evaluating a process MID needs to take to bring our electrical rates under control.
In the early 1990s, MID’s rates were substantially below those of PG&E. According to The Modesto Bee, all that has changed. What I can’t understand is how MID, a public agency, can have rates comparable to PG&E’s when they don’t pay taxes (PG&E is subject to federal, state and local taxes), do not pay a franchise fee to Modesto or Stanislaus County, do not collect funds for underground utility lines (PG&E does), do not pay a dividend to shareholders (PG&E pays $2.12 per year on each of their 512 million shares) and can borrow money as a public agency at lower rates than PG&E.
MID’s electrical rates are unjustifiable and indefensible. Stu Gilman is my choice to better represent all electrical ratepayers in District 4. I hope he’ll get your vote too.
Paul Baxter, Modesto
This story was originally published October 19, 2017 at 2:04 PM with the headline "Paul Baxter: Gilman will hold MID accountable for high rates."