Daniel Marsh: Overcharges on electricity the secret everyone already knew
Well, there are two class-action civil lawsuits pending against Modesto Irrigation District, each saying electric ratepayers have been overcharged for years and the surplus used illegally to help support the district’s irrigation efforts. This is the big secret everyone knows already.
The local civil courts are one means to an end, but reformers should consider working the state legislature to get long-term budgetary reform. For example, MID did not implement the low-income CARES discount on electric rates until the state legislature passed a law saying they had to.
Use the ladder of engagement with state legislators to discover the next steps and new options. This would ensure long-term budget reform. I have been an MID electric customer for over 40 years and have a strong desire to know the fiscal truth. We have one of the highest poverty rates in the whole nation, and such charging practices puts an added burden on local poor folks. The MID Board of Directors will not openly disclose these matters willingly, so let’s look for reforms by other means.
Daniel Marsh, Modesto
This story was originally published May 2, 2016 at 2:32 PM with the headline "Daniel Marsh: Overcharges on electricity the secret everyone already knew."