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Harder Slams PG&E in Speech on House Floor

October 23, 2019

Blackouts Expected Today – More Possible This Weekend

WASHINGTON – Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) went off on Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) for neglecting to update its infrastructure for decades while giving out millions of dollars in bonuses to executives in a speech on the Floor of the House of Representatives. Rep. Harder is exploring options for federal intervention into this situation, including possible legislation.

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PG&E Floor Speech

Watch and Download the Video at The Link Above or Here

A transcript of Rep. Harder's speech is available below.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today in frustration for my constituents in California's Central Valley. Folks across my community are reeling from blackouts caused by greed, corruption, and mismanagement at our state's largest utility, PG&E.

And I'm not the only one who's fed up – more than 1,000 people in my district had their power cut by PG&E – some for days. Now the company is saying more blackouts could be coming this week – and it could be the new normal for a decade.

I refuse to accept that.

Regular people can't choose to not pay their bills – and PG&E shouldn't be able to abuse that fact by refusing to invest in their grid. These blackouts are happening because rich executives decided to give themselves millions of dollars in bonuses instead of investing in their crumbling infrastructure. And hundreds of thousands of people lost power because of these executives' greed. PG&E even proposed handing out another $16 million in additional bonuses this year. It took a judge to stop that plan.

Meanwhile, their shutoffs are estimated to cost our families more than $2 billion. Thank you Madame Speaker and I yield back.

Earlier this year, PG&E proposed a $16 million bonus plan for its executives, which was rejected by a bankruptcy judge in August. Rep. Harder blasted PG&E this summer over the proposal. The company still has the option to file a new request for permission to increase executive bonuses.