PG&E, SMUD battle over Yolo Customers

Pacific Gas and Electric and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District are going to battle over customers in Yolo County:

In the first substantive volley of what could be a long struggle over the region's power future, PG&E today will begin sharing its initial, sketchy analysis of the proposed annexation with business and elected leaders.

The state's largest utility, PG&E would lose roughly 85,000 customers if Davis, West Sacramento, Woodland and nearby unincorporated areas of Yolo County are annexed into SMUD.

PG&E is readying a fat package of detailed financial and electric system data that should be completed in two or three weeks, spokeswoman Jann Taber said Thursday evening.

PG&E Claims rates would increase by 25% if customers were switched into SMUD. There are some saving graces to public power, however, as evidenced by the good things done by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power--rates are low and service is reliable.

Could SMUD achieve such economies of scale with the new customers?