PG&E Pulling Plug on Competition

In Northern California, Pacific Gas and Electric is trying to keep its competitors at bay, trying to block public power from selling retail electricity.

The South San Joaquin Irrigation District is seeking to provide retail
electric services to about 35,000 customers in the Manteca, Ripon and Escalon
areas by acquiring PG&E Co.'s existing facility.

On Oct. 1, the state Third Appellate District Court granted a writ of
petition from the irrigation district, agreeing to hear both sides of the
argument.

District officials filed the writ after an Aug. 6 decision in which a
San Joaquin County Superior Court judge ruled that the county Local Agency
Formation Commission, or LAFCO, acted within its means during a June 16, 2006,
meeting when the agency voted against a proposal by the irrigation district to
purchase a power distribution system from PG&E.

On Nov. 1, PG&E and LAFCO filed a joint petition to present
arguments against the irrigation district.

Funny that the big corporation seems so defensive about a little competition from the public sector, isn't it?