Peter T. Lizdas: Do CEO’s green words disguise attack on solar panels?

Tom Earley, chairman, president and CEO of Pacific Gas & Electric has an upbeat column, “California leads the way on climate change” (Page 11A, Dec. 19). He says a lot of things which will appeal to the greenest among us, about the need to restrict carbon emissions and employ renewable sources of energy – all very good. In conclusion he tells us that the “greatest concern” for utility companies involves “the need to fund the investments in our shared infrastructure … necessary to make clean energy for everybody … (which) will require a regulatory structure attuned to the 21st century speed of change.”

This is where I get worried. Is Earley aiming to condition the public to the notion that if you have solar panels on your rooftop, you should be prepared to realize no savings, since that might mean reduced profits for PG&E and its stockholders? PG&E has a government-guaranteed monopoly position in the energy market. Does it not therefore seem reasonable that there should be reasonable limits on profit for management and stock holders? And that those who have taken the initiative to install solar panels on their homes should not be punished for doing so?

This story was originally published December 28, 2015 at 12:56 PM with the headline "Peter T. Lizdas: Do CEO’s green words disguise attack on solar panels?."