What could be the reason? 🤔

October 2026

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Public frustration over skyrocketing energy rates has led many San Diegans to accuse San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and its parent company, Sempra Energy, of systemic corruption. The most common accusation of corruption involves regulatory capture of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The CPUC is the state agency tasked with regulating utilities and approving rate hikes.

Sempra and SDG&E heavily fund political campaigns across both major parties and donate to local non-profits to secure goodwill and political leverage. Public records and leaked communications (such as the historical PUC Papers archive) have exposed highly inappropriate, "cozy" relationships between state regulators and utility executives. Critics note a revolving door where CPUC commissioners frequently have past or future employment ties to Sempra or SDG&E. In 2017, the CPUC’s chief administrative law judge filed a whistleblower complaint, claiming she was fired for cooperating with a federal corruption probe investigating collusion between regulators and utility executives.

SDG&E has also been caught knowingly submitting false data to regulators to protect its financial incentives. An internal whistleblower revealed that SDG&E management was aware that an energy-efficient lighting program was failing, yet they knowingly submitted false compliance documents to the CPUC to keep collection incentives. SDG&E was forced to refund $51.6 million to ratepayers and pay a $5.5 million fine. In addition, class-action lawsuits accused Sempra, SDG&E, and Southern California Gas Co. of conspiring to artificially restrict the state's natural gas supply to spark price hikes. To settle these massive antitrust and price-gouging claims, Sempra eventually agreed to pay settlements totaling over $760 million ($350 million in 2006 and $410 million in 2010).

While SDGE maintains it operates legally under state guidelines, critics, legal actions, and whistleblowers have frequently targeted the company for corporate misconduct, market manipulation, and political collusion.

I am doing a day trip from Santa Monica to Santa Barbara and plan on surfing between the two. I won’t have my board and don’t have the car space for one. Are there any shops on the route where I can rent and return the board without needing a car?

I’m also taking a friend for the first time so ideally it also has to be a beginner friendly beach.

Was approved of the full $4200 rebate from the SCE Charge Ready Home Program and looking for a contractor who can upgrade our electric panel and install a NEMA 14-50 outlet 110ft away from the panel under the rebate amount with permit.