Proposition 16 (2010) | californiachoices.org

My vote

Local governments would generally be required to receive two-thirds voter approval before they could start up electricity services and or expand electricity service into a new territory.

Yes: 1,869,805 [47.7%]
No: 2,049,858 [52.3%]

See Endorsements for Proposition 16 (2010)

Details

Pro/Con

Pro:

Supporters say that the two-thirds voter approval requirement in Proposition 16 will ensure that taxpayers have final say in how public money is spent on electricity.

Supporters

Taxpayers Right to Vote - Yes on 16 [Archived at the Internet Archive].
California Taxpayer's Association
California Chamber of Commerce

Con:

Opponents claim that Proposition 16 will drastically limit choices on who provides citizens with electricity. They say that the Proposition will let for-profit utilities raise electricity rates without limit, by protecting their monopoly and eliminating competition.

Opponents

The Utility Reform Network
Taxpayers Against the PG&E Power Grab
Local Clean Energy Alliance

In Depth

In 2002, California Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) legislation (Assembly Bill 117 (Migden, Chapter 836, Statutes of 2002)) provided local governments with the ability to combine electricity loads within their communities and act on behalf of those customers to buy or choose electricity for them. In some cases, cities and counties have used the CCA program to set up alternatives to private utilities such as PG&E. For example, governments in San Francisco and nearby Marin County have instituted CCA programs to circumvent PG&E.

Proposition 16 would amend the constitution by altering the necessary qualifications for CCA programs. Under the act, a potential local municipal utility would need to gain approval of two thirds of the voters who live in the area the utility would cover. Two-thirds approval would also be required for a CCA program to expand electric services to a new area or new customers.

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) is the primary financial sponsor of Proposition 16.

Polling

SurveyUSA Election Poll #16638
“On Proposition 16, which requires a two-thirds majority of voters approval before local governments expand electricity service using public funding or bonds, are you ... Certain to vote yes? Certain to vote no? Or not certain? {"Not certain" voters were asked: At this hour, on Proposition 16, do you ... lean toward yes? lean toward no, or do you not lean?}””

Voter Resources

CA Official Documents

Official Voter Information Guide

Bill Documents

Campaign Finance Information

Cal-Access General
Committees formed to support or oppose the ballot measure

Cal-Access Ballot Measure Summary Data Search
Select Primary 08 June 2010 and Proposition 016.

Cal-Access provides financial information supplied by state candidates, donors, lobbyists, and others.

Nonpartisan Analysis

Ballotpedia

Pros & Cons (League of Women Voters)

Proposition 16 and the Public Power Option: Birch Rod, or Risky Business?
Center for Law, Energy & the Environment, UC Berkeley, May 2010.

Community Choice Aggregation Pilot Project Final Report
Public Interest Energy Research Renewable Energy Technologies Program, California Energy Commission, 2009.

Multimedia

Non-Partisan

Voter Minute: Proposition 16 -- Center for Governmental Studies

News Panel for March 19, 2010: Proposition 16 -- KQED Public Media

Prop. 16: Two-Thirds Vote for Public Electricity
KQED Forum with Michael Krasny

Opponents

No on 16 Videos -- The Utility Reform Network

Former Executive Director of the California Energy Commission John L. Geesman on Prop. 16 -- Ecological Options Network

San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos: Vote No on Proposition 16 -- San Leandro Bytes Video