>> WELCOME, WELCOME,
WELCOME TO "LAST WEEK TONIGHT!"
I'M JOHN OLIVER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR JOINING US.
IT HAS BEEN A BUSY WEEK.
BONGBONG MARCOS WAS ELECTED
PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES,
WE SAW A PRETTY HOT PICTURE OF
A BLACK HOLE, AND THE EUROVISION
SONG CONTEST TOOK PLACE,
FEATURING THIS SPECTACULAR ENTRY
FROM NORWAY.
>>
>> YES.
EVERY PART OF THAT
GETS A BIG YES FROM ME.
FROM THE DRESS CODE, WHICH CAN
ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS "WEREWOLF
APPLYING FOR A LOAN," TO THE
SEXY BUSINESS MINION BACKUP
DANCERS, TO THE FOSSE MEETS 2008
GAGA CHOREOGRAPHY, TO THE LINES
"IS THAT SALIVA OR BLOOD
DRIPPING OFF YOUR CHIN",
THE HORNIEST LYRIC SINCE
ALL OF "MONTERO,"
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY,
"IF YOU DON'T LIKE
THE NAME KEITH,
IMMA CALL YOU JIM"
WHICH IS PURE CHAOS.
THAT BAND --
CALLED "SUBWOOLFER,"
BY THE WAY --
UNDERSTOOD EXACTLY WHAT
EUROVISION IS FOR.
AS, INCIDENTALLY, DID THE
LATVIAN ENTRY, WHICH DIDN'T EVEN
MAKE IT TO THE FINAL, DESPITE
HAVING ONE OF THE BEST OPENINGS
TO A SONG IN THE HISTORY OF
MUSIC.
>>
>> I MEAN, COME ON.
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?
THE EUROVISION SONG
CONTEST IS MAYHEM
IN ALL THE BEST WAYS.
BUT AS MUCH AS I'D LOVE TO SPEND
THE NEXT TEN MINUTES TALKING
ABOUT THAT, WE SADLY HAVE TO
MOVE ON.
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED
IN ALABAMA.
>> THE USE OF PUBERTY BLOCKERS
AND HORMONES TO TREAT
TRANSGENDER MINORS IS NOW
ILLEGAL IN ALABAMA.
>> YEAH, THE STATE'S TRANSGENDER
YOUTH BAN IS NOW IN EFFECT AND
THAT MEANS IT IS NOW A FELONY
FOR DOCTORS TO PROVIDE
MEDICATIONS TO TRANS PEOPLE
UNDER THE AGE OF 19.
ALABAMA'S THE FIRST STATE TO
ENACT SUCH A BAN ON THESE
TREATMENTS.
IT'S PUNISHABLE BY UP TO 10
YEARS IN PRISON.
>> THAT IS ABSOLUTELY
APPALLING.
AND LOOK, THERE ARE LOTS OF
UNDERSTANDABLE REASONS SOMEONE
IN ALABAMA MIGHT BE CRIMINALLY
PUNISHED.
FOR MURDER, SAY, OR FOR RUNNING
A PONZI SCHEME OR FOR CREATING
THIS ACTUAL STATUE AT AN ALABAMA
McDONALD'S OF RONALD McDONALD
REIMAGINED AS A GIANT
BOLL WEEVIL.
BUT NO ONE SHOULD EVER BE
FACING CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT FOR
PROVIDING HEALTHCARE TO YOUNG
PEOPLE.
THIS LAW WAS SIGNED BY THE
STATE'S GOVERNOR, KAY IVEY,
A WOMAN WHO, AS YOU CAN SEE,
ALWAYS LOOKS LIKE SHE'S SAYING
"HAM."
HERE SHE IS AGAIN, SAYING
"HAM," AND HERE SHE IS,
MIXING IT UP AND SAYING
"HAM, Y'ALL."
IVEY WAS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO
THESE ANTI TRANS LEGISLATION.
EVEN MAKING THEM
A FEATURE OF HER REELECTION
CAMPAIGN.
>> SOME THINGS ARE JUST FACTS.
SUMMER'S HOT, THE OCEAN'S BIG,
AND GENDER IS A QUESTION OF
BIOLOGY, NOT IDENTITY.
HERE IN ALABAMA, WE'RE GONNA GO
BY HOW GOD MADE US BECAUSE WE
IDENTIFY WITH SOMETHING LIBERALS
REALITY.
>> OKAY, FIRST, FUCK YOU.
SECOND, "SUMMER'S HOT, OCEAN'S
BIG" DOESN'T SOUND LIKE
THE WIND UP TO DENYING TRANS
PEOPLE THEIR RIGHTS.
IT SOUNDS LIKE A CHILDREN'S BOOK
THE AUTHOR WROTE WHILE HUNGOVER.
"SUMMER'S HOT.
OCEAN'S BIG.
I DON'T KNOW, WHAT MORE DO YOU
FUCKING KIDS WANT FROM ME?"
AS FOR HER POINT THAT WE HAVE
TO RESPECT "HOW GOD MADE US,"
DO WE?
REALLY?
WHY?
'CAUSE WE'VE GOT TOO MANY HOLES,
WAY TOO LITTLE HAIR,
AND NECKS --
FRAGILE LOLLIPOP BONES THAT
BALANCE OUR DUM-DUM HEADS IN ONE
VERY SPECIFIC DIRECTION OR ELSE
WE DIE.
NONE OF THIS IS
INTELLIGENT DESIGN.
AND WHILE ALABAMA'S WORST
MEE-MAW MIGHT APPEAL TO
"REALITY," THE TRUTH IS, THE
MAJOR MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS
OPPOSE BANS ON GENDER-AFFIRMING
CARE, AND WITH GOOD REASON --
BECAUSE IT SAVES LIVES, AND
WITHDRAWING IT CAN BE INCREDIBLY
HARMFUL, AS THIS 15-YEAR-OLD
GIRL NAMED HARLEIGH
WILL TELL YOU.
>> IF I DID STOP MY
GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE,
MY PHYSICAL OUTSIDE WOULDN'T
REFLECT ON WHO I WAS INSIDE.
AND THAT WOULD, LIKE, COMPLETELY
DESTROY ME MENTALLY AND
PHYSICALLY.
>> OKAY, FIRST OFF,
HARLEIGH, YOU SEEM GREAT.
YOU'RE LIVING AS YOUR FULL,
AUTHENTIC SELF,
AS FOR GOVERNOR IVEY,
IF YOU CAN LOOK AT HARLEIGH
OR ANY CHILD AND COMFORTABLY
SAY, "TAKE AWAY THE CARE THAT
GIVES THEM PEACE AND A SENSE OF
SELF," YOU ARE A BAD PERSON.
IN FACT, THE ONLY GOOD THING YOU
COULD POSSIBLY BRING INTO THIS
WORLD IS IF YOU WERE PLAYED BY
BELOVED CHARACTER ACTRESS MARGO
MARTINDALE IN A LIMITED SERIES.
IT WOULDN'T BE EASY FOR MARGO,
BECAUSE SHE'S SO UNIVERSALLY
BELOVED, AND YOU'RE AN ABSOLUTE
GARBAGE LADY, BUT IT WOULD BE
UNMISSABLE TV.
NOW THE RHETORIC AROUND THESE
BILLS IS THAT THEY'RE DESIGNED
TO PREVENT -- AND I AM USING THE
BIGGEST AIR QUOTES IMAGINABLE
HERE -- "IRREVERSIBLE HARM."
AND ITS SUPPORTERS --
LIKE MANY TRANSPHOBES --
TEND TO FIXATE ON THE SURGERY
PART OF TRANSITIONING,
EVEN THOUGH, FOR THE RECORD
TRANSITIONING IS FAR
MORE EXPANSIVE THAN THAT,
MAY NOT ENTAIL SURGERY, AND, AS
WE'VE SAID BEFORE, WHEN IT DOES,
IS NONE OF YOUR FUCKING
BUSINESS.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE
CHILDREN OF ALABAMA, AS A DOCTOR
TOLD THEIR STATE LEGISLATURE
JUST LAST YEAR, IT'S NOT EVEN
A FACTOR.
>> HERE'S WHAT WE DO
AND WHAT WE DON'T.
GENITAL SURGERY IS NEVER
PERFORMED ON MINORS IN ALABAMA.
PUBERTY BLOCKING MEDICATIONS
ARE 100% REVERSIBLE AND CAN BE
LIFESAVING.
NOW, SOME OLDER TEENS,
NOT SEVEN-YEAR-OLDS,
MERIT HORMONAL THERAPY.
BUT INITIATION INVOLVES LENGTHY
INFORMED CONSENT, LENGTHY MENTAL
HEALTH OVERSIGHT, AND THE
SUB-SPECIALIZED CARE PROVIDED.
>> YEAH, OF COURSE DOCTORS
ARE GOING TO BE THOUGHTFUL AND
RIGOROUS WHEN CARING FOR THEIR
PATIENTS.
BECAUSE, UNLIKE THE ALABAMA
LEGISLATURE, THEY ACTUALLY CARE
ABOUT KIDS' WELL-BEING.
BUT YOU CAN SEE WHY LAWMAKERS
DON'T TELL THE WHOLE PICTURE
WHEN IT COMES TO GENDER
AFFIRMING CARE.
BECAUSE A LAWN SIGN SAYING,
"BAN LENGTHY INFORMED CONSENT,
LENGTHY MENTAL HEALTH OVERSIGHT,
AND SUB-SPECIALIZED CARE"
DOESN'T QUITE HAVE THE SAME
PUNCH TO IT, DOES IT?
NOW, THE GOOD NEWS IS,
ON FRIDAY, A FEDERAL JUDGE
ISSUED A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
ON ALABAMA'S BAN, MEANING THAT
THE STATE IS BARRED FOR NOW
FROM ENFORCING PART
OF ITS LAW, SPECIFICALLY
THE BAN ON ACCESS
TO MEDICATION.
BUT IT'S ALREADY WORKING ON
FILING AN APPEAL, AND THE REST
OF THE LAW REMAINS IN PLACE.
AND YOU CAN'T HELP THINKING THAT
THIS WHOLE THING IS JUST
RIGHT-WING VIRTUE-SIGNALING,
SENDING A HATEFUL MESSAGE
TO A CONSERVATIVE BASE
WITH NO THOUGHT GIVEN TO THE
PAIN IT WILL CAUSE.
AND NO MATTER WHAT THE EVENTUAL
FATE OF THE LAW IS, ACTUAL TRANS
PEOPLE AND THEIR ADVOCATES IN
ALABAMA HAVE HEARD THE MESSAGE
IT WAS MEANT TO SEND, LOUD AND
CLEAR.
>> AS HUMANS,
THEY'RE AFRAID OF US.
IT'S NOT REALLY FUN, BUT AS LONG
AS IT'S PROTECTING THEIR IDEALS,
THEY DON'T CARE.
>> I'M JUST A NORMAL KID.
LIKE, I WENT TO HOOVER HIGH
SCHOOL AND
I WAS IN ENGINEERING.
I PLAYED HOCKEY, A LITTLE WEIRD
FOR ALABAMA.
THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST
ABNORMAL PART.
LIKE, I'M TRANS, AND WHAT HARM
AM I DOING?
>> I WANT TO KNOW WHY YOU FEEL
SO COMFORTABLE DICTATING OTHER
PEOPLE'S LIVES?
I JUST NEED TO KNOW, NOT
RELIGION BASED, WHERE THE
ENTITLEMENT COMES FROM.
>> TO THOSE SENATORS AND
REPRESENTATIVES WHO SUPPORT THIS
BILL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
MAKING ALABAMA A NATIONAL
EMBARRASSMENT YET AGAIN.
>> YEAH, HE'S
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
AND TO TRANS CHILDREN IN ALABAMA
RIGHT NOW, LET ME SAY THIS.
Y'ALL --
AM I SAYING THAT RIGHT?
Y'ALL?
I DON'T THINK I CAN CARRY THAT
OFF.
YOU ARE IMPORTANT.
I CAN'T IMAGINE TRYING TO BUILD
SELF-ESTEEM IN CHILDHOOD AS YOUR
OWN GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTS TO
UNDERMINE YOUR VERY EXISTENCE.
BUT YOU SHOULD KNOW, YOU'RE
PROFOUNDLY VALUABLE AND
YOU ARE IRREPLACEABLE.
AS FOR KAY IVEY, WHAT THE FUCK
IS WRONG WITH YOU?
I KNOW THAT'S A SIMPLE QUESTION
WITH PROBABLY A LONG,
COMPLICATED ANSWER, BUT TO PUT
THIS IN TERMS YOU'LL DEFINITELY
SUMMER'S HOT, OCEAN'S BIG,
AND THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA
DESERVE A LOT BETTER
THAN YOU.
AND NOW THIS.
>> AND NOW THE
DELIGHTFUL DELIGHT OF
ALLISON HAMMOND.
>> FROM THE ORIGINAL BLADE
RUNNER.
THIS IS WHAT THEY USED.
ATTENTION TO DETAILS.
FANS WILL PROBABLY LIKE THAT.
>> ARE YOU A FAN OF THE
ORIGINAL?
>> NEVER SEEN IT.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A QUOTE
THAT YOU HAVE TO LET ME KNOW
WHETHER YOU THINK IT'S
SHAKESPEARE.
LOOK AT THAT.
BEAUTIFUL.
>> WHY CAN'T YOU JUST PICK IT
UP?
>> HERE ARE SOME OTHER NOTES.
HERE'S ONE OF THEM.
THIS IS "LOVE YOU."
YOU ARE THE BADDEST WOMAN.
>> YOU KNOW I DON'T DRINK.
AND THERE YOU HAVE IT.
>> MOVING ON.
OUR MAIN STORY TONIGHT CONCERNS
UTILITIES -- SPECIFICALLY,
ELECTRIC UTILITIES --
THE COMPANIES RESPONSIBLE FOR
DELIVERING US POWER, AND ALSO,
GIVING US THE CREEPIEST MASCOT
REDDY KILOWATT,
A HELL-CREATURE WHO FOR DECADES,
APPEARED IN ADS FOR OVER TWO
HUNDRED ELECTRIC COMPANIES, LIKE
THIS ONE ABOUT HIM EMANCIPATING
WOMAN IN THE HOME AND THIS ONE,
WHERE HE TELLS A HOUSEWIFE,
"DON'T KILL YOURSELF,
IT AIN'T WORTH IT."
REDDY EVEN APPEARED ON
CHILDREN'S SHOWS, WHERE HE
UNDOUBTEDLY GAVE A WHOLE
GENERATION NIGHTMARES.
>> WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
>> HA, HA.
YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT YOU CAN
EXPECT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN HERE,
MR. TOOT.
>> BOY, I'LL SAY.
WHOA, HEY, WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW?
THOSE -- THOSE PEANUTS,
THEY'RE FLOATING IN THE AIR!
>> THAT'S MY NEW ELECTROSTATIC
GENERATOR.
>> GET OUT OF THERE!
THAT'S THE ONLY TIME I'VE EVER
BEEN SCARED FOR A CLOWN.
WE CAN'T ACTUALLY SHOW YOU THE
REST OF THAT VIDEO, BECAUSE --
AND THIS IS TRUE -- IF YOU WATCH
IT TILL THE END, REDDY SHOWS UP
BEHIND YOU AND BRUTALLY MURDERS
YOU.
NOW, YOU PROBABLY DON'T GIVE TOO
MUCH THOUGHT TO YOUR LOCAL
ELECTRIC UTILITY.
BUT IF YOU DO, IT MIGHT BE
BECAUSE THEY'RE CHARGING
EXORBITANT RATES FOR A BASIC
HUMAN NECESSITY, AS THIS NORTH
CAROLINA PASTOR EXPLAINS.
>> ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS
OF THIS CHURCH, SISTER LINDA
JONES, SHE LITERALLY CUT HER
PILLS IN HALF, SKIPPED DAYS,
IN ORDER TO PAY HER LIGHT BILL.
GOD BLESS HER SOUL.
SHE PASSED ON.
AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
RIGHT AROUND HERE WHO NEED THAT
HELP.
>> THAT IS TERRIBLE.
AND IN CASE IT BUMPED YOU AT
ALL, YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT WAS A
PROPERTY BROTHER YOU SPOTTED
THERE.
HE MADE A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT
UTILITIES AND IT'S ACTUALLY
PRETTY GOOD, TO THE POINT YOU'RE
EVEN GOING TO SEE A LITTLE MORE
OF IT LATER ON.
AND IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHICH
PROPERTY BROTHER THAT IS, I'LL
GIVE YOU A CLUE.
IT'S THE CIRCUMCISED ONE.
AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHICH
PROPERTY BROTHER IS CIRCUMCISED,
YOU'RE CLEARLY NOT THAT BIG A
FAN OF THE "PROPERTY BROTHERS."
AND HIGH BILLS ARE JUST THE
BEGINNING OF THE PROBLEMS HERE.
BECAUSE UTILITIES ARE ALSO
EXCEPTIONALLY PRONE TO SCANDAL.
IN FACT, JUST GOOGLE YOUR
UTILITY COMPANY RIGHT NOW AND
THE WORD "SCANDAL," AND CHANCES
ARE, THEY'VE GOTTEN INTO SOME
MAJOR TROUBLE.
IT'S BASICALLY LIKE GOOGLING
YOUR LOCAL JIMMY JOHNS
AND "E. COLI" OR THE NAME OF
YOUR FAVORITE TEACHER FROM HIGH
SCHOOL AND "JANUARY 6TH."
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LIKE
THE RESULTS THAT YOU FIND.
AND AT THEIR WORST, UTILITIES
CAN EVEN BE DEADLY.
TAKE PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC,
ONE OF CALIFORNIA'S LARGEST
UTILITIES.
WE'VE TALKED BEFORE ABOUT THE
2018 CAMP FIRE, THE DEADLIEST
WILDFIRE IN CALIFORNIA HISTORY,
AND HOW IT ALL STARTED WHEN THIS
HOOK HOLDING UP A PG&E
TRANSMISSION LINE BROKE, CAUSING
THE LINE TO IGNITE THE BRUSH
BELOW, EVENTUALLY DECIMATING
SEVERAL NEARBY COMMUNITIES AND
LEAVING 85 PEOPLE DEAD.
PG&E HAS SINCE PAID FINES AND
SETTLEMENTS, BUT IT'S STILL VERY
MUCH IN OPERATION.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT WASN'T
CLOSE TO THE ONLY SCANDAL
THEY'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN, AS
THIS REPORTER WILL TELL YOU.
>> THIS IS A COMPANY THAT, IT
WAS FINED HUNDREDS OF TIMES AND
FACED MORE THAN $2 BILLION --
ALMOST $3 BILLION WORTH
OF FINES.
YOU KNOW, IF PG&E WAS AN
INDIVIDUAL AND NOT A
CORPORATION, I THINK BY NOW THEY
WOULD BE IN PRISON.
THERE'S JUST BEEN REPEAT
OFFENDERS.
THEY'VE BEEN ON PROBATION.
THEY'VE VIOLATED
PROBATION.
THE PROBLEM IS YOU CAN'T TAKE
A CORPORATION AND PUT IT INTO
PRISON.
>> YEAH, HE'S RIGHT!
YOU CAN'T.
EVEN THOUGH MANY CORPORATIONS
CLEARLY DESERVE TO BE IN PRISON,
FROM ENRON TO PURDUE TO ANY
COMPANY THAT INSISTS ON TALKING
LIKE A SASSY BITCH ON SOCIAL
MEDIA.
HELLMANN'S ONCE TWEETED,
"YOU'RE IN THEIR DMs,
WE'RE GETTING SPREAD
ON THEIR BREAD?"
AND WHY?
YOU DON'T NEED TO DO THIS,
HELLMANN'S.
YOU CAN JUST BE MAYONNAISE.
BUT PG&E IS NOT ONLY NOT IN
PRISON; IT IS STILL SUPPLYING
POWER TO MILLIONS OF
CALIFORNIANS WHO HAVE NO CHOICE
IN THE MATTER.
AND IF YOU'RE THINKING
"HOW THE FUCK IS THAT POSSIBLE?"
THAT IS WHAT THIS STORY
IS ABOUT.
IT'S ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE AMOUNT
OF POWER WE GIVE TO UTILITIES,
HOW WEAKLY THEY CAN BE
REGULATED, AND THE DAMAGE
THEY CAN DO.
AND LET'S START WITH THE SINGLE
MOST IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW
ABOUT UTILITY COMPANIES, WHICH
IS THAT FOR MOST OF US, THEY'RE
ACTUALLY THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN.
>> IF YOU WANT TO GO BUY AN
iPHONE OR ANY OTHER KIND OF
CONSUMER PRODUCT, YOU GO OUT TO
A STORE AND YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF
CHOICES.
WITH ELECTRICITY, IN MOST OF THE
COUNTRY, YOU REALLY ONLY HAVE
ONE CHOICE, AND THAT COMPANY HAS
A MONOPOLY.
>> EXACTLY.
IN OUR MODERN ECONOMY, YOU'RE
SUPPOSED TO HAVE CHOICE.
JUST LOOK AT ALL THE STREAMING
SERVICES OUT THERE.
THERE'S BLOCKBUSTER 2.0,
SUPERHEROES AND OLD RACISM,
ANIME, PROBABLY CRASHING ON YOU
RIGHT NOW, NO IDEA, NO IDEA, AND
UNTIL RECENTLY, NEWS QUIBI.
THAT'S ARGUABLY TOO MUCH CHOICE.
BUT UTILITIES OPERATING AS
NATURAL MONOPOLIES DATES BACK
TO THE FACT THAT, AROUND THE
START OF THE 20TH CENTURY,
WE NEEDED TO BUILD A NATIONWIDE
POWER GRID FROM SCRATCH, AND
THAT OBVIOUSLY REQUIRED A HUGE
INVESTMENT.
COMPANIES WERE ONLY INCENTIVIZED
TO DO THAT WITH A GUARANTEE THAT
THEY'D BE ABLE TO OPERATE IN A
NONCOMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT.
AND AT THE TIME,
THAT MADE SENSE.
BUT THOSE MONOPOLIES PERSIST
TO THIS DAY.
MOSTLY AS FOR PROFIT
INVESTOR OWNED COMPANIES.L
NOW, IN EXCHANGE FOR GIVING
UTILITIES A DEAL THAT SWEET,
WE DID PUT SOME RESTRICTIONS
IN PLACE.
THE LAW SAYS THEY SHOULD SPEND
THE LEAST THEY CAN WHILE
PROVIDING QUALITY,
ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE SERVICE.
WHICH SOUNDS GREAT.
BECAUSE IT CAPS THEIR ABILITY TO
MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY.
BUT -- AND THIS IS
A HUGE "BUT" --
THERE'S A CARVEOUT.
BECAUSE WHEN THEY BUILD
SOMETHING, A PIECE OF PHYSICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE, THEY'RE
ALLOWED TO THEN PASS ALONG THAT
COST TO YOU THROUGH YOUR BILL,
PLUS AN ADDITIONAL PERCENTAGE
THEY GET TO KEEP AS PROFIT,
USUALLY AROUND TEN PERCENT.
AND THIS CREATES A CLEAR
INCENTIVE.
THE BIGGER THE PROJECT,
LIKE A POWER PLANT,
THE MORE PROFIT THEY MAKE,
AS THIS ACTIVIST EXPLAINS.
>> BIG MONOPOLY UTILITIES GET
A GUARANTEED RANGE OF A RATE OF
RETURN ON THEIR CAPITAL
EXPENDITURES.
SO, LIKE A WAITER
IN A RESTAURANT WHERE THERE'S
A GUARANTEED TIP, THE MORE THAT
IS SPENT, IF YOU BUY DESSERT
OR YOU GET A BOTTLE OF WINE,
THE MORE MONEY
THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE.
>> RIGHT.
IF YOUR PROFIT IS PEGGED TO
DOING CERTAIN THINGS, YOU'RE
GOING TO MAKE SURE YOU DO THOSE
THINGS MORE.
JUST LIKE IF HBO ONLY PAID ME
FOR EVERY TIME I GOT WEIRDLY
HORNY FOR AN ANIMAL...
EXCEPT THAT'S ACTUALLY A BAD
EXAMPLE, BECAUSE THE SHOW WOULD
PRETTY MUCH LOOK EXACTLY LIKE IT
ALREADY DOES.
NOT NOW!
I'M TRYING TO MAKE A POINT.
GO AWAY BEFORE I CHANGE MY MIND.
GOODNESS GRACIOUS.
AND IN THE BEST CASE SCENARIO,
THIS MIGHT MEAN UTILITIES ARE
INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE
THAT IS BADLY NEEDED.
THE PROBLEM IS, THEY CAN ALSO BE
SHAMELESS IN INCREASING
SPENDING, EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT
NEEDED OR ON PROJECTS THAT ARE
ACTIVELY FALLING APART.
TAKE SOUTH CAROLINA.
WHEN UTILITIES THERE TRIED TO
ADD TWO NUCLEAR REACTORS TO AN
EXISTING PLANT, THE PROJECT'S
COST SPIRALED.
AND A MASSIVE FEDERAL
INVESTIGATION LATER REVEALED
THAT EXECUTIVES AT SOUTH
CAROLINA ELECTRIC AND GAS AND
ITS PARENT COMPANY KNEW THE
PROJECT WAS FACING MAJOR DELAYS
AND COST OVERRUNS, BUT WITHHELD
THAT INFORMATION IN ORDER TO
KEEP IT GOING.
MEANWHILE, LOCAL CUSTOMERS PAID
MORE THAN $2 BILLION IN
THE FORM OF HIGHER BILLS FOR A
PROJECT WHICH, BY THE WAY,
NEVER GENERATED ANY POWER.
AND SOME WORKING ON THE PROJECT
AT THE TIME WERE TROUBLED BY
WHAT THEY WERE SEEING.
JUST LISTEN TO A LEAKED
VOICEMAIL FROM A VICE-PRESIDENT
AT THE PARENT COMPANY WHO LATER
BECAME A WHISTLEBLOWER IN WHICH
SHE TRIED TO WARN HER COLLEAGUES
ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
>> THEY ARE MISMANAGING THAT
PROJECT.
AND IT'S AT Y'ALL'S EXPENSE.
THEY'RE DOING IT BECAUSE THEY
WANT TO MAKE MONEY AND THEY'RE
PROPPING UP EARNINGS TO BE ABLE
TO MAKE THEIR BONUSES, AND IT'S
GOING TO BE AT YOUR EXPENSE.
>> YEAH, THAT'S PRETTY
SHOCKING.
NOT JUST WHAT SHE'S SAYING, BUT
ALSO THAT PEOPLE STILL LEAVE
VOICEMAILS.
ABSOLUTELY NO ONE SHOULD
BE DOING THAT ANYMORE.
IN FACT, EVERY VOICEMAIL
GREETING SHOULD JUST BE,
"SORRY I MISSED YOUR CALL.
PLEASE DON'T LEAVE A MESSAGE
AFTER THE TONE.
JUST TEXT ME INSTEAD
BECAUSE IT'S NOT 1997."
AND OVERSPENDING ISN'T THE ONLY
WAY UTILITIES' INCENTIVES CAN
WIND UP SCREWING OVER CUSTOMERS.
BECAUSE THEY CAN DELIBERATELY
STIFLE INNOVATION THAT MIGHT
MAKE POWER CHEAPER OR BE A NET
BENEFIT TO SOCIETY, AS THIS
SOLAR POWER EXECUTIVE WILL TELL
YOU.
>> NOW SOLAR IS BECOMING REAL.
THE UTILITY MONOPOLIES ARE
SAYING, "WELL, WAIT A MINUTE,
WE'VE GOT TO CRUSH IT
BEFORE IT GETS TOO BIG."
THEY WANT TO BUILD MORE PLANTS
SO THEY CAN MAKE MORE MONEY, AND
IF WE TAKE A LITTLE BITE OUT OF
THAT APPLE AND WE SAY, "HEY,
GUYS, WE'VE GOT SOLAR PANELS
EVERYWHERE ON ALL THESE HOMES,
YOU DON'T NEED TO BUILD THAT
MANY MORE POWER PLANTS."
THEN THE UTILITY GOES,
"WELL, WAIT A MINUTE.
HOW AM I GOING TO MAKE
MORE MONEY NEXT YEAR?"
>> EXACTLY.
PEOPLE PUTTING UP SOLAR PANELS
AND GENERATING THEIR OWN
ELECTRICITY THREATENS THE
ANTI-COMPETITIVE STRUCTURE OF A
UTILITY'S MONOPOLY, SO THEY'RE
OBVIOUSLY GOING TO TRY
AND STEP IN AND BLOCK IT.
WHO WANTS COMPETITION?
IT JUST MAKES THINGS HARDER!
YOU THINK I WANT TO COMPETE WITH
"EUPHORIA" OR "LOVE ISLAND"
OR THIS YOUTUBE VIDEO OF DUCKS
ANNIHILATING A BOWL OF PEAS?
YOU COULD BE WATCHING THAT
ON A LOOP RIGHT NOW INSTEAD OF
WATCHING THIS SHOW, YOU IDIOTS.
WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE?
MAKE BETTER CHOICES.
SOME ACTIVISTS HAVE EVEN USED
ROOFTOP SOLAR AS A WAY OF
CHALLENGING THE MONOPOLIES IN
THEIR STATES.
REMEMBER THAT CHURCH FROM
EARLIER, WHERE THE PASTOR WAS
TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE CUTTING
PILLS IN HALF TO MAKE ENDS MEET?
IN 2015, TO HELP CUT COSTS,
IT PARTNERED WITH THIS LOCAL
NONPROFIT, AND IN AN ATTEMPT TO
CHALLENGE THE LAWS ON THE BOOKS,
THE NONPROFIT INSTALLED A SMALL
SOLAR PANEL SYSTEM ON THE ROOF
OF THE CHURCH, AT NO UPFRONT
COST, FINANCING IT BY SELLING
ELECTRICITY TO THEM AT ABOUT
HALF THE RATE THAT THEIR
UTILITY, DUKE ENERGY, CHARGED.
SIMILAR ARRANGEMENTS ARE
PERMITTED IN OTHER STATES, BUT
NOT IN NORTH CAROLINA, AND DUKE
ENERGY PUSHED BACK HARD, ASKING
THE STATE'S REGULATORS TO ISSUE
A CEASE AND DESIST TO THE
NON-PROFIT AND INVOKE ITS POWER
TO FINE THEM UP TO A THOUSAND
DOLLARS A DAY FOR EVERY DAY IT
SOLD POWER TO THE CHURCH.
AND IN THE END, DUKE ENERGY GOT
WHAT THEY WANTED.
THAT CHURCH'S SOLAR ARRANGEMENT
WAS SHUT DOWN, AND ANY HOPE OF
REPLICATING IT IN THE STATE WAS
SQUASHED.
AND WHEN CIRCUMCISED
PROPERTY BROTHER ASKED DUKE
ABOUT THIS WHOLE SAGA, THEIR
RESPONSE WASN'T GREAT.
>> FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH WANTED
TO TEST REGULATION IN NORTH
CAROLINA BY DOING SOMETHING THAT
WAS BASICALLY ILLEGAL.
>> THEY WERE TRYING TO PICK
A FIGHT?
>> YOU COULD SAY THAT.
THEY HAD A GOOD SETUP TO GET
PUBLICITY.
THIS WAS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN
CHURCH, AND WE'RE A BIG UTILITY
AND WE'RE A TARGET, AND
SOMETIMES THERE ARE GROUPS OUT
THERE, THEY'RE NOT TRYING TO
ADVANCE POLICY, THEY'RE TRYING
TO GET MEDIA ATTENTION AND THEY
DID A GOOD JOB HERE.
>> ARE THERE SITUATIONS WHERE,
AS A HUMAN BEING, YOU HAVE A
CONFLICT AS A UTILITY COMPANY
WHERE YOU'RE SAYING THIS IS HOW
IT HAS TO BE, VERSUS MAYBE
THERE'S A BIGGER PICTURE WITH
SOMETHING THAT'S BROKEN?
>> I THINK THAT'S JUST THE WAY
IT HAS BEEN.
>> WAIT, WAIT.
"JUST THE WAY IT'S BEEN"
HAS, HISTORICALLY, NEVER
BEEN A GREAT JUSTIFICATION FOR
SOMETHING STILL HAPPENING.
IN FACT, THERE'S ONLY ONE TIME
THAT WORKS AS AN ARGUMENT, AND
IT'S WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS
SAUSAGE RACE.
NOW, WHY DO A BUNCH OF SAUSAGES
RACE AROUND THE FIELD BEFORE THE
BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH INNING?
BECAUSE THAT'S JUST THE WAY
IT'S BEEN.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE,
AND MAY IT NEVER CHANGE.
LONG LIVE THE RACING SAUSAGES.
AND THERE ARE EXAMPLES ALL OVER
THE COUNTRY OF UTILITIES
GETTING IN THE WAY OF PEOPLE
USING SOLAR ENERGY.
THE ARGUMENT BEING, IF PEOPLE
START LEAVING THE GRID AND
GENERATING THEIR OWN POWER, THEN
OVER TIME, THE COST IS GOING TO
GO UP FOR EVERYONE LEFT BEHIND.
AND LOOK, THERE IS A LONGER
CONVERSATION TO BE HAD ABOUT THE
PROPER WAY TO BILL PEOPLE WHO
USE SOLAR PANELS.
BUT MAKING IT COST PROHIBITIVE
IS DEFINITELY NOT THE ANSWER.
AND IF YOU'RE THINKING,
"SHOULDN'T THERE BE SOMEONE WHO
CAN REIN THESE COMPANIES IN?"
WELL, IN THEORY, THERE IS.
MOST STATES HAVE PUBLIC UTILITY
COMMISSIONS.
THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THINGS
LIKE SIGNING OFF ON ANY BIG
INVESTMENTS PROPOSED AND ALSO
OVERSEEING THE SETTING OF RATES.
UNFORTUNATELY, MANY ARE BADLY
OUTMATCHED BY THE UTILITIES
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO REGULATE.
THIS CAN HAVE MAJOR
CONSEQUENCES.
A FEW YEARS BACK, MISSISSIPPI
POWER RAN INTO MASSIVE COST
OVERRUNS ON A NEW PLANT IT WAS
BUILDING, WHICH WAS INITIALLY
EXPECTED TO COST $1.8 BILLION
BUT ENDED UP BALLOONING
TO 7.5 BILLION.
AND IN HINDSIGHT, THERE WERE
OBVIOUS RED FLAGS THAT YOU'D
HOPE THE STATE COMMISSION
WOULD'VE BEEN MORE WARY OF FROM
THE VERY START.
JUST LISTEN TO A COMPANY
REPRESENTATIVE EXPLAIN HIS SIDE
OF THE STORY.
>> CAN YOU TELL US WHY THE
PROJECT IS OVER BUDGET AND ALSO
BEHIND SCHEDULE?
>> I WOULD TELL YOU THAT IF WE
MADE ANY ERRORS IN JUDGMENT AT
ALL, ANY MISSTEPS, IS THAT WHEN
WE TOOK THAT PROPOSAL TO THE
COMMISSION, WE WERE ONLY AT
BETWEEN 10 OR 15% OF DESIGN.
AND SO I THINK IT'S --
THE LITTLE ENGINEERING THAT WE
HAD DONE AT THAT PARTICULAR
POINT IN TIME THAT HAS SORT OF
COME BACK TO HAUNT US
A LITTLE BIT IN TERMS OF COST
AND SCHEDULE.
>> WAIT.
LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT.
THE PLANT WAS ONLY 10% TO 15%
DESIGNED, AND THE COMMISSION
LET IT GO AHEAD ANYWAY?
THAT'S NOT HOW DESIGNING COMPLEX
ENERGY PLANTS SHOULD WORK,
THAT'S NOT EVEN HOW DESIGNING
LEGO SETS WORK, WHICH IS WHY
YOU'VE NEVER SEEN ONE CALLED
"A LITTLE TREE AND YOU FIGURE
OUT THE REST."
NOW, IN MISSISSIPPI'S CASE,
THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN
A COMMISSION RUSHING TO APPROVE
A PROJECT WITHOUT DOING PROPER
DUE DILIGENCE.
BUT IN OTHER CASES, LIKE
ALABAMA'S STATE COMMISSION, THE
PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE IDEOLOGICAL.
IT'S BEEN DESCRIBED AS ONE OF
THE MOST OPAQUE, POLITICALLY
MOTIVATED AND ENVIRONMENTALLY
HOSTILE COMMISSIONS IN THE
COUNTRY.
THEIR COMMISSIONERS ARE ACTUALLY
ELECTED, AND I DO WANT TO SHOW
YOU ONE CAMPAIGN AD FOR THE
WOMAN WHO IS CURRENTLY RUNNING
IT.
>> TWINKLE'S PRIORITY IS OUR
JOBS!
>> WE NEED MORE CONSERVATIVES
LIKE TWINKLE WHO PUT JOBS FIRST.
>> TWINKLE IS A PROVEN
CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN.
>> WHO HAS STOOD UP AND FOUGHT
THE LIBERAL SPECIAL INTEREST IN
WASHINGTON.
>> CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN
TWINKLE ANDRESS CAVANAUGH.
OUR WAY OF FIGHTING BACK.
>> YEAH.
THAT WOMAN IS NAMED TWINKLE.
THAT IS HER ACTUAL GIVEN NAME.
AS IN, WHEN SHE WAS BORN, HER
PARENTS WERE ASKED, "WHAT DO YOU
WANT TO NAME YOUR BABY?"
AND THEY GENUINELY REPLIED,
"TWINKLE.
DEFINITELY TWINKLE."
SHE EVEN CONFIRMED THIS HERSELF,
SAYING, "MY DADDY THOUGHT
I NEEDED A FANCY NAME.
IT MAY BE CUTE
FOR A THREE-YEAR-OLD,
BUT IT GETS OLD."
AND HONESTLY?
I COULD SEE HOW BEING CALLED
TWINKLE COULD GET OLD AFTER
AWHILE.
BUT LET ME SAY THIS, TWINKLE,
FOR EVERYONE WHO ISN'T YOU,
CALLING YOU TWINKLE
WILL NEVER GET OLD.
IT WILL NEVER GET OLD, TWINKLE.
AND LOOK, I'M NOT SAYING TWINKLE
IS A BAD COMMISSIONER BECAUSE
SHE'S CALLED TWINKLE.
I'M SAYING TWINKLE'S A BAD
COMMISSIONER BECAUSE FOR ONE
THING, WHEN THERE WAS A PUSH FOR
MORE OPEN HEARINGS ON
ELECTRICITY RATES IN THE STATE,
SHE OUTRIGHT SAID "I WANT TO
EXCLUDE THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS
FROM TAKING PART IN THE
PROCESS."
AND SUGGESTED THAT ENVIRONMENTAL
EXTREMISTS ONLY WANTED THESE
OPEN PROCEEDINGS SO THEY COULD
TROT OUT THEIR FANCY
SAN FRANCISCO ENVIRONMENTAL
LAWYERS AND JUNK SCIENCE
HUCKSTERS.
AND IT'S NOT JUST TWINKLE!
WHEN ONE OF ALABAMA'S OTHER
COMMISSIONERS, CHIP BEEKER --
AGAIN, REAL NAME, BECAUSE IT
SEEMS ALABAMA'S UTILITY
COMMISSIONERS MUST, BY LAW,
SOUND LIKE HANNA-BARBERA CARTOON
CHARACTERS --
WHEN CHIP BEEKER WAS RUNNING FOR
HIS POSITION,
HE WROTE IN AN OP-
"THE SO-CALLED
CLIMATE CHANGE CRISIS IS ABOUT
AS REAL AS UNICORNS AND LITTLE
GREEN MEN FROM MARS."
WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY RIDICULOUS,
BECAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL,
AND UNICORNS DO NOT EXIST.
SADLY.
ALTHOUGH IF YOU'RE IN THE MARKET
FOR A MAJESTIC CREATURE WITH A
LOT OF HORN, THIS GUY MAY BE
ABLE TO HELP YOU.
AND LOOK, HAVING A COMMISSION
RUN BY SCIENCE-DENYING
IDEOLOGUES IS BAD ENOUGH.
BUT IN OTHER STATES, PUBLIC
OFFICIALS CAN APPEAR FULLY IN
UTILITIES' POCKETS.
TAKE OHIO.
A FEW YEARS BACK, A BIG UTILITY
THERE, FIRSTENERGY, WAS CAUGHT
UP IN THIS MASSIVE SCANDAL.
>> OHIO HOUSE SPEAKER LARRY
HOUSEHOLDER AND FOUR OTHERS HAVE
BEEN CHARGED WITH RACKETEERING,
ACCUSED BY THE FEDS OF FUNNELING
MILLIONS FROM THE ENERGY COMPANY
INTO A 501C4 DARK MONEY GROUP
CALLED GENERATION NOW.
>> OKAY, FIRST.
"GENERATION NOW" SOUNDS LIKE
A FAILED '90s BOY BAND WHOSE
MEMBERS ARE ALL NOW SPOKESMEN
FOR DIFFERENT CRYPTOCURRENCY
COMPANIES.
BUT VERY BASICALLY,
WHAT HAPPENED THERE IS THAT
FIRSTENERGY FUNNELED SIXTY
MILLION DOLLARS TO THE SPEAKER
OF THE OHIO HOUSE, TO GET HIM TO
PASS A BILL, H.B. 6, THAT'S BEEN
CALLED THE WORST ENERGY BILL OF
THE 21ST CENTURY.
NOW, I HAVE TO TELL YOU.
THE HOUSE SPEAKER IN QUESTION
DENIES WRONGDOING AND IS STILL
AWAITING TRIAL.
BUT WHAT'S VERY CLEAR IS THAT
FIRSTENERGY WAS WORKING VERY
HARD TO INFLUENCE THE
DECISION-MAKING PROCESS.
THEY ACTUALLY PAID THE CHAIRMAN
OF THE STATE'S UTILITY
COMMISSION $22 MILLION IN
CONSULTING FEES IN THE YEARS
DIRECTLY PRECEDING HIM BECOMING
THEIR REGULATOR.
AND WHILE HE DENIES DOING
ANYTHING IMPROPER, I WILL POINT
OUT THAT ON THE VERY DAY THE
BILL PASSED, FIRST ENERGY'S
CEO WROTE TO HIM, SAYING --
AND I QUOTE --
"H.B. 6,
FUCK ANYBODY WHO AIN'T US."
WHICH IS VERY COOL.
AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, THE MAN
WHO WROTE THAT IS THIS GUY, WHO
LOOKS LIKE HE'S LEFT LENGTHY
REVIEWS FOR MULTIPLE GAS GRILLS
ON HomeDepot.com.
THIS MAN WROTE THE WORDS
"FUCK ANYBODY WHO AIN'T US."
THIS OLD WHITE MAN TYPED THOSE
PRECISE WORDS WITH HIS OLD
WHITE FINGERS.
OUR UTILITY SYSTEM
LARGELY CONSISTS OF FOR-PROFIT
COMPANIES WITH MONOPOLIES OVER
AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE, BUILDING
AS MUCH SHIT AS POSSIBLE SO THEY
CAN PASS THE COST ALONG TO YOU
ON YOUR ELECTRIC BILL.
AND TO SEE JUST HOW BAD ALL THIS
CAN GET, LET'S GO BACK TO PG&E,
ARGUABLY CALIFORNIA'S MOST
HATED COMPANY.
IN FACT, A QUICK SKIM THROUGH
ANY PG&E AFFILIATE'S YELP PAGE
GIVES YOU JUST A TASTE OF THAT,
BECAUSE YOU'LL FIND REVIEWS
LIKE, "ABSOLUTE SHIT SHOW."
"FUCKING GARBAGE COMPANY."
"FUCK YOU, PG&E.
YOUR DAY WILL COME."
"THE ACTUAL TECHNICIANS LOVELY.
OFTEN HOT, TOO BOOT.
HIT OR MISS.
EITHER DISMISSIVE AND STUPID
OR THOUGHTFUL AND KIND.
CORPORATION ITSELF
EVIL EMPIRE PERSONIFIED."
WHICH IS A LOT MORE NUANCED THAN
YOU TYPICALLY FIND
IN YELP REVIEWS.
LOOK, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE
LOWEST RANKING, SMOKING HOT
EMPLOYEE THAT I INTERFACED WITH
ISN'T TO BLAME FOR THE COMPANY'S
LARGER STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS.
BUT FOR THE RECORD,
FUCK EVERYONE IN THE C-SUITE
WITH A CACTUS.
AND YOU CAN SEE WHY CALIFORNIANS
HATE PG&E SO MUCH.
IN JUST ONE THREE-YEAR TIMESPAN,
IT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR AROUND
1,500 FIRES.
THAT'S AN AVERAGE OF MORE THAN
ONE FIRE A DAY.
AND AT THAT POINT, PG&E ARE LESS
A UTILITY AND MORE A FIRE
COMPANY THAT OCCASIONALLY ALSO
DELIVERS ELECTRICITY
TO PEOPLE'S HOMES.
AND SO MANY OF PG&E'S PROBLEMS
STEM FROM THE WAY THEY'RE
INCENTIVIZED TO OPERATE.
BECAUSE REMEMBER, THEIR PROFITS
ARE PEGGED TO MONEY THEY SPEND
ON NEW INFRASTRUCTURE THEY
BUILD, NOT ON WHAT THEY SPEND
MAINTAINING IT OR THE AREA
AROUND IT.
AND WHEN YOU DON'T MAINTAIN
EQUIPMENT, EVENTUALLY IT FAILS.
THAT OLD HOOK THAT BROKE
AND STARTED THE CAMP FIRE
WAS 97 YEARS OLD.
AND IT'S NOT EVEN THEIR ONLY
HOOK THAT WAS DANGEROUSLY
WORN DOWN.
>> THIS HOOK FOUND A COUPLE OF
MILES UP THE LINE FROM WHERE THE
CAMP FIRE STARTED SHOWS JUST HOW
BAD THINGS GOT.
A GROOVE MORE THAN HALFWAY
THROUGH THE METAL FROM DECADES
OF GRINDING AGAINST THE HOLE
IT HUNG FROM.
>> HOLY SHIT.
"DECADES OF GRINDING" ISN'T
EXACTLY A PHRASE YOU WANT TO
ASSOCIATE WITH A VITAL PIECE OF
OUR POWER GRID.
IT'S BARELY A PHRASE YOU WANT TO
HEAR AT YOUR GRANDPARENTS'
50TH ANNIVERSARY.
I MEAN, YOU'RE HAPPY FOR THEM.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY WHAT'S KEPT THEM
TOGETHER FOR SO LONG.
YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT.
AND IT'S NOT LIKE PG&E DIDN'T
HAVE THE MONEY TO PERFORM BASIC
MAINTENANCE, BECAUSE IN THE FIVE
YEARS BEFORE THE CAMP FIRE,
IT ISSUED OVER 5 BILLION
IN DIVIDENDS TO SHAREHOLDERS.
LOOK, CLEARLY, THIS ISN'T A
SYSTEM WHERE YOU, THE CUSTOMER,
ARE GOING TO BE PRIORITIZED.
IF ANYTHING, THE MODEL ONLY
MAKES SENSE IF THE COMPANY'S
SHAREHOLDERS ARE VIEWED AS THE
CUSTOMER AND YOUR BILLS ARE THE
PRODUCT.
AND WHILE YOU WOULD HOPE ELECTED
OFFICIALS IN CALIFORNIA WOULD
CRACK DOWN ON PG&E, MANY TAKE
MONEY FROM THEM AND DON'T SEEM
TO SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT.
JUST WATCH AS CALIFORNIA'S
GOVERNOR BLOWS OFF
A PRETTY POINTED QUESTION.
>> PG&E WAS CONVICTED OF A
FEDERAL -- OF SIX FEDERAL
FELONIES IN 2016.
AFTER THAT, YOU TOOK MORE THAN
$200,000 TO HELP GET ELECTED.
HOW SHOULD PEOPLE TRUST YOU TO
BE RUNNING THE SHOW TO COME UP
WITH THE SOLUTION?
>> I, UH...
I WISH YOU LUCK WITH WHATEVER
YOU'RE WORKING ON,
BUT THAT'S A STRANGE QUESTION.
>> WAIT, IS IT, THOUGH?
IS IT?
BECAUSE THAT SEEMED PRETTY
REASONABLE TO ME.
IT'S NOT LIKE THAT REPORTER
ASKED, "MR. GOVERNOR!
WHY DO YOU THINK THE WIGGLES
HAD PRINCESS DIANA KILLED?"
THAT IS A STRANGE QUESTION.
THERE WAS NO BIG RED CAR
ANYWHERE NEAR THE SCENE.
BUT WHAT WHAT HE JUST ASKED YOU
DESERVED A PROPER ANSWER.
AND YET, FRUSTRATINGLY, IF YOU
LIVE IN CALIFORNIA AND PG&E IS
YOUR PROVIDER, THERE'S NOTHING
YOU CAN DO.
EVERY TIME YOU TURN YOUR LIGHTS
ON, YOU'RE REMINDED THAT YOUR
UTILITY HAS KILLED PEOPLE, AND
THE ONLY REAL RECOURSE YOU HAVE
IS GIVING THEM A SHITTY
YELP REVIEW.
SO HOW DO WE FIX THIS?
WELL, IF WE WERE ABLE TO START
OUR POWER GRID OVER FROM
SCRATCH, WHAT WE'D PROBABLY DO
IS MAKE UTILITIES PUBLICLY OWNED
AND RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT.
IT WOULDN'T FIX EVERYTHING --
THINGS MIGHT STILL GO WRONG --
BUT YOU'D REMOVE SO MANY OF THE
WORST INCENTIVES HERE.
UNFORTUNATELY, TRANSITIONING NOW
WOULD BE HUGELY EXPENSIVE
AND IN ALL LIKELIHOOD ISN'T
HAPPENING ANYTIME SOON.
BUT THERE ARE SMALLER STEPS
WE SHOULD ALSO BE TAKING IN THE
MEANTIME.
FOR INSTANCE, INSTEAD OF HAVING
A SYSTEM WHERE UTILITIES ARE
INCENTIVIZED JUST TO BUILD
STUFF, WE COULD INCENTIVIZE THEM
TO WORK DIRECTLY IN THE
CUSTOMERS' BEST INTERESTS,
BY INVESTING IN THINGS LIKE
MAINTENANCE, RENEWABLES,
AND ENERGY CONSERVATION.
THIS IS SOMETHING KNOWN AS
PERFORMANCE-BASED REGULATION,
AND SEVERAL STATES
ARE ALREADY TRYING IT.
AS FOR THE REGULATORS, LOOK,
COMMISSIONS WILL, UNFORTUNATELY,
PROBABLY ALWAYS VARY IN
EFFECTIVENESS DEPENDING ON
WHETHER IT'S STAFFED BY PEOPLE
WHO GIVE A SHIT ABOUT THIS, OR,
LET'S SAY, SOMEONE NAMED
TWINKLE.
BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
UNDER RESOURCED REGULATORS GET
MORE SUPPORT,
MORE ACCESS TO TECHNICAL
EXPERTISE, AND MORE JURISDICTION
OVER THE COMPANIES THEY MONITOR.
AND AT THIS POINT, I'D USUALLY
BRING OUT A MASCOT WE MADE FOR
UTILITIES THAT'S REPRESENTATIVE
OF JUST HOW TERRIBLE AND
HORRIFYING THEY ARE.
BUT AMAZINGLY, I DON'T EVEN NEED
TO DO THAT, DO I?
BECAUSE THEY ALREADY
MADE A MURDEROUS HELL-DEMON
ALMOST A HUNDRED YEARS AGO,
WITH REDDY KILOWATT.
SO ALL WE NEED TO DO IS BRING
REDDY BACK.
SO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I'M THRILLED TO PRESENT
TO YOU THE GLORIOUS RETURN
OF REDDY KILOWATT!
REDDY?
WHERE ARE YOU?
>> HELLO, JOHN!
HELLO, BOYS AND GIRLS!
>> YEAH.
THIS IS CREEPY.
I'M ALREADY REGRETTING THIS.
WHERE'S THE CLOWN?
WHERE'S MR. TOOT?
>> HE'S DEAD, JOHN.
I KILLED HIM.
>> OF COURSE YOU DID.
I'D LIKE TO LEAVE.
THIS IS A BAD IDEA.
>> WHO SAID YOU GET TO DO THAT?
>> FUCK!
>> THE WORLD IS MY MONOPOLY.
YOUR LOCAL UTILITY IS YOUR GOD.
I AM YOUR GOD.
SB WHEN I CANNOT BELIEVE I'M
SAYING THIS BUT YOU ARE TOO GOOD
AT REPRESENTING HOW SHITTY
UTILITY COMPANIES R.
>> YOU HAVE NO IDEA.
I COULD KILL YOU RIGHT NOW.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LIGHTS?!
>> BLACKOUTS HAPPEN, JOHN.
>> TURN THE LIGHTS BACK
ON, YOU FREAK!
>> YOU CAN DO IT YOURSELF, JOHN!
JUST GO AHEAD AND PULL THAT
LEVER!
>> WAIT, THIS ONE HERE?
>> UH-HUH.
>> OKAY.
>> UH-HUH.
HA HA.
I'M GONNA GET SUCH A FINE
FOR THAT.
THAT'S OUR SHOW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.
SEE YOU NEXT WEEK FOR ANOTHER
EPISODE OF "LAST WEEK TONIGHT"
WITH REDDY KILOWATT.
HA, HA.
BYE-BYE.