Highlights, lowlights from the week's news

We've got two hits and just one miss this week. In this case, the one miss is more than enough. MISS >> Shameful. Reprehensible. Despicable.

Honestly, we wish there were a stronger word to describe PG&E's ripoff of its largely captive customer base, but we're stuck to come up with one.

Just as customers were reeling from yet another round of massive rate increases approved by the ever-compliant Public Utilities Commission, PG&E released its 2023 profit report this week. Not surprisingly, it was obscene.

The company announced Thursday it earned $2.24 billion in profits last year, an incredibly unjustifiable increase of 24.6% from 2022. Even more alarming, the report also predicted the company's investors could anticipate even better earnings in 2024; after all, we're not done with these rate increases. Not by a long shot. As long as there are a few extra pennies in the pocket of any customer, PG&E seems determined to find them.

To the surprise of no one, this comes after the company got its traditional rubber-stamp-approval from the PUC for another rate increase. You know, because the extra money is so necessary for rebuilding its infrastructure and all.

The Utility Reform Network, a consumer advocacy group that goes by TURN, blasted the profit figures.

“TURN believes it is unacceptable for PG&E shareholders to pocket billions in profits at the expense of its customers who have seen bills skyrocket by 33% last year alone,” said Mark Toney, the group's executive director.

Of course, the news is nothing but rosy in the eyes of PG&E. “Our story of progress continued in 2023, including further reducing wildfire ignitions and burying more powerlines than any prior year,” said PG&E Chief Executive Officer Patricia Poppe.

Our story of progress? For who? Certainly not customers who are resigned to freezing in the winter and roasting in the summer because they can't afford the evergrowing bills. Also, there's something disconcerting about PG&E bragging about reducing wildfire ignitions when they were the ones solely responsible for starting so many of these fires in the first place.

Meanwhile, five and a half years after the Camp Fire, we continue to hear from victims who aren't getting their full payout from the Fire Victim Trust >> assuming they've gotten a payout at all. Fire victims aren't benefitting from this boon because the trust sold off its shares before this revenue spike that might have led to a greater return.

“Between its rank greed and rampant property destruction from wildfires, it's difficult to identify another company that has inflicted more harm to the residents of the state than PG&E,” said Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group, a consumer advocacy organization.

It's sickening and it's out of control. When will our elected officials finally stand up and say “Enough”? HIT >> The PG&E news leaves us in dire need of a feel-good story. Fortunately, we've got a great one right down the Midway.

In a story that feels straight out of “Hoosiers,” the Durham High wrestling team has taken the adage “the bigger they are, the harder they fall” to new levels. Going against much-larger schools, the Trojans won the Northern Section championship last Saturday, its first section championship in 64 years.

The team title marks the first time a small school has won in the era of the Masters Tournament.

“It's just a small school, small town, everybody feels like family and that's what this team is – it's an extension of my family,” said Durham High wrestling coach Tony Cardoza.

Most impressively, the Trojans did it with a young team that only figures to get better in the years to come. Fittingly, it was the lone senior >> Geovani Rico >> who wrapped up the title with a pin in just 15 seconds.

From there, it was on to the CIF State Wrestling Championships held at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield. Who knows? This David vs. Goliath story could be just beginning.

HIT >> The week also featured some good news in terms of getting help, and housing, for those who need it.

First, after several delays, Everhart Village was able to open its doors and move in its first six residents. Chico Housing Action Team Director Nicole Drummond said Thursday the nonprofit received the necessary permit to begin operations at its Everhart Village project, a 20-cabin collaboration with Butte County Behavioral Health to house behavioral health clients at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness.

Also, Prospect View Apartments in Oroville is nearing completion. It'll include 39 units. According to the Butte County website, the goal of the project is to provide a home and sense of stability to previously unhoused people. Instead of focusing solely on day-to-day survival, residents will be empowered to improve their lives and get back on their feet.

“It's amazing to see so many people with the same goal in trying to end homelessness, even if it's just one small area at a time,” said Pahua Thao, Butte County's health and human services program analyst.

We agree. There's no one-sizefits-all cure for homelessness; a mix of government efforts and private citizens tackling this issue on multiple fronts works to everyone's benefit.

Unlike, say, obscene PG&E profits.