San Francisco's PG&E takeover bid faces a key appeal and a looming price tag

San Francisco’s long-discussed push to take control of Pacific Gas & Electric’s local grid is moving toward a potential, expensive legal and financial fight. City officials are weighing whether to pursue a public takeover of PG&E’s poles, wires, and substations, according to The San Francisco Standard. A key immediate issue is PG&E’s appeal of the city’s environmental impact review; if supervisors deny it, San Francisco could move closer to using eminent domain. The environmental review was prompted after former Mayor London Breed asked the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to examine the idea. The city is considering revenue bonds first, making valuation central: it placed PG&E’s system at $3.4 billion in April, while PG&E is expected to submit a higher estimate by Oct. 20.