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In response to the California’s power crisis, Berkeley City Councilmember Linda Maio is asking for a special meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 24 to discuss various ways that the city can cut back on energy use and rid the city of the shackles of Pacific Gas And Electric.  

But in a power play of her own, Mayor Shirley Dean, said Maio’s proposals will not be heard until the regular City Council meeting of Feb. 13. At that time, Dean said she will have her own plan on how Berkeley can do its part to help solve the energy crisis.  

On Jan. 16, Maio tabled a proposal by Dean requesting that PG&E implement a power-reduction plan for Berkeley residents and businesses while Dean was away at a mayor’s conference in Washington D.C. 

“My proposal ... was removed and blocked. For [Maio] to come back with a proposal of her own is a little interesting to say the least,” Dean said.  

Maio wants the city to step up its conservation efforts and encourage more state-wide efforts. She also wants the city government to start getting active on a regional level and host an energy summit for stakeholders in the utility market.  

“We want people who can make sure we are not tied to the grid and are not tied to the vagaries of the market,” Maio said.  

Berkeley’s city government currently buys power for its own use at a lower rate through the Association of Bay Area Governments — a regional government planning group. By buying power as a collective group with other municipalities, the agreement provides a lower rate for Berkeley and other member municipalities. Maio wants to push legislatures to ease PG&E regulations that require residents to have sign up to join that group. 

“I want to embrace everybody in the city as a single power buyer, and if you don’t want to you can drop out,” she said.  

Maio also suggests providing some tax money to support some low-income residents and looking into the idea of expanding the East Bay Municipal Utilities District to be an energy provider. 

“This is an opportunity here we really can’t miss,” she said.  

Although not completely dismissing that idea, Dean said it is far too premature to start taking seriously as a solution to this current problem. 

“East Bay MUD generates about 12 megahertz of energy. That’s enough to run 12,000 homes,” she said. “If you want to look at increasing that, it’s in the very preliminary stages.” 

Instead, Dean wants to continue those talks while looking at more immediate fixes to the power problem. Dean refused give further details and said she would reveal her ideas later this week.  

“We’re looking at a program with real meaning and real substance,” she said.