SDG&E-Edison; Merger Advisory Vote Backed : Utility: Electric company says measure favored by San Diego County Board of Supervisors is unfair and unnecessary.

In an effort to weigh public opinion on the proposed merger of San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors tentatively decided Tuesday to place an advisory measure on the June, 1990, ballot.

The results of the advisory vote, which would cost the county $30,000, would be presented to the state Public Utilities Commission, which will rule on the proposed merger, possibly by March, 1991.

“I think we put both companies on notice that we have the intention of giving all San Diegans a voice,” Supervisor Susan Golding said. “All the facts are not in. But from everything that I’ve seen so far, it does not look like a merger would be good for San Diego.”

The state Assembly killed a motion earlier this year by Assemblywoman Lucy Killea (D-San Diego) to stage a public advisory vote on the merger. SDG&E; executives said Tuesday the proposed county-wide vote is unnecessary and would create more confusion in an already complicated issue.

“Are we going to have an advisory vote every time two corporations want a merger? This gets a little hairy,” said Art Bishop, a senior regional governmental affairs representative for SDG&E.; “You’ve got a system of state and federal agencies set up that are equipped to look these things over and determine what is in the public’s best interest. An advisory vote keeps the public stirred up. It’s kind of unfair to ask the general public to get into something as complicated as this.”

And because the vote would be strictly advisory and not binding, Bishop said it would be “an exercise in futility.”

Edison executives were unavailable to comment on the supervisors’ decision. The utility touted the merger--which would create the largest electric utility in the nation if it receives approval--in a press release, saying it would mean a savings for customers of $1.7 billion during the next decade. Edison says it will apply to PUC for a 10% residential rate reduction and a 5% rate reduction for commercial, industrial and agricultural customers.

Opponents of the proposed merger welcomed the supervisors’ action, saying it would bring the voice of the public to the officials who are making the decisions.

“The Public Utilities Commission must consider public comment and there’s no better way than having a vote,” said Michael Shames, executive director of Utility Consumers Action Network, who added that he did not object to the price tag of the vote. “In the scheme of things, $30,000 is not a whole lot.”

Those who oppose the merger say it will ultimately drive up electric rates, as well as eliminate 1,000 local jobs. They also fear that Edison will add to San Diego’s air pollution by increasing the use of three under-utilized generation plants owned by SDG&E.;

The vote would be the only opportunity for most people to express their opinions, said Bob Hudson, executive director of the Coalition for Local Control, a San Diego organization formed to oppose the merger. “While it is true that federal and state regulators will be going over this thing with a fine tooth comb, it’s just as important that they hear from the people who will be most affected: those in San Diego County. If utilities believe their own hype they should welcome an advisory vote--if they don’t have anything to hide.”

County supervisors, who favored the ballot measure by a 5-0 vote, will decide the actual wording of the ballot measure in February.