No to NID taking over our electrical distribution lines

The Nevada Irrigation District, based in Nevada County, has hatched a big idea to take over the PG&E distribution lines in their irrigation district. They are also looking at taking on the electrical lines across Bear River in our communities of Colfax, Weimar and Meadow Vista. The Shady Glen, Weimar and Halsey Forebay electrical distribution substations are not located within the Nevada Irrigation District. Our communities connected to these substations receive our water service from Placer County Water Agency which is a financially stable agency that has served our communities with competence, reliability, and good faith since the 1920s. The Placer County Water Agency has the same ability and authority to provide electrical distribution service to our communities if we want it. The areas serviced by the above power stations are served by the Pioneer Community Choice Aggregate based in Placer County. There are several questions around the current PG&E bankruptcy. PCWA is taking a measured, deliberate, wise, and prudent approach to the current situation:1. Will the state of California order the break-up of the PG&E distribution system? What will that look like?2. Will there be financial incentives provided for communities to purchase and manage these systems? 3. How will wildfire liability be handled?4. Will Placer County in collaboration with PCWA and Pioneer Community Choice Aggregate extend Roseville Electric or Liberty Power along the I-80 corridor?5. Why would our communities choose to join NID when we have a stable, financially sound, support system just down the hill in our own county?PCWA conducted a simple feasibility study first and then took a wait and see strategy. NID put the cart before the horse once again while squandering taxpayer and ratepayer dollars submitting forms, paying large fees, holding public meetings and making big announcements that may or may not happen. NID set up a series of five tasks for the general manager, the last of which was a feasibility study. Isn't that the first thing you should do? It appears that NID tries to do everything at once. Currently there are at least eight major activities going on at the district:1. Strategic planning for the next five years2. Raw Water Master Plan/Plan for water3. Redistricting4. Centennial dam DEIR/DEIS (draft environmental impact report)5. Bear River Water Rights Application to the CSWRCB (California State Water Resource Control Board)6. Yuba Bear FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) relicensing/CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act)7. Drum Spaulding system acquisition8. PG&E distribution line purchaseAn example of this feverish activity is the fact that just this week there was a Special Engineering Committee meeting, a Special Administrative Practices Committee meeting, two Strategic Planning Public Workshops, and the District Board meeting all in the first three days! For each of these meetings, there are large documents to study before making decisions that involve millions of dollars in expenditures of public money. Does anyone really believe that all the NID Directors actually read all this information? My guess is that there are some good old boys who just vote however the general manager wants. After all, he knows best, right?Nevada Irrigation District has pursued a campaign to prematurely purchase Placer County homes and property along Bear River in pursuit of a proposed dam that would devastate essential wildlife habitat, take out affordable housing, and destroy a premier and beloved local recreation area, Bear River Park Day Use, Family Campground and Group Camp which serves our local and regional communities. This effort disregards the Placer County Planning Commission and precludes future planning for Placer County's Bear River recreation opportunities under the Placer County Park and Trails Plan, as well as the Placer County Conservation Plan future extension upriver along the Bear River Corridor.The Nevada Irrigation District has threatened residents in our communities, outside their district, with eminent domain. If this annexation of our communities for electrical distribution services were successful, our residents would lose any protections they currently have to fight against this out of county takeover. The NID general manager plans to submit an application to start this process immediately and it is unclear whether the target communities will have any voice in this decision. We are a small area compared to the adjacent Irrigation District which does NOT represent our interests or future quality of life. We are asking our elected representatives to stand up for our communities and say No to NID expansion. Dianna Suarez is Colfax resident.