Assembly Member Garcia opposes IID’s divestment plan

Assembly Member Eduardo Garcia said he opposes IID’s plans to stop serving Coachella Valley.

“I don’t agree with the direction to divest, which means to leave the Coachella Valley territory. It could be hurtful to rate payers in my entire assembly district,” Garcia said.

IID said they would leave if Bill 854 passes a state hearing this Wednesday.

Alex Cardenas, IID Director Division One, said, “If that bill were to be successful in moving out of the appropriations committee, all that would do is accelerate our divestment plan.”

Garcia calls the bill a power grab, but understands Coachella Valley wanting to be represented at the IID board.

“I can appreciate the desire to have this conversation about representation when it comes to the ninety thousand people, the sixty percent of the energy customers that reside within the energy territory in the Coachella Valley,” Garcia said.

Garcia serves nearly half a million people covering both Imperial and Coachella valleys.

“This conversation about representation, I think, should be something that should be discussed as both parties are engaging into a conversation,” Garcia said.

IID has a contract agreement with Coachella water district to provide energy.

“Begin negotiations to extend their agreement so that all rate payers in my district, Coachella alike to Imperial County continue to receive the lowest possible energy rates,” Garcia said.

IID said water rights are the real issue and others are using energy to try to get control of them.

“Our board does not have any appetite whatsoever in increasing the membership of our board of directors. It clearly is a threat to our sovereignty. It threatens our water rights, and it’s an insult to Imperial County voters,” Cardenas said.

He said IID is preparing a team for the Wednesday hearing.

“I’ll be going to Sacramento Monday to meet with our lobbyist and to meet with some key partners who clearly support IID’s position,” Cardenas said.

Ramon Castro, Brawley resident and local Garcia supporter is concerned.

“He’s kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place. I think the interest is to have an individual who voices a concern of the rate payers from the Coachella Valley, but at the same time, I don’t know what diverting from the Coachella Valley would do to the rate payers here in Imperial County and how it would affect us overall,” Castro said.

Garcia said if the tables were turned, he’d still support dialogue over packing up and leaving.
“The issue of people wanting to have a seat at the table will not go away and I think it’s important that we have this conversation,” Garcia said.

Assembly Bill 854 proposes to put six directors from Coachella Valley at the IID Board, which only has five directors locally. The bill goes to a state committee on Wednesday where it can be killed, amended or passed to congress for a vote and that would trigger IID’s departure.

Please watch our newscast for more information.