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Volume 169 • Issue 143 | 75¢
A merry little drive-thru
PG&E rates to go up 8% Dawn Hodson Staff writer Last week the California Public Utility Commission approved an 8.1% increase in rates charged by PG&E to help the oncebankrupt utility pay for improvements designed to reduce the risk of wildfires ignited by outdated equipment. The higher prices are expected to impact residential customers. In March 2021 the average residential customer can expect to see a monthly bill increase of $13.44 ($10.40 for electric and $3.05 for gas). California Alternate Rates for Energy customers can expect to see a monthly bill increase of $8.99 ($6.60 for electric and $2.39 for gas). The rate change will be effective March 1 and will impact rates through Dec 31, 2022. The San Francisco utility emerged from bankruptcy five months ago. PG&E officials said the rate hike will enable it to invest in its electric and gas distribution systems and power generation infrastructure. n
Mountain Democrat photos by Sel Richard
Santa Claus takes Christmas wishes Saturday morning as families drove through El Dorado Hills Community Park so little ones could share their Christmas lists with the big guy himself during the EDH Community Services District’s special event. Volunteers Elvia Triki, left, and her daughter Yasmin from the National Charity League, put in a request for an iPhone and room decorations.
See PG&E rates, page A3
EDC officials report 3 new virus deaths Democrat staff
Eliana, 6, and Isabella De Ornelas, 4, of El Dorado Hills, left photo, peek through the sunroof to get a look at the jolly fellow. Eliana asked for an American Girl doll while her little sister said she would like a tea cart and a Cry Babies doll. EDHCSD Director of Recreation Mike Cottrell, right photo, hands out treats to El Dorado Hills youngsters Phoebe, 5, and Autumn Campbell, 7. Phoebe asked for a talking Mickey Mouse while Autumn wished for a Jessie doll from “Toy Story.” Parents Robert and Erica Campbell are all smiles.
El Dorado County officials reported three new coronavirus deaths Friday. Eight residents have now died of COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic in March, according to county data. A Placerville man and South Lake Tahoe man in the 50-64 age group and a man 65 or older from Cameron Park/Shingle Springs succumbed to complications from COVID-19. Patients in intensive care units doubled over the weekend in the county. On Friday there were four people being treated in the ICU, by Monday eight. Between Barton Memorial Hospital in South Lake Tahoe and Marshall Medical Center in Placerville on Monday there were 18 residents in the hospital; that number includes the eight in the ICU. County health officials Monday afternoon n
See virus deaths, page A3
Close call in Whitehall
High winds bring down problem pine upcountry Mark Bowen Democrat correspondent On a windy Monday morning around 8 a.m. Whitehall resident Alison Welch was lying in bed when she heard what she said sounded like an explosion. Outside her front door she found a sizeable pine tree resting on top of her 2000 Ford F350 turbo diesel. Her truck was “smashed,” she said, noting that it used to run “like a champ.” And it wasn’t just any tree. This tree was also serving to hold up power lines. The tree had been known to bend and sway in wind storms and Welch said she had reached out to PG&E three times for help with a tree she was certain would come crashing down over
nearby homes. “I told (PG&E) this needs to get resolved and that this tree needs to come down. I can’t do anything with it because a power line is attached to it,” Welch said. The Mountain Democrat left a message with a PG&E spokesperson asking for comment but that call was not returned by press time. If the tree had fallen just a few feet to the left it would have hit Welch’s granddaughter’s bedroom. Welch said PG&E crews came out to cut down the rest of the tree and restore power to Welch and other customers in the immediate vicinity that afternoon. n
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Photo by Mark Bowen
See Close call, page A3
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Whitehall resident Alison Welch surveys damage to her 2000 Ford F350 turbo diesel truck that took heavy damage Monday morning when high winds brought a pine tree down.
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