Legendary Consumer Advocate Sylvia Siegel Dies--California Loses a Colorful Character

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Mike Florio
Senior Staff Attorney
The Utility Reform Network (TURN)

Legendary consumer activist Sylvia Siegel died peacefully in her sleep today. Siegel, who was 89, was always reticent about revealing her age. In a profile for CBS's 60 Minutes in 1984, Harry Reasoner asked her how old she was, prompting a sharp response. "That's none of your damn business," Siegel snapped.

As The Utility Reform Network's (TURN) founder and executive director for 16 years, Siegel saved California consumers billions of dollars. After discovering that no one was challenging outrageous utility rate hike applications at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), Siegel took on the job herself. She founded TURN, originally called Toward Utility Rate Normalization, from her kitchen table in 1973. Siegel taught herself the complex laws and rules that govern utility rates, and learned how to use them to the benefit of the public, rather than the corporations.

A colorful character in the dull world of utility regulation, Siegel's talent and passion pushed her to the forefront of any battle she engaged in. Under her leadership TURN grew to become the largest and most successful utility consumer advocacy organization in the state. With a staff of 14 and an annual budget of over $1.5 million, TURN represents consumers in every important CPUC proceeding affecting gas, electric and telephone bills in California.

Siegel's work led to fairer rates, and helped mandate a "lifeline rate"- a minimum amount of gas and electricity made available to all consumers at a reasonable rate. Lifeline rates, now known as baseline rates, remain an essential protection for California consumers to this day. In addition, under Siegel's leadership TURN:

• Exposed $346 million in fuel cost overcharges by PG&E and Edison (1974);

• Stopped Pacific Telephone from charging lifeline customers for calls lasting more than five minutes (1976);

• Won a ruling from the US Supreme Court upholding a CPUC order forcing Pacific Telephone to refund $341 million to customers (1979), and

• Defeated a plan by SoCal Edison to impose a "customer charge" on all customers- even if they didn't use any electricity that month (1988).

A testament to the importance of Siegel's work is the support she received from the thousands of Californians who joined and continue to be members of TURN.