Michael Shames

San Diego Gas & Electric is strongly protesting the attempt of Michael Shames to get $365 an hour, plus $50 as an "efficency adder," for his work on SDG&E's October 3, 2011, filing before the Calfornia Public Utilities Commission for authority to update costs.

Shames cofounded and headed Utility Consumers' Action Network (UCAN), an activist group, until complaints by whistleblowers led to a federal investigation and his ouster. He then sued UCAN, a whistleblower, and the whistleblower's attorney for libel. He lost each case and this month a judge said he has to pay almost $75,000 in court costs.

Shames set up his own organization, San Diego Consumers' Action Network (SDCAN) to intervene in utility hearings. But as SDG&E says in its statement, "SDG&E cannot ascertain that SDCAN's purported 'group' contains any members except for Mr. Shames himself."

In requesting that Shames's desire to be paid a fat sum be denied, SDG&E comments, "The legislature did not intend the intervenor compensation program to be a full employment act for private consultants."