Local governments would generally be required to receive two-thirds voter approval before they could start up electricity services and or expand electricity service into a new territory.
Yes: 1,869,805 [47.7%]
No: 2,049,858 [52.3%]
Pro / Con
Supporters say that the two-thirds voter approval requirement in Proposition 16 will ensure that taxpayers have final say in how public money is spent on electricity.
Supporters
Taxpayers Right to Vote - Yes on 16
California Taxpayer's Association
California Chamber of Commerce
Opponents claim that Proposition 16 will drastically limit choices on who provides citizens with electricity. They say that the Proposition will let for-profit utilities raise electricity rates without limit, by protecting their monopoly and eliminating competition.
Opponents
The Utility Reform Network
Taxpayers Against the PG&E Power Grab
Local Clean Energy Alliance
Polling
SurveyUSA Election Poll #16638
“On Proposition 16, which requires a two-thirds majority of voters approval before local governments expand electricity service using public funding or bonds, are you ... Certain to vote yes? Certain to vote no? Or not certain? {"Not certain" voters were asked: At this hour, on Proposition 16, do you ... lean toward yes? lean toward no, or do you not lean?}””
In-Depth
In 2002, California Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) legislation (Assembly Bill 117 (Migden, Chapter 836, Statutes of 2002)) provided local governments with the ability to combine electricity loads within their communities 
and act on behalf of those customers to buy or choose electricity for them. In some cases, cities and counties have used the CCA program to set up alternatives to private utilities such as PG&E. For example, governments in San Francisco and nearby Marin County have instituted CCA programs to circumvent PG&E.
Proposition 16 would amend the constitution by altering the necessary qualifications for CCA programs. Under the act, a potential local municipal utility would need to gain approval of two thirds of the voters who live in the area the utility would cover. Two-thirds approval would also be required for a CCA program to expand electric services to a new area or new customers.
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) is the primary financial sponsor of Proposition 16.
Voter Resources
CA Official Documents
Official Voter Information Guide
Bill Documents
Campaign Finance Information
Cal-Access General
Committees formed to support or oppose the ballot measure
Cal-Access Ballot Measure Summary Data Search
Select Primary 08 June 2010 and Proposition 016.
Cal-Access provides financial information supplied by state candidates, donors, lobbyists, and others.
Nonpartisan Analysis
Pros & Cons (League of Women Voters)
Proposition 16 and the Public Power Option: Birch Rod, or Risky Business?
Center for Law, Energy & the Environment, UC Berkeley, May 2010.
Community Choice Aggregation Pilot Project Final Report
Public Interest Energy Research Renewable Energy Technologies Program, California Energy Commission, 2009.
Multimedia
Supporters
Opponents
-
No on 16 Videos -
-
Former Executive Director of the California Energy Commission John L. Geesman on Prop. 16 -
No on Prop. 16
-
Kern County Supervisor Michael Rubio on Proposition 16 -
San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos: Vote No on Proposition 16
Non-partisan
-
KQED Forum with Michael Krasny -
Voter Minute: Proposition 16 -
News Panel for March 19, 2010: Proposition 16
