By Reed Fujii, The Record, Stockton, Calif.

Aug. 12--Beatrice Azevedo of Ripon said she and her neighbors are upset by power bills from Pacific Gas and Electric Co., even though the senior development where she lives is served by the Modesto Irrigation District.

"I think it's a scam. I really do," she said Monday. "I'm against paying for something I'm not using. That's what the majority here in Chesapeake Landing is against, paying for something they're not using."

And they're not alone. Hundreds of customers of the Modesto and Merced irrigation districts in San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced counties have protested, withheld payments and begun organizing over the past couple of months as PG&E began sending bills to about 8,300 residential and commercial customers, averaging about $9 a month, according to the utility. The Ripon City Council approved a resolution July 1 asking state legislators to take action against the charges.  See this article