Pacific Gas and Electric Company has announced it has made its 2006 franchise fee and franchise fee surcharge payments totaling more than $39 million to 48 counties in which it operates. The 2006 franchise fee and franchise fee surcharge payments total $16 million for gas and about $23 million for electric service. The 2006 franchise fee and surcharge payments represent an increase of about $2.1 million over the 2005 payments primarily due to increased natural gas prices following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2006.  “PG&E has been a part of northern and central California landscape for more than 100 years, and our commitment to support the communities in which we do business has never been stronger,” said Nancy E. McFadden, PG&E’s senior vice president of public affairs. “PG&E’s payment of property taxes, franchise fees and other taxes and fees is a constant source of revenue local governments can count on to support the many important services residents expect such as police and fire protection, education, public health, and environmental services.”

State officials on Tuesday took an official Sierra snow survey for the season. The findings indicate that snow pack, a critical part of California's water supply, is far below normal, ranging from 55 percent of the average in the north to 40 percent of average in the southern Sierras. Department of Water Resource officials say there is still enough water in California's reservoirs to assure normal deliveries of water to cities and farmers this summer, but the lower than normal expected runoff amounts means that reservoirs will be abnormally low in the fall.