Barbara Boxer: “This gentleman wrote to me. His name is Zack Ranch. Actually, his wife wrote: I am writing to ask your help. Our family…”

“This gentleman wrote to me. His name is Zack Ranch. Actually, his wife wrote: I am writing to ask your help. Our family has owned and operated an alfalfa ranch in the Hammil Valley since 1965. Our crop is irrigated in the summer with water pumped from wells, by electric pumps. We have just been informed by Edison that our power rate will double this summer, and will possibly be raised beyond that in the future. Since we have a narrow profit margin to begin with, this will effectively put us out of business. Edison has told us that there is to be no break for farmers. In the past, we have been on a 'time of use' program in the summer where we pump only during off peak hours, but we aren't able to find if this program will continue. Any information you can offer, or any help you can give us, will be greatly appreciated. Well, we lost so many small businesses and farmers during this period.”