But in January, a 50 year old franchise agreement will expire, and the city needs a new contract. Mayor Kevin Faulconer says he plans to put the agreement up for bid to private utilities. But community activists want a new energy future: public power. And they're willing to fight for it. AMBI: PUBLIC POWER NOW! PUBLIC POWER NOW! In this story, for the KPBS Investigates Podcast, I take a deep dive into what public power means and the struggles many cities have faced when they've asked for it. Stay with me. MIDROLL 1 AD PART 1: San Diego Fighting for a Utility It was a scorching hot August afternoon. Over a dozen activists, equipped with signs, charts and graphs of California electricity rates, lined the stairs of the tall brown skyscraper at 101 Ash st downtown. The building was once occupied by San Diego Gas and Electric's parent company, Sempra Energy. Activists gathered here to announce a new coalition. AMBI: Public Power, Public Power Now! San Diego public power.