Westfair Business Journals’ Post

At what point do high income earners say enough is enough? CA is going to keep testing them until they get their answer. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has until July 1 to impose the new rate structure. The state's three main utilities — Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas and Electric — proposed a tiered rate plan. Households earning $28,000-$69,000 would be charged an extra $20 to $34 per month. Those earning $69,000-$180,000 would pay $51 to $73 per month, and those earning more than $180,000 would pay a $85-to-$128 monthly surcharge.

Literally everything we predicted about Senate Bill 1 - the bill intended to eliminate competition and consumer choice in the electricity markets, and hand a literally monopoly over to the big utilities - is now coming to pass. Bear in mind that this latest $150 million money grab is IN ADDITION TO the $400 million rate increase that Baltimore Gas and Electric pushed through the Maryland Public Service Commission. This one is so brazen that the PSC just couldn't justify it. They will give countless reasons for soaking ratepayers who are already struggling with rising household costs. There is really only one - because they can. This is the inevitable consequence of market monopolies. Costs go through the roof and the quality of service goes down. And the consumers have no say because they have no other choice. This bill needs to be scrapped in 2025. Our state is so much better than this.

When it comes to utilities and energy, I firmly believe that consumers deserve protection from unchecked monopolization. The lack of oversight has allowed utilities like PG&E to exploit consumers, resulting in unjustified rate hikes driven by costly infrastructure updates and opaque decision-making processes. Instead of ensuring that PG&E's expenses are reasonable, the California Public Utilities Commission has become a rubber stamp for the utility's self-serving agenda. Competition and consumer choice are essential for a modern and reliable energy system in the 21st century. A competitive marketplace fosters affordable options, decentralized generation, and innovative solutions, enabling reliable service while granting communities financial freedom. Without robust legislative oversight, Californians will continue to endure unjustified rate increases. More from San Francisco Chronicle.

More than 1 million Pacific Gas and Electric Company customers are behind on utility bills as #California lawmakers consider warring proposals to lower costs: https://loom.ly/bJHkguw After the state approved a series of rate hikes, will PG&E or the California Public Utilities Commission be held accountable? TAKE ACTION: https://loom.ly/9LPY8j8 #CAleg #CAenergy

A fully deregulated smart grid was the solution we asked for in the past. perhaps its time has come.

This artilce written by Loretta Lynch provides a comprehensive overview of how the electricity prices in California are so high. "California now holds the ignominious prize for the highest electricity rates in the nation, except Hawaii. How did we get into this predicament?" "Because the California Public Utilities Commission — the five-member agency appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom that regulates the prices, service and reliability of private energy utilities — has failed to do its job." #electricity #energy #energytransition #energypolicy #energysecurity #energypoverty

Dr. Faruqui hit the nail on the head: "The commission has approved multiple rate hikes and disincentivized clean energy alternatives. It seems to be consistently doing whatever the utilities it regulates want it to do...Californians are fed up with ever increasing electric bills. We need the governor to protect us from getting slapped with new rate increases. We need regulators to do their jobs. We need rules to stop investor-owned utility companies from passing their penalties onto us and profiting from their mistakes." Read more at: https://lnkd.in/gnKgjSQ4

California has no doubt created a giant mess with their current electric rates. Blaming utilities for every wildfire that has occurred over the last 10 years, jamming renewable requirements down the throat of utilities and now, coming to the realization that none of it will work without significant transmission and storage investment is driving rates through the ceiling. It will only get worse. That results in a significant financial burden on lower income customers. No doubt they need to find a workable solution. That being said to infer this may be be a workable model for the rest of the country is very presumptuous. Where California leads, others should not blindly follow. Compounding their mistakes elsewhere is not a winning solution. #rates #electricity #energy #energytransition #energypolicy #infrastructure #resiliency #energysecurity #energypoverty

This article discusses the recent rate increase proposal from Wisconsin Public Service and We Energies. The utilities are seeking to raise rates for 2025-2026, which could significantly impact consumers' financial well-being. As Tom Content, Executive Director of CUB, warns, "A 28% increase between 2022 and 2026 is a lot for anybody to handle. We're especially concerned about those who are already struggling to make ends meet." CUB is committed to reviewing the proposal closely to ensure that any rate changes are fair and reasonable for Wisconsin utility customers. For more details on the proposed hike, read the full article below. Full Article: https://lnkd.in/gnrtbNz9

To recap, a significant and controversial decision this week by the Arizona Corporation Commission to allow utilities to ask the commission to set their rates annually, if they choose. The commission regulates more than 300 utilities, including electricity, gas and some water companies. You can read and watch my ABC15 Arizona report here: https://lnkd.in/gDrpynjm