Posted on 02/04/2024 9:12:22 PM PST by SeekAndFind
I first reported in April 2023 about a new California state law that would require utility companies to come up with a fixed-rate plan as a way to help stabilize rates and make billing more "equitable."
Hence, the state’s soon-to-be-implemented "equitable" policy will base residential electricity bills on income rather than usage, even as public and political opposition to the idea builds in the Democratic coalition.
I titled my 2023 article "Marxism, California Style? New State Law Will Lead Energy Companies to Bill Customers Based on Income" because of a phrase popularized by Karl Marx as part of a larger communist ideological statement (emphasis mine):
In a higher phase of communist society … only then can the narrow horizon of the bourgeois right be fully left behind, and society inscribe on its banners: from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.
If that phrase doesn't accurately describe the no-longer-Golden State's soon-to-be electricity billing plan, please tell me where I've gone wrong.
As Newsom continues to feel the heat as he awaits a final proposal from the state's utility commission that's consistent with the 2022 law that required the agency to devise an income-based billing system, a spokesman said on Tuesday that the governor is looking forward to it.
California must combat climate change by rapidly expanding the use of clean electricity in our vehicles and buildings, while at the same time making it more affordable for low-income Californians.
However, not all Democrat lawmakers in the state share Newsom's exuberance, including Democratic assemblyman Marc Berman, who said in a Tuesday press conference:
Californians are fed up. My constituents are pissed off. I know because they told me over and over again at every community coffee that I had in the fall and winter. Their rates keep going up.
Here's a bit of background:
Newsom’s commitment to California’s income-based electricity billing plan followed a press conference by a group of Democratic lawmakers who want to reverse the policy, after they voted in its favor as part of a 2022 budget bill.
Citing public outcry, they condemned the plan as another price hike for Californians’ astronomical energy bills that would punish conservation-minded households while also subjecting everyone to invasive income checks.
This emerging rift over a policy that’s been praised by supporters as an "equitable" boost for the state’s transition to zero-emission electricity is a rare hiccup in the Democratic supermajority’s typically lockstep approach to energy mandates.
Opponents include tenants’ advocates, who say the extra fees will add to renters’ already sky-high living costs, environmental groups, and even supporters of solar energy. Other powerful environmental groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, support the income-based system.
The growing public pressure over the issue may signal that Californians, a majority of whom said last year that environmental regulations are worth the cost, have hit a limit to their tolerance for Sacramento’s energy policies.
Electricity rates have risen nearly 70 percent since 2010, when the state started to break from fossil fuels, and California households pay nearly 83 percent more than the average for homes elsewhere in the United States.
Typical politically-driven Democrats. They were for the plan until public outcry reached a point that led them to condemn the plan.
Edward Ring, cofounder of the California Policy Center, said Newsom hides behind "environmentalist values."
Newsom and the public utilities commission hide behind environmentalist values to justify imposing an unfair burden on any Californian who doesn’t qualify for subsidies — and in fact makes it more expensive for everyone else.
Is there any doubt? Newsom has pushed screwball "green energy" plans for years, most notably a plan to ban the sale of new gas-powered passenger vehicles by cars by 2035, which some experts say would collapse the state's power grid — even with projected growth of the grid.
California's utility commission has not yet determined how income-based billing will be determined. Utility companies initially pitched a proposal that would have low-income households pay as little as $15 a month, while high-income households would pay up to $128 per month — plus for usage. The companies retreated after public outcry.
Jenn Engstrom, the state director of the California Public Interest Research Group, which opposes the income-based fee system, said it would "punish those of us committed to energy conservation and efficiency."
This not only diminishes consumer control over energy bills, but a system that incentivizes high energy consumption could increase costs on the entire system and lead to higher electricity bills for everyone.
Finally, Terrie Prosper, director of news and outreach for the state’s utility commission, said a fixed-rate plan would be a "critical step toward our climate goals" because owners of electric vehicles would end up paying less to charge their cars.
Is that the most out-of-touch statement you've read today, or what?
Meanwhile, Gavin Newsom continues to pander as the California band plays on — dissonant as hell.
SEE MORE:
COMEDY GOLD: US Oil and Gas Association Nails Newsom on His Bad Spin During Debate
New Laws for 2024 Taking California Further Into Crazy Town
It's Official: CA Legislature Passes Draconian 'Gender-Affirming' Bill 957, Heads to Newsom's Desk
“”poor people being forced to subsidize the mansions of the ultra-wealthy in California””
No Worries!
The democRATS have a plan. The Wealth Tax! No matter your income, if you have too much money, you will be forced to ‘shaaaaaare’ with those less fortunate (or lazy), and no doubt every democRAT will wet their beaks for their 10%.
Also, there is no intention to build more electricity generation.
A year or two ago, India announced that they are ramping up coal mining to bring more electricity to the people. India already gets about 70% of its electricity from coal.
France announced that they will build 10-15 more nuclear power plants to increase their electricity availability.
During this current cold cycle (otherwise known as winter) Canada’s wind and solar energy generation has fallen to, approximately, ZERO, many provinces.
So many woke social virtue signaling laws, regulations and policies implemented in California are “out-of-touch” and counter productive to a working society.
In my opinion California is a failed state. If you look at the funding of their public employee pensions, what the state is spending money on, how they are pushing the most hard working and creative workers and business owners out of the state, and finally, how they are pushing businesses out of the state, you have to acknowledge that the state will crash into a complete mess.
They won’t let you do that. Since charges will NOT BE ABOUT POWER USAGE, you will be charged for it WHETHER OR NOT YOU USE ANY ELECTRICITY.
This is just ANOTHER TAX.
You may be “off the grid” but you will not dodge these Marxist taxes. This is nothing but pure communism.
Californians DESERVE this. They have been electing communists for decades.
Vote with your feet, people!
Remind me not to move there.
“This also essentially ensures Newsom will not be the post-Biden replacement, since there is no way this idea can be supported nationwide.”
Don’t underestimate the stupidity of the Democrat party’s nationwide base.
“Also, there is no intention to build more electricity generation.”
California imports between 25% and 30% of its electric consumption. In addition to eliminating fossil fuel generation the greenies want to remove the dams generating hydro power and the state’s remaining nuclear plant. As surrounding states see their own power needs rise will they continue to build excess capacity to meet California’s needs or will they simply redirect the power going to California to supply their own needs, forcing frequent brownouts and blackouts across the state?
1) Slab
2) City
“Does that mean that people with no income get free electricity?”
Absolutely, I would think. Free electricity to the homeless camps! Gov cash payments if they can’t use all their allocated electrical equity. Gotta keep the drug cartels subsidized with taxpayer funds.
Some years back England decided to ‘tax the rich’ by basing taxes on the number of windows in a house or commercial building. To this day you can see bricked up windows from that time period.
needs to be ousted like cuomo
“If you have solar power with a battery storage system that could cover your consumption, plus a generator for backup, you could avoid the fee by disconnecting from the grid”
If not already, The Marxist in Sacramento will make this illegal.
Socialism pure and simple.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_each_according_to_his_ability%2C_to_each_according_to_his_needs
This will just push the potential for brownouts and blackouts to become a sure reality. California will likely address the situation by banning home sun-based electricity generation systems.
Liberal Democrat morons paid the crocodile to eat them last. Guess what? You’re now on the menu.
The Mexican electric company, CFE, does it this way. They have three tiers of billing according to usage. If you have a big house with a lot of gadgets and air conditioning in every room, part of your usage will billed at the highest rate.
“Communism”
“Grow-houses” can flourish in California...
Didn’t William F Buckley say he would rather be governed by the first 2000 names in the Boston phone book than by the faculty of Harvard?
this nonsense keep the peons and peasants from getting focused on the real issues...
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