Posted on 11/01/2024 2:52:02 AM PDT by george76
The governor’s order does not state how much Californians might save on their bills each month once the measures are enacted.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Oct. 30 aimed at reducing electricity prices for Californians, which are the second-highest in the country, and directed state agencies to find ways to lower costs.
Newsom’s office said in a statement that the executive action “encourages electric bill relief” while also maintaining the state’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality and “100% clean electricity” by 2045. “We’re taking action to address rising electricity costs and save consumers money on their bills,” Newsom said. “California is proving that we can address affordability concerns as we continue our world-leading efforts to combat the climate crisis.”
The governor’s order directs the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to identify “underperforming” energy programs and return any unused program funds to customers via credits on their bills.
It also asks the CPUC to evaluate electric ratepayer-supported programs and make recommendations on additional ways to save consumers money, while directing the commission to pursue federal funding options to help lower electricity bills for Californians.
Newsom’s order directs the California Air Resources Board to work with the CPUC to determine ways to maximize the California Climate Credit. Californians typically receive this credit, funded by the state’s Cap-and-Trade program, twice a year via their electricity and gas bills.
The order, issued just days before the Nov. 5 election, does not state how much Californians might save on their bills each month once the measures are enacted.
It also does not provide a timeline as to when the cost-saving efforts will be implemented.
California now has the second-highest residential electricity rates in the country after Hawaii, with customers paying an average of 32.56 ¢/kWh (kilowatt hour) as of July, according to online energy marketplace Choose Energy. That marks a 10.8 percent increase year on year. That contrasts with states such as Louisiana, where customers paid the lowest residential electricity rates in the nation at 11.50 cents/kWh as of July.
The order also calls for “smarter wildfire mitigation investments,” specifically a review of how cost-effective utility wildfire safety oversight practices are.
Newsom’s order was welcomed by Democrats, including Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire, who acknowledged that rising electricity costs are impacting Californians and their quality of life.
“The state, including its regulatory agencies, needs to buckle down and blunt the expanding fiscal impacts on ratepayers,” McGuire said. “This is an important start by Governor Newsom, and the Senate plans to double down on this progress in the months ahead.”
Environmental and consumer advocacy groups including California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) said they are concerned the executive order will result in state agencies cutting critical clean energy programs.
“The real drivers of high utility bills are wasteful utility spending and excessive profits,” CALPIRG State Director Jenn Engstrom said in an Oct.30 statement. Newsom’s executive order “does little to hold utilities accountable for wasting ratepayers’ money. Ensuring utilities don’t overspend on wildfire mitigation is a good step, but way more needs to be done to rein in these companies’ profligate ways.”
Rates due to skyrocket!
You’re overloading your electric facilities with all this Green Cr**. Use more Natural Gas is the solution.
I believe Hawaii is the highest, all due to Democrat government actions.
Any where you have Democrats you have excessive cost of living.
Well, they have to get their cut.
As always, the blue states go running to Uncle Sugar to beg for money.
First thought was this was the Bee. Next he will order the removal of friction and the planting of money trees.
Shut down your nuclear power and close traditional power plants, plant a bunch of windmills and solar panels and wonder why is electricity so expensive. Only in the leftist mind
“Newsom’s office said in a statement that the executive action “encourages electric bill relief” while also maintaining the state’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality and “100% clean electricity” by 2045”
Very similar to what happened in California with auto insurance decades ago. They passed a law that demands insurance companies lower their rates, but did NOTHING to lower their costs, which were driven by out-of-control lawsuits. The Left, as usual, claimed it was ‘insurance industry profits’ that drove up the cost of insurance...and needless to say, rates kept going up, because it was never the profits.
In this case, as usual, their ideology prevents them from attacking the root-cause, which is their insane ‘decarbonization goals’...so they again go after profits...and they will get the same results as with insurance.
He doubles down on the policies that cause the bill inflation as the cure to bill inflation as he expects the utility to pull money out of its ass and distribute it to customers.
I’m sorry but I can’t believe these people are still winning elections in California. They’re cheating big time. They’re going to crash California like the communists crashed the Soviet Union.
so he’s basically giving the CPUC and ARB minions pay raises under the pretense of another useless ‘study’
“The real drivers of high utility bills are wasteful utility spending and excessive profits,”
______________________
Here we go again!
Directive 10-289.
There is only one reason for high energy prices - government interference.
Low cost energy is the road to wealth so you have to wonder why governments are using “environmental” laws to restrict those things that would bring energy cost down.
I use a club to get my way with private companies, then once the harm is exposed I offer a carrot to the voters hoping they will vote for ME! It’s all about ME…. ME, ME….. not you the voters… no, just ME!
Supply. Demand. Socialism.
Carbon neutrality and “100% clean electricity” is a fantasy of the left ,LOL
Michigan Secretary of State, Democrat Jocelyn Benson admits there is a nationwide issue with Dominion terminals that prevents voters from making certain selections while voting. They call this a “programming issue”.
You know what does not have programming issues? = Paper ballots.
https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4274740/posts
“It also asks the CPUC to evaluate electric ratepayer-supported programs and make recommendations on additional ways to save consumers money, while directing the commission to pursue federal funding options to help lower electricity bills for Californians.”
The left’s answer to every plan and every failure - pay for it with someone else’s money.
To understand “cause and effect” requires some level of reasoning capability.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.