logo
California Utilities Ads
FILE - Paul Standen, senior director of underground regional delivery, second from right, and project manager Jeremy Schanaker, right, look on during a tour of a Pacific Gas and Electric crew burying power lines in Vacaville, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. A California legislative committee will consider a bill that aims to crack down on investor-owned utilities spending money from ratepayers on advertising and political lobbying. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

California legislators prepare to vote on a crackdown on utility spending

A crackdown on how California utilities spend customers' money faces a do-or-die vote in the Legislature

By ADAM BEAM
Published - Apr 22, 2024, 12:36 PM ET
Last Updated - Apr 22, 2024, 12:36 PM EDT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A crackdown on how some of the nation's largest utilities spend customers' money faces a do-or-die vote Monday in the California Legislature.

Californians already pay some of the highest electricity rates in the country, in part because of the expensive work required to maintain and upgrade electrical equipment to reduce the risk of wildfires in a state with long, dry summers.

As rates continue to climb, utilities like Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric have faced increasing scrutiny from consumer groups over how they spend the money they collect.

Utilities aren’t allowed to use money from customers to pay for things like advertising or lobbying. Instead, utilities must pay for those activities with money from private investors who have bought stock shares.

Our Offices
  • 10kInfo, Inc.
    13555 SE 36th St
    Bellevue, WA 98006
  • 10kInfo Data Solutions, Pvt Ltd.
    Claywork Create
    11 km, Arakere Bannerghatta Rd, Omkar Nagar, Arekere,
    Bengaluru, Karnataka 560076
4.2 12182024