Becker at center of major energy reforms

When appointed committee chair, Becker cited reauthorization of California’s cap-and-trade program as a top priority. That, too, came to fruition last week as legislators closed out the session. 

“It was a big year,” Becker said. 

Originally signed into law in 2017 and authorized until 2030, the cap-and-trade program provides key limits on carbon emissions and creates a tradable market for carbon emissions credits. Reauthorizing the program allows legislators to set those regulations until 2045. 

Energy grid regionalization 

Assembly Bill 825, the legislation that will back California’s involvement in an expanded regional power market, enables the state to participate in the Pathways Initiative, a multistate coalition to more immediately buy and sell energy under one market and potentially save more than $1 billion a year in energy costs.

Though the bill would give California’s system operator the ability to take part in a regional organization, separate legislation would be required for California to use the markets that a regional organization would oversee, Becker said previously. 

Becker’s legislation helped to alleviate fears around California losing control over its environmental policies, which has stymied previous attempts — made over years — to create an expanded energy market with states like Oregon, Arizona, Washington and New Mexico. The law would allow California to join a regional organization but maintain operation over its energy transmissions, 

“I came in at the end. I mean, they’ve been trying, there’s been bills and bills,” Becker said. “I came on this year to help get it over the top.” 

Critics have voiced issue with the regionalization capabilities, CalMatters reported, citing concerns that California’s energy market could once again be tethered to fossil fuel-based energy production. 

Lowering utility rates 

The other piece of legislation authored by Becker, Senate Bill 254, would revamp parts of California’s utility structure — creating public financing opportunities for large-scale projects, returning climate credits back to customers and potentially saving ratepayers more than $300 million annually. 

As electricity companies develop the infrastructure to expand services and defend against wildfire, rates have skyrocketed. There’s been a 90% increase for Southern California Edison customers in the past 10 years and a 110% increase for Pacific Gas and Electric customers, including those in San Mateo County, Becker said previously. 

The legislation would push back on that increase by limiting utility companies from increasing rates because of wildfire safety investments and expanding access to public financing for transmission projects. 

“We don’t often get the chance to say, ‘hey, utilities, we want the same thing, but for less money,’” Becker said. 

The legislation will, however, establish a continuation account on the Wildfire Fund until 2045 that will require equal contributions from ratepayers and utilities.