New Becker bill aiming to lower electricity costs

“The electricity rates are too damn high,” he said. “That’s the issue I hear constantly from residents. People are hurting.”

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 & Electric customers, including those in San Mateo County, Becker said.

San Mateo County resident Maria Lorenzo, who spoke at the press conference through a translator, said that the price increases have forced her to make impossible decisions on what bills to pay.

“Before, I was paying $50 to $100 for my electricity bill,” she said. “Now, I have to choose if I pay my rent ... or pay the electricity.”

Utility companies have been adamantly against the bill, Becker said, in large part because they receive a 10 to 15 cent return on investment for every dollar spent and are planning massive investments of up to $90 billion on future capital projects.

“They don’t like the idea that this bill threatens that profit, but we have to focus on our ratepayers,” he said. “In spite of utilities’ protest, we have to pass this bill.”

One major element of the legislation would create a new, state-run authority that could build infrastructure on its own or partner with privately-owned utility companies to help finance projects.

In a statement, a PG&E spokesperson said that while more needs to be done to keep energy rates affordable, the company was making progress and rates should remain essentially the same in 2025 and drop in 2026.

“While we appreciate the overarching goal of the bill, we don’t believe it will deliver meaningful savings to customers without jeopardizing safety, reliability and California’s clean energy future,” the statement read.

Environmental advocacy groups spoke at the press conference in support of the bill, highlighting provisions that would ensure that $1.5 billion from the state’s climate dividend is returned back to customers, with preference for low-income ratepayers.

It would also create a new fund to support development of new utility programs and wildfire resilience, costs that are currently being tacked on to ratepayer bills.

In a state and county focused on clean, safe energy, it’s important that customers don’t bear an undue burden for those costs, Sarah Hubbard, executive director of Sustainable San Mateo County, said.

“We can’t meet our climate goals without affordable electricity,” she said.

If passed, the legislation would also push for transparency from utility companies by requiring they publicly justify all rate hikes, streamline clean energy project permitting and implement stricter cost-effectiveness standards for wildfire mitigation spending.

When the legislature — already bogged down with hot-button issues like a potential redistricting measure — returns to Sacramento on Aug. 18, the Assembly will have a month to decide whether to pass the legislation, Becker said.

“This is going to be a big fight in Sacramento,” he said. “We have to make sure this bill does not fall through the cracks.”