How CA can cut up to 20% discount on consumer electric bills

By Victoria Rome, special for Calmatters

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Customers of utilities owned by investors in California, such as PG & E and Edison, receive cancellation from Equipping accounts for utility services Twice a year thanks to a loan from the State Restriction and Trade Program, which requires large pollutants to pay for their emissions. However, legislators could do much more with this program.

This legislative session offers a decisive To update the credit program for the climate and use these tools to reduce electrical prices, providing significant relief when families need the most: in their electricity bills. This change combined with other reforms entering into force next year may Reduce costs for most households by 20%Found researchers at UC Santa Barbara.

These are real savings that can improve life in California. And it begins with a careful re -authorization of the restriction and trade program so that the financing reaches the customers of utility services.

Considering the accessibility crisis requires actions on multiple fronts. In addition to reforming air conditioning loan, state legislators must also develop structural changes by regionalizing the electrical network in California and protecting electric vehicle programs that reduce costs for all.

The emergency is clear. PG & E rates have Climb 40% over inflation from 2018.S Prices for other utilities posted by investors are increasing at similar pace. For families who are struggling to connect the edges, these increases are lubricating.

California leaders may take decisive action in the coming weeks.

It begins with the restructuring of the credit program for the climate to deliver monthly relief instead of twice a year, using fees for pollutants to directly reduce electricity prices. This creates predictable savings and it is important to help internal families to afford an air conditioner during the brutal summer heat.

Lower electricity prices can also accelerate the transition of clean energy in California by making electric cars more accessible by helping the state achieve its climatic goals.

Legislators can also displace the funds that are currently applied to gas bills to electricity relief, where families need help most. Electricity is the largest cost of utilities for most households in California. This change would be more fair, as almost all households pay electricity bills, but many do not use gas.

State leaders should pair these climate credit reforms with structural changes in the electrical system, including participation in A Regional network This allows for clean energy sharing throughout the West. This will help California develop more renewable energy to use or sell other states, while reducing dependence on fossil fuels and improving air quality.

Finally, state politicians must prioritize state funding for California electric vehicle programs that deliver direct savings to all electricity customers.

Every electric car and truck on the road Helps to reduce everyone’s accounts As EV owners pay more electricity costs than actually cost the network to serve, essentially subsidizes more expensive prices for all Californians. As more families move on to electric vehicles, these savings, creating a virtuous cycle of falling electricity prices, which is beneficial for any household, regardless of what they drive.

California legislators and governor Gavin Newo this session began, focusing on accessibilityS By updating the State Climate Loan Program, re -authorizing the CAP and trade and managing a purely energy partnership for the West, they can not only overcome the tides of the ruthless increases of the rates, they can also deliver meaningful savings to customers.

This article was Originally Published on CalMatters and was reissued under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Noderivatives License.