March 29, 2024 - FRESNO – On Wednesday, the California Public Utilities Commission unveiled its proposal to impose an income-based fixed charge on state utility bills. It seeks to require investor-owned utilities to incorporate flat rates into their billing structure.
“I have been warning for a decade as the vice chairman of the Utilities and Energy Committee that the policies of the ruling party, and the complicit decisions of the PUC will create a destabilized and unreliable electricity grid, and huge increases in electricity rates to all Californians,” Patterson said. “Those warnings have now become reality. And this latest PUC action does nothing to address electricity affordability. Rates will still go up substantially over the coming years.”
This proposal is now subject to a 20-day comment period. And it is due to be voted on at the CPUC’s public meeting May 9th.
Assemblyman Patterson (R-Fresno) represents the 8th Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes communities in Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Calaveras, Inyo and Mono counties.
Related: California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Proposal Would Cut the Price of Residential Electricity Under New Billing Structure and Accelerate California’s Clean Energy Transition
