(RightWing.org) – Californians must endure some of the nation’s highest cost of living rates. Making matters worse, the Democratic-led state boasts some of the highest local and state tax rates due to its lawmakers’ love of socialist programs. To offset some of the rising costs, residents can expect to see their share of about $1.3 billion in utility credits on their next bills.
On February 2, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a press release announcing its unanimous decision to accelerate the state’s annual climate credit to provide quicker support to customers racked with “unusually high natural gas bills this winter.”
The CPUC’s Public Advocate’s Office filed an emergency motion on January 11, asking the commission to provide the credit to residential customers as soon as possible. The credits usually hit customers’ utility bills in April and October.
Many Californians will see their next utility bill decrease by up to $120, after the state’s Public Utilities Commission voted last week to accelerate the rollout of its annual so-called “climate credit.” https://t.co/0uYJ3KQ3m9
— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) February 8, 2023
California residents receiving services from San Diego Gas and Electric, Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, and the Southern California Gas companies can expect to receive a combined credit ranging between about $90 and $120 on their upcoming utility bills. Likewise, Californians receiving services from PacifiCorp, Bear Valley, and Southwest Gas will receive similar accelerated credits. The price tag for the total rollout comes to roughly $1.3 billion.
CPUC Commissioner Darcie Houck spearheaded the move. She attributed the need to speed up the credits to an unusually high spike in gas prices in December, calling it the highest “in recent memory.” But, as one might expect, she also took the opportunity to connect the price volatility to climate change, warning that the situation demonstrated the “urgent need to reduce” Californian’s dependency on “fossil fuels” in their homes and throughout the state’s energy industry.
California’s climate credit program originated in the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32). The bill was steeped in controversy and passed along party lines. Nevertheless, former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the bill into law on September 27, 2006, despite Republicans’ objections to its overly broad environmental standards, particularly those regulating greenhouse gas emissions.
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