California legislators prepare to vote on a crackdown on utility spending
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A crackdown on how some of the nation’s largest utilities spend customers’ money faces a do-or-die vote Monday in the California Legislature.
Californians already pay some of the highest electricity rates in the country, in part because of the expensive work required to maintain and upgrade electrical equipment to reduce the risk of wildfires in a state with long, dry summers.
As rates continue to climb, utilities like Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric have faced increasing scrutiny from consumer groups over how they spend the money they collect.
Utilities aren’t allowed to use money from customers to pay for things like advertising or lobbying. Instead, utilities must pay for those activities with money from private investors who have bought stock shares.
Consumer groups say utilities are finding ways around those rules. They accuse them of using money from customers to fund trade groups that lobby legislators and for TV ads disguised as public service announcements, including some recent ads by PG&E.
Related articles
St. Louis Blues remove interim tag and name Drew Bannister full
Drew Bannister is returning as coach of the St. Louis Blues after getting the interim tag removed fr2024-05-08Four Long March 11 launches by sea planned
(China Daily) 09:26, March 11, 2021A Long March 4C rocket carrying the second group of China's Yaoga2024-05-08U.S. stocks post weekly gains amid tax bill, data
U.S. stocks wavered and posted gains for the week, as investors mainly focused on tax legislation pr2024-05-08Major lithium reserves discovered in Sichuan
Nearly 1 million metric tons of lithium reserves were recently discovered in Sichuan province, becom2024-05-08PGA Tour goes to Quail Hollow ahead of PGA Championship. Nelly Korda goes for 6 in a row
PGA TOURWELLS FARGO CHAMPIONSHIPSite: Charlotte, North Carolina.Course: Quail Hollow Club. Yardage:2024-05-08Demand from China drives U.S.' soybean trade
China is likely to import 30 million metric tons of soybeans from the United States in the latter's2024-05-08
atest comment