Social justice, equity advocates, consumer groups, labor and environmental organizations strongly support rate reform in California to address the affordability crisis. Sadly, politicians, the solar industry and other special interests are misrepresenting these efforts as they try to avoid paying their fair share.

Get the truth below:

MYTH vs. FACT

MYTH: A fixed charge would add
new charges to my energy bill.

This isn’t true! Rate reform would only restructure energy bills, separating out the costs of some state mandates from the normal electric usage rates and provide a discount to customers enrolled in financial assistance programs. The total amounts collected by energy companies each month would remain the same.

MYTH: Rate reform is an attack on solar customers.

Wrong! Right now, the costs of paying for the mandates added to energy bills go up and down depending on how much energy you use. Subsidized solar customers, who tend to be wealthier than the average Californian, avoid paying their fair share for things like electric vehicle charging infrastructure, wildfire prevention work and energy efficiency programs. Meanwhile, non-solar customers – who are generally lower-income – are forced to fund the generous subsidies that solar customers continue to enjoy.

MYTH: Rate reform won’t help low-income customers.

Not true! By separating out the costs of some of these mandates from the normal electric usage rates and providing a discount to customers enrolled in financial assistance programs, lower income customers could see more than $100 in annual savings on their electric bills.

MYTH: Rate reform is a ploy for more money
from the big utility companies.

This is false! Rate reform is strongly supported by civil rights organizations like the League of United Latin American Citizens and consumer advocates like the California Public Advocates Office and The Utility Reform Network who advocate on behalf of customers before the CPUC. The Fixed Charge is also supported by the Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club and other environmental organizations.