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.
Ministry of Defence gives Ukrainian soldiers free cigarettes
Tyler Myers, Thatcher Demko help Canucks beat Flames 4
From amazing food to swanky hotels and electrifying sport
Mookie Betts ties career high with 5 hits as Dodgers beat Nationals 6
Harmonious picture of human and nature in China's coastal city Xiamen
Trump hush money trial: 7 jurors picked, 11 more needed
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's new romance movie It Ends With Us now delayed until early August
Virginia lawmakers set to take up Youngkin's proposed amendments, vetoes in reconvened session
Heavy rainstorms kill 4 people in southern China. Ten others are missing
Parents of Bobby Maher, 14, watched helplessly as medics tried to save their son
Children of Flint water crisis make change as young environmental and health activists
The United States and China are expected to win the most medals at the Paris Olympics