Ratepayers spend millions to save billions on utilities, but why do we have to?

Policing these regularly scheduled consumer agonies — or rubber-stamping them, as critics often charge — is the job of the California Public Utilities Commission. This powerful regulator is charged with ensuring that rate hikes and policy decisions are fair and justified.

Pennies spent on dollars saved, data from the intervenors suggest. Over recent years, intervenors have saved consumers billions by opposing utility rate hikes and over-the-top capital projects.But when you consider that California has some of the highest utility bills in the entire nation nonetheless, one might wonder just how well the system is working.

• Helped win a ruling preventing Edison from recovering $85 million from customers that it spent on tree trimming in non–high fire risk areas. “It’s pennies compared to what the utilities spend advocating for increases,” he said. “Utilities spend over $100 million a year, each, advocating for rate increases, with ratepayer money. Intervenors spend a tiny fraction of that to stop some increases. Not all of them. It’s a resource mismatch.”That’s their profit. So there’s an incentive for utilities to spend more money on capital investments than they have to, Toney said.

“Where the fault squarely lies is with the CPUC, the body responsible for reviewing and approving rate increases, or not,” Toney said. “They have been overly generous to the companies, specifically to their shareholders.” “While most states have a form of utility consumer advocate that is funded by the state to represent utility consumers, these organizations are not responsible for advocating for unique or specific issues of individual groups and frequently lack the resources to participate fully in every proceeding,” it continued. “The lack of representation from potentially impacted parties could hinder the decision-making process and outcomes of proceedings.

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Move over, fentanyl? Stimulant overdose deaths are rising fastColumnist Teri Sforza writes that researchers are searching for medication to help and several look promising.
Source: ladailynews - 🏆 332. / 59 Read more »

Electric bill based on income? Forget it, lawmakers of both parties agreeColumnist Teri Sforza writes that legislators are waking up to the ramifications of a budget trailer bill they passed without spending much time on it.
Source: ladailynews - 🏆 332. / 59 Read more »

Gov. Newsom, the drug that kills most Americans is on grocery store shelvesColumnist Teri Sforza writes about inspiration to reshape California’s approach to addiction treatment, from the experts.
Source: ladailynews - 🏆 332. / 59 Read more »

Why do so few in Southern California get updated COVID vaccinations?Columnist Teri Sforza writes that politics and poor messaging are reasons why some will flu shots but not the latest defense for the coronavirus.
Source: ladailynews - 🏆 332. / 59 Read more »

Nava Mau’s Baby Reindeer Success Is A Reminder To Watch Her 3-Year-Old Show That Was Canceled After Only 1 SeasonNava Mau as Teri in emBaby Reindeer/em
Source: screenrant - 🏆 7. / 94 Read more »

California jail workers not negligent in the suicide of former columnist’s son, DA saysThe son of retired Southern California columnist David Whiting choked after stuffing orange peels down his throat while on suicide watch.
Source: mercnews - 🏆 88. / 68 Read more »