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This doesn't seem to be coming from utilities "The proposal he's referring to comes after California passed a law last year requiring that utility companies es

This doesn't seem to be coming from utilities "The proposal he's referring to comes after California passed a law last year requiring that utility companies establish a fixed monthly fee based on a customer's household income."

jacquesm 3y ago
The utility companies have absolutely no business knowing the subscribers household income. What a completely ridiculous proposal, they're in a 'cost+' business.
- s1artibartfast 3y ago
  Its not a proposal, It was passed in 2022. It is simply another example of California introducing back door welfare taxes that aren't included in the state budget. Taxes aren't increased, but companies are mandated to charge different prices to customers.
  - happytiger 3y ago
    This is exactly what it is. It’s actually a tax, basically a back door to raise prices across the board and generate huge revenues, disingenuously passed under the auspices of equity and fair share politics. Also, now the state government has detailed access to income based billing of every citizen, all set up and ready to go. But I’m sure it will never be used for anything else. The idea here was to charge an income-based fixed charge to cover the costs of infrastructure, nebulous future “climate investments” and “general operation” (read: offload costs to generate more profits), and then cut the rates for the electricity that’s actually used. Lower rates, the theory goes, will encourage all Californians to buy new electric appliances and electric cars. But all that’s going to happen is that the cost will go up, and the three companies that sponsored this bill will make massive profits as they shift more of the cost of infrastructure onto rate payers and play the “investment game” they’ve been at for 30 years: the game that’s killed hundreds of people and burned entire cities off the map. But this time will be different I’m sure.

jacquesm 3y ago

The utility companies have absolutely no business knowing the subscribers household income. What a completely ridiculous proposal, they're in a 'cost+' business.

s1artibartfast 3y ago
Its not a proposal, It was passed in 2022. It is simply another example of California introducing back door welfare taxes that aren't included in the state budget. Taxes aren't increased, but companies are mandated to charge different prices to customers.
- happytiger 3y ago
  This is exactly what it is. It’s actually a tax, basically a back door to raise prices across the board and generate huge revenues, disingenuously passed under the auspices of equity and fair share politics. Also, now the state government has detailed access to income based billing of every citizen, all set up and ready to go. But I’m sure it will never be used for anything else. The idea here was to charge an income-based fixed charge to cover the costs of infrastructure, nebulous future “climate investments” and “general operation” (read: offload costs to generate more profits), and then cut the rates for the electricity that’s actually used. Lower rates, the theory goes, will encourage all Californians to buy new electric appliances and electric cars. But all that’s going to happen is that the cost will go up, and the three companies that sponsored this bill will make massive profits as they shift more of the cost of infrastructure onto rate payers and play the “investment game” they’ve been at for 30 years: the game that’s killed hundreds of people and burned entire cities off the map. But this time will be different I’m sure.