Advancing Affordable Electricity in California: Policy Levers to Address Rising Rates

Overview

California’s electricity rates have risen dramatically, straining household budgets and making it harder to reach climate goals. Key factors include wildfire mitigation measures, infrastructure upgrades, and subsidies funded by ratepayers. Without meaningful reforms in how utilities recover costs, these upward trends are likely to continue.

We outline practical actions that must be undertaken to reduce electricity rates and improve affordability. These include cutting unnecessary spending, introducing more equitable rate designs, leveraging lower-cost financing methods, and phasing out non-cost-effective programs. Taken together, these steps could lead to immediate rate reductions and even greater savings over time.

To learn more, please read the full memo here: Advancing Affordable Electricity in California: Policy Levers to Address Rising Rates