“San Diego currently has the highest electricity rates in the nation,” said Vice Chair Monica Montgomery Steppe.
SAN DIEGO — Two San Diego County supervisors are advocating for new legislation to address the rising cost of utility bills in the region.
Vice Chair Monica Montgomery Steppe and Supervisor Paloma Aguirre, along with the Climate Action Campaign, are supporting state-level bills aimed at limiting rate increases and adjusting how utilities pay for wildfire and transmission costs.
“San Diego currently has the highest electricity rates in the nation, with some residents paying over 52 cents per kilowatt hour. That is money that could be spent on groceries, rent or even transportation,” said Vice Chair Montgomery Steppe.
The package of bills includes Senate Bill 254, which would require utility companies to submit their wildfire plans for review at least every four years. If a company wants to raise rates, it would be required to submit rate case proposals that prioritize cost-effectiveness.
Assembly Bill 1167, known as the California Ratepayer Protection Act, aims to prevent utility companies from forcing customers to pay for their lobbying efforts and PR campaigns.
“I’ve heard from many people, seniors on fixed incomes to working parents who are overwhelmed by bills they simply can’t keep up with, and when electricity and other essential services become unaffordable, their health, safety, and economic security is at risk,” said Supervisor Aguirre.
“At the very same time, we see that for-profit investor-owned companies have record profits. Our energy system should be for the community. It shouldn’t be lining the pockets of private companies, investor-owned utilities. We need to fight back,” said Corinna Contreras of the Climate Action Campaign.
Vice Chair Montgomery Steppe plans to introduce a resolution at Tuesday’s board meeting that, if passed, would show the county’s support for this package of state bills, which is currently working its way through the legislature.