Adam Beam, Associated PressThe California Public Utilities Commission will vote on whether to let the state's big utilities add a fixed charge to people's power bills each monthCalifornia regulators on Thursday are likely to change how some power companies calculate their customers' bills, a decision that would make it less expensive for people to charge electric cars and cool their homes in the summer but would increase prices for those who don't use as much energy.
For people who use a lot of energy each month, this could could lower their monthly bills. People who live in Fresno - where temperatures can often exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit - would save about $33 running their air conditioners during the summer, according to the commission. That's because the savings they would get from the price drop on electricity would be more than the amount they pay for the new fixed charge.
For people who don't use as much energy, the new fixed charge could increase their bill each month. This includes people who live in smaller apartments or who live in cooler areas and don't use air conditioning as much. That's because for them, the decrease in the price of electricity would not be enough to offset the amount of the new monthly charge.
Most states already have fixed monthly charges on utility bills to pay for maintenance and infrastructure of the electric grid. But in California - where electric rates are among the highest in the nation - any move that could increase prices for anyone raises alarms among consumers and elected officials.
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