SACRAMENTO - The California Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved a flat rate for electric bills on Thursday. The flat rate will impact investor-owned utilities like PG&E. The flat rate that was passed is $24.15 per month for most customers, but for low-income customers who are on CARE or FERA, it will be $6 or $12, respectively.
'For the past 50 years, California has had a policy if you use more, you pay more and the PUC has just reversed that policy in large part,' said Lynch. She is concerned it may cause people to conserve less. 'It is a fact that that will increase bills on the 4 million households in California that don't use a lot of electricity as is and it's totally uncapped,' said Dave Rosenfeld from the Stop the Big Utility Tax Coalition.