Virtual Town Hall: Why Are Energy Bills So High and What We Can Do About It

Dear Friends,

Californians should not be stretched to their financial limits in order to keep the lights on. Yet for many, that’s exactly what’s happening due to soaring bills.

As Chair of the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee, I’m focused on these costs–and on holding PG&E accountable. 

I invite you to join me for an online town hall where we will take a deep dive into why energy costs are so high–and more importantly, what we can do about it in the California Legislature. 

I’ll be joined by an expert panel:

• Michael Wara, Senior Director for Policy at Stanford’s Doerr School of Sustainability and Director of Climate and Energy Policy at Woods Institute for the Environment 
• Merrian Borgeson, California Policy Director of Climate and Energy at the Natural Resources Defense Council 
• Matthew Freedman, Attorney at The Utility Reform Network (TURN)

We’ll discuss my bill, SB 254, the Legislature’s most ambitious effort yet to tackle the root causes of rising energy costs. The bill aims to modernize utility rate-making, increase transparency, and hold utilities accountable for effective spending on wildfire mitigation—a major driver of high bills. Politico even called it a “161-page opus.”

 RSVP here to participate in this important conversation.