Lawmakers want to extend California utility customer fee for wildfire and climate projects
LA TimesWith more than 1 million acres burning in California, state lawmakers are pushing a last-minute proposal that would extend an existing fee on electricity bills to fund $500 million for immediate wildfire response and another $2.5 billion over time for climate resiliency and fire mitigation projects. The first plan, which would be developed within 30 days from the date the bill is enacted, calls for the state to borrow and spend $500 million from a state surplus cash fund to train new firefighters, respond to wildfire emergencies and carry out immediate projects to reduce wildfire risks. A longer-term spending plan to be formed within six months of the bill’s passage would spend the bond proceeds on wildfire mitigation and climate projects. The bill would allocate $300 million to the state Natural Resources Agency for prescribed burns, home hardening, defensible space and other projects to reduce risks in California’s wildland-urban interface regions, and $300 million to reduce fire risks and repair damage at state parks.
History of this topic
Oregon lawmakers to introduce bill barring utility rate increases amid unresolved wildfire lawsuits
Associated Press
Editorial: Californians need electric bill relief. Lawmakers failed to deliver it
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Editorial: Californians don’t have to accept skyrocketing electric bills. Here’s how to fight back
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Regulators approve sweeping change to the way most Californians are billed for electricity
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Editorial: High electric bills threaten California’s clean future. This plan would help
LA TimesWildfire-prone California to consider new rules for property insurance pricing
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Editorial: California shouldn’t let power companies get their way on our electric bills
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Sen. Kamala Harris introduces bill to boost towns’ wildfire preparedness
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The Hopelessness of Wildfire Season
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A swift fall from political power for PG&E, California’s largest utility
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To reduce wildfires and save utilities, Newsom wants $10.5 billion from ratepayers
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California needs a big pot of money for wildfires. But how big? And who pays?
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Column: California utilities use wildfires as an excuse to wring ratepayers dry
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Newsom asks California lawmakers to lead the way in deciding who pays wildfire costs
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After California fires, PG&E proposes raising electricity bills to bolster precautions
CNN
California Firefighting Agency Requests Another $234 Million For 2018
NPR
California lawmakers ratify new efforts at wildfire prevention and assessing who’s responsible
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