Berkeley Researchers Outline Reforms to Stop California's Electric Bills From Climbing
UC Berkeley's Center for Law, Energy and the Environment says California's electricity bills have surged 8–10% annually for the past decade, now averaging 35–45 cents per kilowatt-hour, with about 1 in 5 customers behind on payments. Wildfire costs are the biggest driver, with regulators approving over $40 billion for wildfire costs from 2019–2024 (roughly $26.6B for prevention/undergrounding and $13.6B for insurance/victims), making wildfire costs 14–19% of the average bill ($250–$500 more per year). The report recommends structural reforms: cap profits on wildfire-related projects and curb related spending via measures like SB 1098 to limit balancing/memorandum accounts, encourage private investment in mitigation through SB 905, and boost CPUC staffing and independent review to rein in spending, all aiming to bend the cost curve toward affordability.