Carl DeMaio Slams CPUC Proposed “Flat Fee” Surcharge on Utility Bills

Today, Reform California Chairman Carl DeMaio issued the following statement on a proposal being voted on today at the California Public Utilities Commission to impose a new “flat fee” surcharge to electricity bills:

“By imposing a flat fee that varies based on household income, California politicians are turning utility bills into tax bills! If adopted, we will fight to repeal this illegal tax at the ballot box.” – Carl DeMaio

ABOUT THE PROPOSAL:

• The CPUC will vote today to impose a flat charge of $24.15 per month that politicians claim would pay installing and maintaining the equipment necessary to transmit electricity to homes. DeMaio notes those charges are already part of the electricity rates.
• The flat fee requires some households to pay more to subsidize “lower income households” who would pay a lower fee of between $6 and $12 a month.
• In exchange for the new charge, the CPUC promises it would reduce electric rates between 5 cents and 7 cents per kilowatt hour. DeMaio says that is a “shell game scam” because the CPUC routinely increases rates.
• DeMaio argues pricing electricity based on income is an illegal tax and wealth transfer.
• DeMaio is helping lead a statewide campaign to pass the California Taxpayer Protection Initiative this November that contains language that will invalidate the proposal.

DeMaio and Reform California are leading a campaign to stop the rate hikes and block bad ideas like this from being implemented. Join the fight today by spreading the word and by contributing to the campaign.