Sacramento, CA — The Utility Reform Network (TURN) released their 2024 Legislative Affordability and Accountability Scorecard today, evaluating lawmakers’ commitment to utility affordability and accountability during the 2024 legislative session. The scorecard’s release comes as 4.3 million Californians struggle with utility debt while utilities report billions in profits.
“Monthly bills for customers of California’s investor-owned utilities have doubled since 2019 while utilities benefit from a rigged system that rewards wasteful spending. Our report card shows which lawmakers are fighting for affordability and which are protecting utility profits and the status quo. TURN looks forward to partnering with the Governor and Legislature on making 2025 a turning point on utility affordability,” said Mark Toney, Executive Director of TURN, the ratepayer advocacy organization.
Leading the pack in support of Californians’ right to affordable utilities were state senators and assembly members: Dave Min (D-37), Ben Allen (D-24), Jacqui Irwin (D-42), and Christopher M. Ward (D-78). Full results are available here.
TURN scored legislators based on their votes on 10 key utility affordability and accountability bills during the 2024 legislative session, with votes counting as either supporting or opposing TURN’s position. Authors of TURN-sponsored bills received a 2% bonus on their final score.
Legislative leaders in California have pointed to utility affordability as a priority for 2025. If lawmakers wish to succeed in making strides toward affordability for working families, then they must protect families, control rising bills, end record-breaking profits and wasteful spending, and create cheaper public financing solutions.
Vulnerable families need lawmakers' protection to stop disconnections, enact more effective wildfire mitigation, limit utility profit margins, and prohibit customers from being charged for influencing efforts. This year, legislative leaders must take action and make utility bills affordable for all California residents.
Contact: Blake Marquez • Blake@sunstonestrategies.com • (310) 894-6690
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