California Utility Companies Propose Income-Based Fees on Power Bills

Three major utility companies in California have proposed a new billing structure that would charge customers based on their income. The plan would include a fixed-income rate and a reduced usage charge based on consumption, with low-income households paying as little as $15 a month and households making over $180,000 a year paying up to $85 more per month. The California Public Utilities Commission would need to approve the proposal, with the fixed rate potentially appearing on bills as soon as 2025.