Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 9m

Needed some fun news today and holy shit did a doozy just land…

David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 25m

It's not the only or even the main reason @governor.ca.gov
should sign it, but this bill is tailor-made for him to say "I will stand up to powerful interests to lower your monthly bills."

Seems like the kinda thing he wants to communicate!

energyandpolicy.org/california-l...

California passes bill curbing utilities use of ratepayer money for political spending

State lawmakers last week made California the seventh state to pass a bill limiting investor-owned utilities from using customer money to pay for political and lobbying costs.

energyandpolicy.org

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Reposted by David Pomerantz

Clara Jeffery @clarajeffery.bsky.social · 1d

@gavinnewsom.bsky.social dragging his feet on this and SB 79 is…not good. Should he fail to sign one or both, primary voters who want livable and affordable cities and reasonable electricity prices will not forget.

Leah Stokes @leahstokes.bsky.social · 1d

Governor Newsom has a bill on his desk to hold utilities accountable, and get them to stop passing along their dark money campaigns to everyday Californians.

Is he going to side with utilities, or side with the public and help lower electricity rates?
energyandpolicy.org/california-l...

California passes bill curbing utilities use of ratepayer money for political spending

State lawmakers last week made California the seventh state to pass a bill limiting investor-owned utilities from using customer money to pay for political and lobbying costs.

energyandpolicy.org

4 28 84

Reposted by David Pomerantz

Leah Stokes @leahstokes.bsky.social · 1d

Governor Newsom has a bill on his desk to hold utilities accountable, and get them to stop passing along their dark money campaigns to everyday Californians.

Is he going to side with utilities, or side with the public and help lower electricity rates?
energyandpolicy.org/california-l...

California passes bill curbing utilities use of ratepayer money for political spending

State lawmakers last week made California the seventh state to pass a bill limiting investor-owned utilities from using customer money to pay for political and lobbying costs.

energyandpolicy.org

7 88 270

Reposted by David Pomerantz

Union of Concerned Scientists @ucs.org · 1d

A crucial step toward more affordable utility bills is on @gavinnewsom.bsky.social’s desk. #CALeg passed AB 1167 and SB 24 to ensure utility customer dollars go towards safe and reliable energy – not political spending and lobbying. These bills deserve the Gov's signature.

Berman and McNerney Announce Joint Effort to Protect CA Ratepayers from Utilities’ Abuses | Official Website - Assemblymember Marc Berman Representing the 23rd California Assembly District

SACRAMENTO, CA – California state Senator Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton) and Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) announced a joint legislative package today to protect California ratepayers from ...

a23.asmdc.org

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David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 2d

If you’re in California and want to register your opinion with Gov. Newsom about AB 1167 and SB 24, you can call him at (916) 445-2841.

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David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 2d

If Newsom vetoes AB 1167 / SB 24, his critics will say that anyone who can’t stand up to utility lobbyists can’t be trusted to lower people’s utility bills. And they’d have a fair point.

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David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 2d

Newsom is staking his claim to national leadership on the notion that he will lower costs. Signing this bill will strengthen that claim and signal to customers that he stands with them, not the monopolies. x.com/CAgovernor/s...

Governor Gavin Newsom on X: "I just signed bipartisan laws to lower Californians' electricity costs, stabilize our gas supply, and provide a stable funding source for @CaHSRA's high-speed rail. Millions of Californians will soon start saving billions on their energy costs, and the savings don’t stop there. https://t.co/XyhlkSdXOQ" / X

I just signed bipartisan laws to lower Californians' electricity costs, stabilize our gas supply, and provide a stable funding source for @CaHSRA's high-speed rail. Millions of Californians will soon start saving billions on their energy costs, and the savings don’t stop there. https://t.co/XyhlkSdXOQ

x.com

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David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 2d

The answer is old as time: PG&E, SoCalEdison and SDG&E remain very powerful lobbying forces with the Governor. It’s fair to suspect that they are mischaracterizing the bill and using all their access with the Newsom Administration to lobby for a veto.

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David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 2d

Vetoing the bill would undermine all of @GavinNewsom’s efforts to lower Californians’ costs of living, so it would be only natural to wonder why on earth he’s rumored to be considering it.

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David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 2d

Newsom has already shown leadership this session on lowering customers’ bills. SB 254, which he championed and signed, “reins in utility profits” by making sure the utilities don’t earn profits on the next $6 billion they spend to reduce wildfires. www.latimes.com/environment/...

Commentary: Decent work on climate, Gavin Newsom. I still hope California's next governor is better

Here's what the the Legislature passed last week — on electric bills, renewable energy, oil refineries and more.

www.latimes.com

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David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 2d

California’s utilities are telling Newsom the bills are unnecessary because they don’t charge customers for politics. But we know that’s not true, because they keep getting caught doing it. Whoops!

www.sacbee.com/news/politic...

www.sacbee.com/news/califor...

SoCalGas fought a key California climate solution for years. It cost customers millions

The nation’s largest gas company has diverted millions in customer dollars to lobby for gas in homes and buildings. Its regulator has done little about it.

www.sacbee.com

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David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 2d

Unsurprisingly, the policies that make up AB 1167 / SB 24 are also overwhelmingly popular: “93% of California voters agree that utilities should not charge customers for wasteful spending, including lobbying, PR, and marketing campaigns.” www.turn.org/press-releas...

California residents demand Governor and Lawmakers control skyrocketing utility bills, according to new poll — TURN

Sacramento, CA — California utility consumers are demanding lawmakers rein in skyrocketing rates and hold for-profit investor-owned utilities (IOUs) accountable…

www.turn.org

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David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 2d

California would be the 7th state in recent years to pass a law like this. These laws are already saving ratepayers money! Connecticut customers have been spared from footing the bill for up to $10 million of their utilities’ spending.
energyandpolicy.org/new-laws-cur...

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David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 2d

Here’s how it works. The bill would:

1) Stop utilities from baking the money they spend on political influence into rates;

2) Establish new transparency reforms to ensure they follow the law;

3.) Mandate penalties if they break the rules.
energyandpolicy.org/california-l...

California passes bill curbing utilities use of ratepayer money for political spending

State lawmakers last week made California the seventh state to pass a bill limiting investor-owned utilities from using customer money to pay for political and lobbying costs.

energyandpolicy.org

1 7 22

David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 2d

The bill (AB 1167/SB 24) would take the painfully obvious step of stopping monopoly utilities from charging customers for their lobbying and PR campaigns. Signing it into law would cement Newsom as a national leader on utility accountability and affordability. energyandpolicy.org/california-l...

California passes bill curbing utilities use of ratepayer money for political spending

State lawmakers last week made California the seventh state to pass a bill limiting investor-owned utilities from using customer money to pay for political and lobbying costs.

energyandpolicy.org

1 6 21

David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 2d

A bill is sitting on @GavinNewsom’s desk that would lower Californians’ utility bills – all he has to do is sign it. But rumors are swirling that he plans to do the opposite - a move that could prove disastrous for California and for Newsom. A 🧵:

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Reposted by David Pomerantz

Matt Vespa @missionvespa.bsky.social · 7d

It takes a LOT to get a bill all the way through the CA legislature. Help us seal the deal by asking @cagovernornewsom.bsky.social to sign AB 1167 (protecting Californians from paying utility political & promotional costs in their energy bills) and AB 1280 (supporting industrial electrification)!

Right To Zero @righttozero.bsky.social · 8d

TAKE ACTION and tell @governor.ca.gov to sign these commonsense bills into law
earthjustice.org/action/tell-...

Tell Newsom to sign these commonsense bills into law

earthjustice.org

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David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 9d

So very granted.

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David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 11d

Gov. Newsom has made lowering utility bills a top priority. One thing that he can do that would help both immediately and over time: sign AB 1167, now sitting on his desk, which protects Californians from having to pay for utilities' lobbying and advertising! energyandpolicy.org/california-l...

California passes bill curbing utilities use of ratepayer money for political spending

State lawmakers last week made California the seventh state to pass a bill limiting investor-owned utilities from using customer money to pay for political and lobbying costs.

energyandpolicy.org

18 46

David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 17d

In fairness, I dunno that this idea is far less fanciful in actual reality than the more traditionally accepted definition of the term.

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David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 18d

As rates go up around the country, other regulators should rise to the high standard that Gillett set, lowering rates and reforming antiquated profit models. I hope other governors have the courage to stand by them when the utilities do everything they can to fight back.

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David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 18d

I hope Lamont’s next appointee continues the excellent work Gillett did in Connecticut to lower rates, though I fear they will be selected for another attribute instead: their meekness in the face of the utilities’ bullying.

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David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 18d

Here's another recent textbook example from Wisconsin. And one from Wisconsin: energyandpolicy.org/wec-energy-r...

Wisconsin utilities file for rate, profit hikes after Republicans ousted Huebner from PSC

Several Wisconsin utilities owned by WEC Energy Group are pushing to raise rates after Republican lawmakers ousted state utility regulator Tyler Huebner.

energyandpolicy.org

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David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 18d

Gillett joins the long list of regulators who have attempted to lower rates and confront utility profits, and lost their jobs for it. Here’s a recent case in Michigan: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Michigan’s governor replaces clean energy advocate on utilities board with ‘industry ally’

Critics say Gretchen Whitmer deposed Alessandra Carreon at the behest of state energy supplier DTE Energy

www.theguardian.com

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