California residents are up in arms over a new fixed monthly fee set to be added to their electricity bills, sparking a heated debate over its potential impact on low-income households and the state’s clean energy goals.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is planning to implement a $24 fixed monthly fee for customers of major utility companies like Pacific Gas and Electric Co., Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas and Electric Co. The fee, which is set to take effect in May, is intended to be offset by a 5 to 7 cent reduction in electricity rates, resulting in lower monthly bills for low-income residents.

However, a coalition of over 240 community organizations argues that the fee increase will actually raise costs for millions of working-class Californians. They believe that the proposed fee structure will disproportionately impact low energy users, such as those living in apartments or small homes, while benefiting high energy users in larger homes.

Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin has introduced a bill, AB 1999, to repeal the 2022 law that enables the CPUC to impose the monthly fixed charge increase. She argues that the skyrocketing electricity rates in California have become unsustainable for residents and that it’s time to reevaluate how electricity is charged in the state.

The proposed fee change has also drawn criticism from federal politicians, with 18 members of congress from California expressing concerns about its impact on households and the environment. They worry that the fixed monthly charge may discourage energy conservation and incentivize energy waste.

As the debate continues to unfold, AB 1999 is awaiting discussion in the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee, while CPUC’s proposed fee schedule is set to be heard at the commission’s May 9 Business Meeting. The outcome of these discussions will have far-reaching implications for California residents and the state’s efforts to achieve its clean energy goals.