California Assembly Republican Caucus
SACRAMENTO – In response to California’s skyrocketing utility costs, Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (East Nicolaus) has introduced legislation to slash electric rates by at least 30%. Assembly Bill 286 will provide much-needed relief to Californians struggling under some of the highest electricity prices in the nation.
“The cost of everything has skyrocketed under Gavin Newsom, but high electric bills hit working families especially hard,” said Gallagher. “Expensive mandates from Democrat politicians have stuck Californians with outrageous utility bills. This is the Legislature’s chance to reverse course and make affordability a priority.”
Since Governor Newsom assumed office in January 2019, electricity rates in California have surged almost 80%. California is now home to the second-highest electric rates in the country with consumers here paying nearly double the national average.
If enacted, AB 286 would require the Public Utilities Commission to reduce the per-kilowatt-hour rate for electricity by no less than 30%, providing immediate savings for consumers across the state.
California lawmakers have repeatedly directed state agencies to achieve certain policy outcomes, as this bill does. Examples of this include AB 1279 (2022), which requires the state to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, and SB 100 (2018), which requires 100% renewable energy by 2045.
AB 286 is a reintroduction of last year’s AB 2205, which was killed by Assembly Democrats without it being heard or voted on in committee.