Electricity rebates appear on April bills

This is not news: Southern California Edison (SCE) provides electricity
to Hill residents, (except for those off the grid or customers of Anza
Electric Cooperative). Tired of confusing and utility-favoring decisions
from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)?

This is news: For residents and small-business owners, your April SCE
electricity bill will have an $86 credit. This will be identified as
either “CA Climate Credit” or “California Climate Credit” or “Small
Business Climate Credit” on your bill. And your October bill will
include a second $86 credit.

Since 2014, California’s large investor-owned utility customers have
been recipients of the Climate Credit. Customers do not have to do
anything to receive the credit.

The amount of the credit depends on the utility provider and the market
prices for the greenhouse emission allowances. For example, Pacific Gas
and Electric customers will receive a $55.17 credit this month.

In 2006, the Legislature enacted Assembly Bill 32, California Global
Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which authorized the Cap-and-Trade
program to reduce air pollution in the state.

The Cap-and-Trade Program requires major air polluters, such as power
plants, fuel suppliers and greenhouse-emitting large industrial
facilities, to “buy carbon pollution allowances from auctions managed by
the California Air Resources Board.”

The revenue from the emission allowances is used either to further
reduce greenhouse gas emissions or to help utility customers with the
cost of their electric or natural gas bills. The latter is the
California Climate Credit.

The overall intent is to reduce California’s greenhouse gas emissions to
40% below the 1990 levels by 2030. In 2017, former Gov. Jerry Brown
signed AB 398, which extended much of the goals and authorities of AB 32
until 2030.

More good news: Another Climate Credit of $86 will be on your October
bill.

CPUC made it clear that the amount of the credit is not dependent on the
amount of electricity the customer used. It is the same for all
customers — residential or small business. The credit is dependent on
the auction price for the greenhouse gas emission allowances.

Natural gas credits will be different amounts. For customers of
SoCalGas, the total 2024 credit will be $74.21 and will appear on the
April bill.

Mobile homes, net energy metering customers or those who have solar
and/or an electric vehicle will be eligible for the credit, too. Solar
power will not affect one’s eligibility or amount of credit. If one owns
a second home, both are eligible.

Since 2014, SCE customers have received a total of $806 in Climate
Credits. During most of this period, the annual credit was between $60
and $80. In 2022, it jumped to $118 and was $142 last year.

More information about the CPUC Climate Credit may be found at
https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/industries-and-topics/natural-gas/greenhouse-gas-cap-and-trade-program/california-climate-credit.

More information about the Cap-and-Trade program may be found at
https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/industries-and-topics/natural-gas/greenhouse-gas-cap-and-trade-program.