Who We Are

A sustainable future.
For every family, every community, and our planet.

For over 50 years, TURN has organized, litigated, shaped state policy, and fought for a stronger California. We have challenged California’s powerful energy and telephone companies and stood up to corporate greed, saving millions of dollars for customers and businesses. We work with state and Federal legislators, support policy development, organize communities, and galvanize allies to hold utility companies accountable to their customers, not Wall Street billionaires.

TURN is committed to ensuring that no one in California is left behind, especially now, as we make the essential transition to a carbon-neutral energy base and California continues to face an enormous unhoused crisis. Let’s keep California families housed and power affordable for every home.

We hope you will join us—because a healthy California is better for everyone.

What We Do

  • Support Legislation For Affordable Bill

    With our allies and legislative partners, TURN introduces bills that prioritize the needs of California residents above corporate profit.

  • Organizing for Community Power

    Ratepayers United mobilizes communities in diverse, low-income communities across California to secure affordable bills and ensure that utility companies and policymakers are accountable to the people they serve.

  • Impact State Policy to Benefit You

    TURN’s amazing legal team is your watchdog at the California Public Utilities Commission—where utility policy is shaped and rate increases are voted on. 

Our Mission

TURN champions the cleanest energy and highest quality phone service at the lowest prices possible for residential customers, low-income households, and small businesses through legal advocacy at the California Public Utilities Commission, state and federal policy development, and community organizing throughout California.

Our History

TURN began at the kitchen table of pioneering consumer advocate Sylvia Siegel, a fierce advocate who was tired of seeing her electric bills go up year after year, and realized all California residents were getting ripped off by a Public Utilities Commission that rubber-stamped rate hikes. She taught herself the complex laws and rules of utility rates and quickly learned how to use them to the benefit of the public, rather than corporate profits.

In the past 50 years, TURN has identified and exposed corporate waste and lack of oversight, and driven common sense public policy to protect all Californians. TURN has grown into an organization known and trusted nationally for our expertise in energy and telecommunications issues, and our commitment to renewable energy that is affordable for everyone.

Plug In To Support TURN

Member support allows TURN to advocate for affordable and dependable utility services and to stand up for consumers across the state as an independent and unbiased voice. TURN’s effectiveness is largely due to the fact that we are not beholden to any corporate or government funding sources.

TURN is the only independent statewide utility consumer advocacy organization in California. By becoming a member, renewing your membership, or making a sustaining contribution, you can be sure that TURN has the resources we need to continue to fight for lower bills and a livable planet.

TURN is accredited by the Better Business Bureau as a Wise Giving Alliance Charity.

PolicyVoice is a statewide project that works with community-based organizations, organizers, and leaders to build community power to keep energy, gas, and phonebills affordable in California.