Source: LA Times| By Jenny Jarvie

Mark Toney, executive director of TURN, The Utility Reform Network, said the massive scope of the L.A. County fires raised significant questions about the fund’s ability to cover insurance liability. Even if the fund is able to bail out utility companies for the fires, it’s uncertain whether it could then cover fires that may crop up in the future. “Will the fund work right?” Toney said. “Who ends up paying?”

“This is the most profound test case that the fund [$21-billion wildfire fund, split equally between shareholders and utility customers] will potentially be up against,” said Christopher Holden, a former Democratic legislator who sponsored the bill that created the fund. “This is a new frontier,” said Holden, who lives in Pasadena and had to evacuate during the Eaton fire.

Source: Politico| By Will McCarthy and Emily Schultheis

 PG&E OVERSIGHT (2026?): After legislative efforts to supervise PG&E’s spending on wildfire mitigation failed last spring, Utility Reform Network director Mark Toney said he was “stunned by the power and influence that PG&E has regained in the state legislature.” Toney says an effort to deliver oversight via initiative is possible, a cause that could get a boost from speculation that power lines may have sparked some of L.A.’s blazes, although he noted his consumer advocacy organization would be unlikely to take a campaign leadership role.

Last November, dozens of fire-fighting measures — from wildfire prevention bonds to stopgap special taxes — appeared on ballots around the state, part of local governments’ response to the previous decade’s large wildfires that leveled entire towns and burned a quarter of the state’s forestland. Many passed, in both rural communities typically skeptical of new taxes and spending and dense urban areas where wildfire has not always been a leading public-safety concern. In Los Angeles County, voters approved Measure E, which by generating $150 million per year to raise equipment and staffing levels for county firefighters, now “couldn’t be more relevant,” as County Supervisor Kathryn Barger put it last week.

Source: Politico | By Camille Von Kaenel, Blanca Begert, Alex Nieves, and Zack Colman

Utility watchdog types are holding back for now. “We’re taking a wait-and-see position,” said Mark Toney, executive director of ratepayer advocacy group The Utility Reform Network. “There are certain questions we’re concerned about, like did they shut off the right power at the right time. … We don’t know, so we hate to jump to a conclusion, because too much is at stake.” 

Southern California Edison filed an incident report with the Public Utilities Commission last night “out of an abundance of caution,” noting that they’d received “preservation notices from counsel representing insurance companies in connection with the fires.” The filing said a preliminary analysis showed no interruptions or anomalies on their energized transmission lines in the area until an hour after the Eaton Fire that burned through Altadena and Pasadena started. The Wall Street Journal also reported today that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power didn’t proactively shut off lines in the area burned by the Palisades Fire as windstorms swept the area, a safety protocol that every other major California power provider has in place. LADWP didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Source: CBS Sacramento | By Dillon Fuhrman

"We got to have limits on increases, limits on overspending and limits on corporate profits so that every day customers can get some relief," said Mark Toney, Executive Director of The Utility Reform Network (TURN). TURN, a utility companies watchdog, thinks there needs to be caps on non-fixed increases for investor owned utilities like PG&E. 

The California Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) confirmed this in a report that says electricity rates in the Golden State are increasing at a faster rate than inflation. The driving factors: Wildfire reduction related costs, ambitious greenhouse gas reduction programs and inconsistency in prices across utilities.

Source: Sacramento Bee | By Ari Plachta

Mark Toney, executive director of The Utility Reform Network, said the report underscores the ability of smaller publicly owned utilities to stay on course to meet climate goals while keeping rates low. “The IOUs have basically been issued a credit card with no limits and a guarantee that someone else is going to pay the balance,” he said. “I’m hoping legislators will look at this report and ask what can we do to set limits on annual overspending.” He pointed to several policy options for lawmakers, including placing limits on shareholder returns, creating public financing options, restricting the use of less-regulated accounts, or using a financial tool called securitization to make rates more affordable. “The utilities were able to kill almost everything they didn’t like last year,” Toney said. “At some point elected officials just have to stand up and say this time we’re going to put ratepayers in front of Wall Street investors.”

Wildfire prevention and climate programs have drastically raised Californians’ monthly electricity bills, potentially forcing state leaders to balance ambitious carbon emissions goals with affordability concerns, the state analyst said. Lawmakers “may be faced with a frank decision about how to balance the state’s ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals — and all of the associated benefits — against the inevitable costs that will result for ratepayers,” the report found.

Source: San Jose Mercury/ Bay Area News Group | By George Avalos

Mark Toney, executive director of consumer group The Utility Reform Network, or TURN, said “there is a lot to like in this report” for consumers, “particularly in terms of identifying wildfire mitigation as being a major expense.” “The report also talks about the profit motives that the corporate-owned utilities such as PG&E vs. the motives of publicly owned utilities” such as the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District, Toney said. “The publicly owned utilities have an incentive to save money. The corporate utilities have an incentive to maximize profits,” he said. “The state legislature is going to have to develop a spine to say no to Wall Street and big investors and to say yes to safety and defending the ratepayers.”

Soaring monthly electricity bills from the likes of PG&E and its utility siblings could hobble California’s quest for an aspiring green energy future, a disquieting new state report shows.

Source: CBS News | By Tori Apodaca

"We got to have limits on increases, limits on overspending and limits on corporate profits so that everyday customers can get some relief," said Mark Toney, the executive director of The Utility Reform Network.  Toney thinks there needs to be caps on nonfixed increases for investor-owned utilities like PG&E. 

California residents are paying more for electricity than practically any other state, according to a Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) report. The report said California has the highest residential electricity rates across the country, just behind Hawaii. It found that residential electricity rates in the Golden State are increasing at a faster rate than inflation. The driving factors listed by the report are significant and increasing wildfire‑related costs, the state's ambitious greenhouse gas reduction programs and policies, and differences in utility operational structures and services territories. 

Source:Bloomberg Law | By Titus Wu

Consumer advocate Mark Toney, executive director of The Utility Reform Network, a nonprofit based in Oakland, is skeptical that lawmakers can tackle the issue properly. “The legislative process is immune to data and evidence,” said Toney. “That’s just not how they operate. They operate throughpolitical pressure. They operate through campaign contributions. They operate through a lot of other factors.”

“Containing costs in the energy sector has been the number one priority for me since I was appointed to chair this committee,”Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D), who runs the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee, said. 

Source:KRON Bay Area | By Dan Kerman

“We got to fix a broken system where there are no limits to how much PG&E can ask for increases how many times a year,” said Mark Toney of The Utility Reform Network (TURN). “No limits to how many times the public utilities commission can say yes.” Toney says basic gas and electric service has become unaffordable for many, and it’s time the legislature set limits. Toney says basic gas and electric service has become unaffordable for many, and it’s time the legislature set limits.

PG&E says that compared to last month, the cost of using gas in your home will go up an average of $9 a month, while those on discounted rates will see a $7 increase. It will actually be less expensive for customers to turn on their lights. Regular customers will see electric bills go down an average of $1 a month compared to last month, while those on discounted rates will see their average monthly bill go down $8.50.

Source: KRCR-TV Chico | By Hannah Gutierrez

Mark Toney, Executive Director of The Utility Reform Network, spoke with KRCR about 10 rate increase requests currently pending, which could result in bill increases of $30 to $40 a month if most requests are approved. “High utility prices lead to homelessness, because people are getting evicted, and it’s a roadblock to climate change action. If you think your bills are too high, and they need to come down, call your state assembly member, call your state senator, call the Governor," Toney said. Toney added that customers experienced six rate increases in 2024, resulting in roughly a $60 bill increase per month.

PG&E reports that customers who do not currently benefit from monthly discounts will see their electric rates remain the same. Customers using 31 therms with 'supply and demand' from the company will see gas bills increase by $9 monthly; Those with discounts will see an increase of around $7.

Source: San Francisco Standard | By Kevin Truong

Mark Toney, executive director of the Utility Reform Network, said PG&E has more rate increase proposals scheduled to go in front of regulators in the coming months. “When you open your bill, you get the initial rate shock, but you also get hit with the impact of higher energy prices at the grocery store,” Toney said. “High energy prices filter down to nearly everything you buy.” He said the reduction in wildfires caused by PG&E is evidence that the utility is taking steps to improve safety, but he takes issue with the lack of oversight of its spending. For instance, he pointed out that PG&E has prioritized burying power lines, an expensive and labor-intensive method, over insulating them, which is roughly five times cheaper. “2024 has been pretty harsh on PG&E ratepayers,” Toney said. “We’re campaigning for affordable power, the ability to cap and limit rate increases, and new guidelines for spending and overspending.”

PG&E had profits in 2023 of $2.24 billion, a 24% increase from the previous year, and is on track to earn more in 2024. The company’s share price is up more than 12% from the beginning of the year, and its last reported quarterly profit, $791 million, exceeded Wall Street analyst expectations. All told, PG&E saw profits of more than $2 billion in the first three quarters. The Utility Reform Network, a nonprofit that advocates for imposing regulatory guardrails, is trying to pass state legislation that would stop utilities from being able to pass along to customers the costs of lobbying or advertising. A previous version of the bill died this year in committee.

Source:SF Chronicle | By Julie Johnson

“The rates need to come down,” said Matthew Freedman, a staff attorney with The Utility Reform Network, an advocacy group for ratepayers. Electricity rates have increased more than 50% compared to 2022 and by about 80% compared to 2020, according to Freedman.  Freedman said the Public Utilities Commission is considering additional electricity rate increases for 2025. “The fact that Jan. 1 rates are relatively flat compared to 2024 is not encouraging,” Freedman said. 

The California Public Utilities Commission voted Thursday to allow PG&E to collect $38 next year, or about $3.20 per month, from average residential customers — slightly less than PG&E requested — to keep the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in San Luis Obispo County running longer than planned. Commissioners also approved PG&E’s plan to charge average residential customers $18 next year, about $1.50 monthly, to cover other annual costs for generating and buying electricity. Another increase approved Thursday won’t hit customer bills until March 2025: $40 per residential customer collected over 12 months, or about $3.40 monthly, for the company’s 2020 tree trimming costs. That year, the state stepped up its oversight of the company’s vegetation management work due to wildfire safety concerns. 

Source: San Jose Mercury/Bay Area News Group | By George Avalos

Mark Toney, executive director of consumer group The Utility Reform Network, said the difference in financing costs could benefit customers. “We have to make sure PG&E doesn’t just spend the money on their pet projects but spends every dollar on projects that the PUC has determined will provide the greatest public benefit to the ratepayers,” Toney said. “The customers are the ones who are going to have to pay this back.”

PG&E said an expected record-setting $15 billion federal loan guarantee will help customers save money on an array of critical projects, but multiple advocacy groups warn that the investor-owned utility’s ratepayers may face higher bills.

Source: KGO, ABC 7 | By Suzanne Phan

Mark Toney is Executive Director with TURN, The Utility Reform Network. "This loan allows PG&E to make needed investments in wildfire safety in expanding the grid to serve more customers," said Toney. PG&E says the money could also be invested into lowering costs for its customers. Toney questions that. "We believe that reducing ratepayer bills is a high priority," said Toney. "PG&E has had four rate increases that went into effect in 2024 and there are two more rate increases on this Thursday's Public Utility Commission agenda.” TURN says the loan overall is a win for California.

PG&E could be getting a record $15 billion loan from the U.S. government. The money will be used to help modernize PG&E's power grid. The conditional low-interest loan is supposed to help pay for a number of costly energy projects. Supporters say the loan could end up saving PG&E bill payers a lot of money in the long run.

Source: ABC 30 | By Kate Nemarich

In the long run, TURN (The Utility Reform Network) says the interest rate the utility would receive from the federal government instead of a corporate structure will be lower. Before energy customers get too excited about the prospect of lower bills, TURN Executive Director Mark Toney warned costs could still hit your wallet. "It's a loan and guess who's going to pay it back. It is not going to be the shareholders. It's going to be you and me on our monthly bills," said Toney. "So, by itself, this is not going to reduce rates. It will reduce rates if the Commission says, you know what PG&E you have to use some of this money for rate relief, that would be an example.” Toney said if it is his organization will be pushing for proper oversight on how the money is spent. "There are two more rate increases for PG&E on the agenda," said Toney. "Now, if both of them get passed. that will be 6 rate increases in one year. Talk about record breaking. People are already paying $60 more on average each month then at the end of last year.” Toney said customers need to attend or call into the CPUC meeting at 11 am Thursday, December 19th to advocate against further rate hikes and to continue to reach out to their legislators and the governor's office.

The California Public Utilities Commission is set to vote on yet another rate hike for PG&E customers Thursday. If the four rate hikes from earlier this year are any indication of how they will vote, we'll see more. PG&E is on track to get a $15 billion loan from the US Government.

Source: USA Today | By Betty Lin-Fisher

"Customers may be losing a choice for reliable service," said Regina Costa, telecommunications policy director for The Utility Reform Network (TURN) in California. Costa, who also chairs the telecommunications committee for the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates, said copper wire technology landline service is the most reliable format for calls because the phone lines still work when there is a power outage, earthquake, or other natural disaster.

AT&T plans to eliminate its traditional landline phone service across nearly all U.S. states in its service area by 2029, according to an official announcement. The wireless carrier has said its copper wire infrastructure is antiquated, maintaining it is costly and better service is available through fiber and wireless broadband networks.

Source: NBC San Diego | By Sergio Flores

“And that’s a lot of money, especially with rising costs, and the highest utility rates in the country,” said Lee Trotman with The Utility Reform Network (TURN), which pushes for more affordable energy rates in California. Trotman said he completely agrees with a letter San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s sent to the CPUC, arguing against the proposal's approval. It also warns the city will continue to analyze the feasibility of forming a public power entity as it continues to track SDG&E’s performance. “You kind of force the utilities to say, ‘Whoa, we have competition now, we can’t raise our rates so high,' ” Trotman said.

As of Jan. 1, a family that currently pays $320.36 a month for electricity will pay $328.95 if the proposal gets approved. That is a 2.7% increase. When it comes to gas, the average $57.91 bill would go up to $62.95. An 8.6% increase.

Source: KQED | By Katie DeBenedetti

“What that’s going to do, if the PUC agrees with it, is it’s going to be another rate increase for PG&E customers,” says Lee Trotman, a spokesperson for the Utility Reform Network, or TURN.

Electricity rates could be going up again if PG&E’s most recent request for a spending increase is accepted by California regulators. The request follows three temporary rate increases over the past year and a much larger general rate adjustment approved in 2023. PG&E’s rates have doubled over the past decade, which it says is the result of its heightened need to mitigate wildfires and handle repairs after increasingly severe storms.

Source: ABC7 | By Dion Lim

"It's death by a million cuts. It's just a nonstop rate hike after a rate hike," said Lee Trotman of The Utility Reform Network (TURN). "Right now, you're paying an average of $50 more than at the beginning of the year," Trotman said.

PG&E customers could see another increase in their utility bills. If approved, this would mark the fifth rate hike in 2024. ABC7 News looked into where the money is going and what can be done to curb future increases.

Source: Fox26 Fresno | By Liz Gonzales

“Absolutely the focus should be on the CPUC because they’re the decision makers,” says Mark Toney, Executive Director of The Utility Reform Network—or TURN. Toney has been working for more than a decade, advocating for changes on utility rates and changes at the CPUC. He’s calling for greater transparency from commissioners. He's asking they publicly discuss rate hikes as an Agenda Item in meetings, rather than the Consent Calendar—where items are batched together and decided with a simple yes or no vote, with no discussion.

PG&E customers have seen their rates rise four times in 2024. Each of those rate increases has been approved by the California Public Utilities Commission.