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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Courthouse News Service | By Alan Riquelmy

Mark Toney, executive director of The Utility Reform Network, in a statement called the executive order an important first step in addressing the state’s affordability crisis that families, small businesses and others face. “TURN looks forward to working with the governor’s staff on affordability strategies not in the [executive order] that will save ratepayers billions in spending, including setting limits on utility overspending, requiring least cost solutions to wildfire safety, and public financing options to reduce the cost of wildfire safety capital investments,” Toney said. 

California regulatory agencies have taken the brunt of public outcry over high utility prices for months. The state’s Public Utilities Commission regularly hears angry, even threatening, comments related to electricity prices. Newsom’s executive order seeks to assuage those concerns. The governor also ordered the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety, and asked the utilities commission, to examine wildfire safety practices, ensuring that investments are cost effective.

Source: San Diego Union Tribune | By Rob Nikolewski

Mark Toney, executive director at The Utility Reform Network (TURN), a consumer advocacy group that testified during the proceeding, says SDG&E ratepayers are already getting socked financially. “The bottom line is that this is the worst time for San Diego and Southern California customers to be hit with major increases to both utilities.” TURN criticized the commission for issuing the proposed decision so late. “What that means is the increase is going to be magnified because they have to catch up,” Toney said. “The delay magnifies the rate shock.”

San Diego Gas & Electric customers would pay 2.7% more on their electric bills starting next year while customers with natural gas hookups may pay almost 9% more, according to a proposed decision released Friday afternoon by the California Public Utilities Commission. According to the proposed decision, typical SDG&E residential customers using 400 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month would pay $170.87, which represents a $4.46, or 2.7%, increase compared to what they currently pay. The percentage increase would be the same for customers enrolled in the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) financial assistance program.

Source: Politico| By Alex Nieves

But the change was supported by consumer advocates including the California Public Advocates Office, and Mark Toney, TURN’s executive director, was willing to give credit where he said it’s due. “This is an important first step in providing rate relief, but so much more needs to be done,” he said.

The details are quite gory, but basically, the commission made a change to one of the ways it adjusts the return it allows utilities to book when they invest in big transmission lines and smaller-scale power poles, wires and substations. The utilities need to make a lot more of those investments to deliver enough power around the state to support California’s transition from a fossil-fuel based economy to one that runs on electricity. The change is expected to save ratepayers a total of about $360 million next year, according to an estimate from The Utility Reform Network.

Source: Columbia Spectator | By Miranda Lu

The event concluded with a panel discussion between consumer advocate and director of the Office of Consumer Services Richard Berkley and executive director of the Utility Reform Network Mark Toney. The panel was moderated by Hernández and Law School professor and Sabin Center director Michael Gerrard, CC ’72, the lead organizers of Power Uptown. Toney, whose organization is based in California, discussed his state’s efforts to improve energy affordability and suggested looking at the federal income tax system—where the amount taxpayers pay is dependent on their income—as a more equitable payment model for utility payments.

Community leaders, policymakers, energy industry professionals, and local residents convened at The Forum last Friday for “Power Uptown: Tackling Energy Insecurity Together,” a community-based event focused on addressing energy insecurity and educating residents on pathways to efficient and renewable energy consumption.

Source: CBS47 and KSEE24 Fresno | By Ben Morris

“There are no limits to how much the public utilities can grant in an increase,” said Mark Toney, executive director for The Utility Reform Network. “Utility debt has quintupled over the past four years. It’s five times more than it used to be,” he said.

“There are a lot of things on your bill that I don’t think should be on your bill,” said Governor Newsom. “There are a lot of programs in this state that frankly stack up. And then, everybody pays for what only a few people are taking advantage of,” he said. However, in addition to dollars going to programs and policies, rate increases continue to hit families hard. In September, the California Public Utilities Commission unanimously passed its fourth PG&E rate hike of the year.

Source: Politico| By Blanca Begert, Tyler Katzenberger, Alex Nieves, Will McCarthy and Wes Wenteicher

“We need to fix a broken system where there are no limits to how much PG&E can request in rate increases, and no limits to how much the CPUC can grant in rate increases,” Mark Toney, executive director of The Utility Reform Network, said in a statement.

Utility and energy professionals in California and beyond are acknowledging a paradox. On the one hand, they’re looking eagerly at how advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence can help them manage the grid, predict fires and outages and respond more flexibly as energy demand grows.

Source: CBS 13 Sacramento | By Shelby Reilly

"More and more people falling behind on their bills. More people than ever are now behind on their bills," said Mark Toney, executive director of The Utility Reform Network, or TURN. Toney said an increase approved in January added about $35 per month. Then, there was another increase in March of $4-5 per month followed by a temporary decrease of 9% in July.  "There's $6 we're talking about now, but guess what? Earlier this month, there was a $6 increase a month in natural gas. Now, PG&E customers pay one bill, natural gas and electricity together," he said.

As Pacific Gas and Electric customers already struggle to keep up with their bills, the California Public Utilities Commission approved the company's fourth rate increase in 2024. The increase was approved Thursday and will add about $6 per month on average to customers' bills.

Source: Canary Media | By Jeff St. John

We’re concerned that time is running out for the policymakers to do something,” said Mark Toney, executive director of The Utility Reform Network (TURN), a ratepayer advocacy group. In a Sunday statement, Toney accused the utilities of using their lobbying might to prevent securitization from making its way into law. There is overwhelming public support for reducing customer bills, holding utilities accountable for getting the most wildfire safety at the least cost to ratepayers, and making utility investors pay for overspending,” Toney told Canary Media, citing polling conducted by TURN

The state’s utilities have to expand their power grids to support the shift to carbon-free electricity, and they must harden those grids to reduce the risk that they’ll cause deadly wildfires. But these costly projects are the main driver of California’s sky-high and still-rising electricity rates, which have sparked an affordability crisis that threatens to derail the state’s energy transition.