WASHINGTON
Reps. Thompson and Levin lead letter to California Public Utilities Commission to address high electric bills
Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) and Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) led a letter signed by 16 members of the California Congressional delegation to California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) President Alice Busching Reynolds expressing their concerns over high fixed charge proposals under consideration in the CPUC's Income Graduated Fixed Charge (IGFC) proceedings. As utility bills continue to rise in California, Reps. Levin and Thompson, and their colleagues asked the CPUC to avoid implementing a high fixed charge that could impede progress on our climate goals or increase electricity costs for low-and middle- income families. A fixed charge is a fixed fee that ratepayers will have to pay every month, regardless of how much electricity they use or try to conserve.
"We are concerned that a high fixed charge could undercut investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency that Congress intended to encourage with the Inflation Reduction Act," explains the letter. "We are further concerned that a high fixed charge could increase the electricity bills of millions of Californians, especially those who live in small homes, condos and apartments. Such setbacks could harm our progress on federal and state clean energy, climate, and equity goals."
"Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act to make electrification, energy efficiency improvements, and distributed energy resources more affordable for Americans. These measures will help to bring down utility bills, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and combat climate change," the letter continues. "We are concerned that imposing a high fixed charge could make it substantially more difficult for families to realize cost savings from electrifying their homes, improving their energy efficiency, or installing distributed energy resources such as rooftop solar."
To read the text of the full letter visit: https://levin.house.gov/imo/media/doc/letter_to_cpuc.pdf
—Submitted
SACRAMENTO
California and abortion pill
Gov. Newsom said he would listen to the U.S. Supreme Court arguments Tuesday about the availability of a widely used abortion pill — and then decide whether to replenish the state's stockpile.
But afterwards, his office said he is still considering his options, reports CalMatters health reporter Kristen Hwang.
- Brandon Richards, Newsom spokesperson: "California remains ready to purchase up to another 1.75 million pills given the ongoing attacks to abortion care access happening across the country — not just at the Supreme Court."
Newsom also released a statement Tuesday, warning that "Republicans want a national abortion ban," which should "scare the hell out of everyone."
Attorney General Rob Bonta — who along with the governor filed an amicus brief supporting the drug, according to The Sacramento Bee — released his own statement ensuring abortion access to Californians.
- Bonta: "Upholding full access to mifepristone isn't just about preserving access to a medication; it's about affirming the fundamental right of every individual to autonomy over their own body and reproductive healthcare decisions."
The high court heard oral arguments in a case brought by a Christian legal group that wants to limit the availability of mifepristone and is challenging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's 24-year approval of the drug. The pill is recommended to be used alongside another medication, misoprostol, to induce abortions.
Last year, a federal district court in Texas suspended federal approval of the drug, but days later, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals partially overruled the ruling.
Because of the drug's tenuous legal status, however, California began to stockpile misoprostol. It has since distributed nearly all its inventory of the medication, reports the San Francisco Chronicle, having purchased 250,000 pills from ANI Pharmaceuticals for about $107,000.
Supreme Court justices, both liberals and some conservatives, appear to be "deeply skeptical" about arguments to restrict access to the pills nationwide, according to The New York Times. The court is expected to rule in June.
—Lynn La, CALMatters
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