Podcasts about California Public Utilities Commission

This week on Autonomy Markets, Grayson Brulte and Walter Piecyk discuss why Waymo needs fewer robotaxis than you think and Tesla's emerging plans for a robotaxi network in California.Waymo continues to scale, surpassing 200,000 paid weekly rides across Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix. As the service grows, a group of power riders has emerged, including one rider in San Francisco spending over $900 a month on Waymo rides.In California, Waymo now operates a fleet over 730 autonomous vehicles, while Tesla currently operates zero. That is about to change as Tesla has applied for a transportation charter-party carrier permit from the California Public Utilities Commission, the same permit Waymo currently operates under. If Tesla secures the permit, it will be able to launch a robotaxi service in California, but with two major caveats—fleets and safety drivers. At launch, Tesla owners won't be able to add their vehicles to the network.Episode Chapters0:00 Waymo's Growing Weekly Paid Rides3:23 Waymo's Fleet Efficiency 9:10 Waymo Power Users12:01 Waymo's Consistent Rider Experience 15:17 Tesla Launches Full Self-Driving (FSD) in China16:30 Tesla's Pending California Robotaxi Network 19:58 Tesla / Waymo Competition 22:24 Tesla Will Not License FSD26:00 Autonomous Vehicle Policy28:55 Wall Street's View on Autonomy32:04 Unforced Error of The Week36:30 Next WeekRecorded on Thursday, February 27, 2025--------About The Road to AutonomyThe Road to Autonomy® is a leading source of data, insight and commentary on autonomous vehicles/trucks and the emerging autonomy economy™.Sign up for This Week in The Autonomy Economy newsletter: https://www.roadtoautonomy.com/autonomy-economy/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tesla is van plan een ​​gratis zelfrijdende taxidienst te lanceren in Californië. Eind vorig jaar heeft Tesla een vergunning aangevraagd bij de California Public Utilities Commission, meldt The Washington Post. De gratis taxidienst, waar nog wel een bestuurder in de auto moet zit, is een opmaat naar autonome ritten voor betalende passagiers. Waymo rijdt al in meerdere steden in Amerika rond met robotaxi's. Verder in de auto-update: De Audi-fabriek in Brussel gaat vandaag dicht. De gecrashte Porsche van acteur Tom Waes brengt 37.000 euro op. Fastned breidt uit naar Italië.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The California Public Utilities Commission voted to keep open the Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Facility through the 2030s. How a group of volunteers helped fully contain the Franklin Fire. Tips for making your matzo ball soup this Hanukkah from the best delis in L.A. Plus, more. Support The L.A. Report by donating at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.comSupport the show: https://laist.com

In this episode, Catherine Sandoval, Santa Clara University Law Professor and Patrick Lanthier, co-founder of RIVERA/LANTHIER & Associates talk with the UC Riverside School of Public Policy about how social vulnerabilities and the digital divide shape disaster response outcomes. This is the fourth episode in our 11-part series, Technology vs. Government, featuring former California State Assemblymember Lloyd Levine. Thank you so much to our generous sponsor for this episode, the Wall Street Journal. Activate your free school-sponsored subscription today at: ⁠WSJ.com/UCRiverside⁠ About Catherine Sandoval: Catherine Sandoval is a tenured Law Professor at Santa Clara University, specializing in Communications and Energy law. She served in the US federal government as a Presidential-nominated, Senate Confirmed Board Member of the US Chemical Safety Board, and as Director of the FCC Office of Communications Business Opportunities. California Governors Brown and Davis appointed her as Commissioner of the California Public Utilities Commission, and Undersecretary of California's Business, Transportation, and Housing Agency, She earned a B.A. from Yale University, a Master of Letters from Oxford University where she was a Rhodes Scholar, and a J.D. from Stanford Law School. Learn more about Catherine Sandoval via  ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-sandoval-7a2a2416a/⁠ About Patrick Lanthier: Patrick Lanthier co-founded RIVERA/LANTHIER & Associates, a Silicon Valley-based technology and policy firm in 1997. At AT&T & BELL Labs, he was on early Cellular, Internet, and National Security & Emergency Preparedness teams. He co-founded New Ventures (total $1B) and advises 22 countries' Emergency Communications Planners, the United Nations, the European Union, and the US Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Justice, and State. He advised at Carnegie Mellon University, Santa Clara University, and both California's Emerging Technology Fund and its Office of Emergency Services. He has led teams in more than 50 countries. His education includes California Polytechnic, San Francisco State, Golden Gate, Seton Hall, and The Wharton School. He testified in the US Congress and other venues. Learn more about Patrick Lanthier via  ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lanthier-6ba8068/⁠ Interviewers: Lloyd Levine (Former California State Assemblymember, UCR School of Public Policy Senior Policy Fellow) Rachel Strausman (UCR Public Policy Major, Dean's Chief Ambassador) Music by: Vir Sinha Commercial Links:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://spp.ucr.edu/ba-mpp⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spp.ucr.edu/mpp⁠⁠⁠⁠  This is a production of the UCR School of Public Policy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spp.ucr.edu/⁠⁠⁠⁠  Subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss an episode. Learn more about the series and other episodes via ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spp.ucr.edu/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Christmas is just around the corner. So let's head to Eureka in Humboldt County, where Sequoia Park Zoo is preparing for the holidays with a living Christmas tree that may just take the title of tallest in the nation from the neighboring town of Ferndale. Guest: Jennifer Fumiko Cahill, North Coast Journal  Pacific Gas and Electric is asking the California Public Utilities Commission to approve another rate hike. That's meant to generate more than $3 billion to help connect customers to the grid and make capacity upgrades.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California has the second-highest electric rates in the country, and Californians are fed up. In efforts to address soaring energy costs, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order this week to the California Public Utilities Commission to come up with ways to lower the bills. For more on this, KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with KCBS insider Phil Matier.

T-bills could be your worst investment Right off the bat you're thinking what how could they say such a thing? Warren Buffett has hundreds of billions of dollars in T-bills! Why do we think it's the worst investment? First off, Warren Buffett spends all day long reading, researching, analyzing and when he sees a good value investment, he will likely sell what he needs from T-bills to buy those good long-term investments. If you are someone that needs the money in 2 to 3 years, then this belief does not apply to you as T-bills are a great place to have your short-term money. But if you're a longer-term investor, and you want your money to grow for you, I worry that T-bills are not a great place for you. What will likely happen is that you will feel safe for a while, especially when the correction comes. You'll be glad you have money in T-bills, but you probably won't pull the trigger when lower equity prices arrive because you will feel comfortable with the safety and no volatility of your T-bills. Unfortunately, what will then happen down the road is you will eventually get tired of getting a lower return as interest rates drop and your T-bill is only earning you 2 to 3%. You will then likely want to move to something else and maybe do something silly like look at the past performance of equities and buy after stocks go back up after the correction. When it comes to investing, be sure to use the right tool for the right job. A T-bill is not the right tool for long term investors unless you really are a skilled investor and know how to navigate the volatility in equities.   One forgotten component of Tesla's business has a huge impact on profits! Tesla reported numbers that were ahead of analyst expectations, but I wouldn't say I was overly impressed. Sales increased 8% compared to last year and earnings per share of 72 cents did top expectations of 58 cents. This was a growth of 9.1% for EPS when compared to Q3 2023 EPS of 66 cents. The interesting component that people forget about is revenue from automotive regulatory tax credits. To comply with emissions regulations that are set by authorities including the United States and European Union, other automakers purchase credits from Tesla. In the most recent quarter, this added $739 million worth of revenue. While this is just under 3% of total revenue, this is essentially pure profit for the company, which means it likely accounted for close to 34% of the company's $2.17 B worth of net income. As other companies continue to ramp up their own EV and hybrid plans, a big question I would have is will they need as many credits from Tesla? Also, if there is a change in leadership after this election, will there be a reduction in regulatory requirements that could decrease the need for other automakers to purchase these credits? This could cause problems for Tesla as it would lose a very high margin component of its business. It is hard to bet against Elon considering his successes, but I have a hard time recommending this stock since it still trades at around 70x 2025 expected earnings. With that type of multiple we need to see much higher growth for sales and earnings than what we saw this quarter. Elon did mention his “best guess” for vehicle growth next year is 20% to 30%, which is one reason the stock shot higher. This seems quite ambitious and I'd be curious where that growth is expected to come from. I would say Tesla bulls continue to point towards autonomy as a potential reason to buy the stock, but at this point I would say that is a huge gamble given the elevated level of uncertainty in that space. Elon did say on the earnings call that Tesla has developed a ride-hailing app that some employees in California have been able to use this year and he expects the service to roll out for public use next year in California and Texas. The company intends to use it for a robotaxi network in the future. With that said, according to a list of permits issued on the California Public Utilities Commission's website, Tesla isn't currently licensed to operate a commercial, transportation network company or ride-hailing service in California. From a regulatory standpoint, I would say Tesla is behind both Waymo and Cruise.    Luxury brands lose excitement as thriftiness takes over in this slowing economy Luxury brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Chanel have seen a big decline in their sales growth. These luxury brands have increased their prices so much to try and keep their products exclusive. The push back towards exclusivity came after the Covid giveaway years where many consumers became short term purchasers. Unfortunately, this has turned off their normal elite customers who saw how ridiculous it was to see prices climb from 2019 to 2024 by 50 to 100 percent. They may be rich, but they are not stupid. As things have slowed, on social media and YouTube frugality has become cool once again. This includes talking about the deals you got or even buying knockoffs, which have a new name called dupes. On many of the posts on social media and other places it is now cool to show off your dupe that you purchased and how much you saved. I remember a couple years ago I talked about how the hype for expensive purses and brand names would not continue to rise. I think we have now hit the turning point where many people who pay those higher prices for purses or shoes will not be able to sell them for anything close to what they paid for them. The reason for that is you're no longer competing on price with the brand names but now many consumers buying secondhand will compare that price to the dupe and want to get a discount compared to the dupe price. I would not recommend investing any money into these ultra-luxury stocks, even though some are down between 40 and 50%. Many of them still trade at lofty valuations and sales growth has been cut from 20 to 30% down to 2%.   Inheritance Issues with Annuities Annuities can be purchased with qualified (tax-deferred) funds or non-qualified (after-tax) funds. Because qualified money is tax-deferred all withdrawals or income taken is taxable at ordinary income rates to the owner or the beneficiaries. With non-qualified annuities, any gain in addition to the purchase amount will be taxable at ordinary income rates to the owner or beneficiaries.  There is no step-up in basis at death and they do not receive the preferential lower tax rate treatment that capital gains and dividends do. The growth is tax-deferred, but it is deferred to a higher tax rate than other investment income.  When a spouse inherits either a qualified or a non-qualified annuity, they may treat it as their own and retain all the options that their deceased spouse had.  When someone other than a spouse inherits a qualified annuity, they have the ability to rollover those funds into an inherited IRA and will be subject to the 10-year rule like any other IRA.  The most complicated situation is when you leave a non-qualified annuity to a non-spouse beneficiary.  In this case the beneficiary is typically children of the owner and they have 2 options. They can either stretch the withdrawals from the annuity over their life expectancy, which is typically better for their tax situation as they can spread out the income over many years, or they can deplete the annuity in any way they want within 5 years.  With the stretch option, they must take their first distribution within 12 months of the date of death of the owner or they will default to the 5-year option.  This requirement often causes a problem for beneficiaries because if they forget to take that first withdrawal, they are forced to realize a potentially large amount of ordinary income in a short period of time.  Owners of annuities need to understand their options so they can not only plan their own retirement income, but also have a plan for their estate.   Companies Discussed: Capri Holdings Limited (CPRI), Expedia Group, Inc. (EXPE) & Highwood Properties, Inc. (HIW)

After extensive public comment, most demanding the proposal be turned down, the California Public Utilities Commission granted PG&E yet another electricity rate hike of about 3% on Thursday.  September 13th 2024   ---  Please Like, Comment and Follow 'The Ray Appleton Show' on all platforms:   ---    'The Ray Appleton Show' is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts.    ---  'The Ray Appleton Show'   Weekdays 11 AM -2 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 KMJ    | Website  | Facebook | Podcast |   -  Everything KMJ   KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

California's clean energy future is on a collision course with profit-oriented monopoly utilities. From the Governor's office to the California Public Utilities Commission to the Legislature, policies are being implemented that are leading to skyrocketing electric rates and record utility profits — while at the same time crushing California's rooftop solar and storage industry and knocking the state off track in meeting its own clean energy goals. It's a classic David vs. Goliath story. Only, instead of “David” being one person standing up to the powerful utilities, given the unique power of solar energy, here, it is every ratepayer, every solar worker, every solar business fighting to protect the right for consumers to generate energy from the sun. And Bernadette Del Chiaro, as the Executive Director of the California Solar and Storage Association (CALSSA), is leading the fight for affordable, safe and reliable power for homes and businesses.

WeRide, a Chinese autonomous vehicle startup, has received approval to test driverless vehicles with passengers in California. The California Public Utilities Commission granted two permits: one for a drivered pilot and another for a driverless pilot. These permits enable WeRide to test its vehicles on public roads with passengers, though the service is not yet available to the general public or allowed to charge for rides. WeRide operates in San Jose and nearby areas with 12 active vehicles. Since 2021, the company has tested its vehicles without passengers under permits from the California Department of Motor Vehicles. In 2023, it reported over 42,000 miles driven autonomously in California, while competitors like Waymo drove over 9 million miles. WeRide's permits allow operation of vehicles seating fewer than 16 people, distinguishing it from other companies. The company has developed a robobus that seats up to 10 passengers and claims to operate in 30 cities across seven countries with permits for autonomous driving in various regions, including China, Singapore, the UAE, and the U.S. Additionally, WeRide is developing a robovan for goods delivery and a robotic street sweeper.Learn more on this news visit us at: https://greyjournal.net/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Battery + Storage Podcast, host Bill Derasmo speaks with Julia Souder, CEO of the Long Duration Energy Storage Council (LDESC). Julia shares her creative background in the energy sector, which has fueled her passion and commitment to advancing long-duration energy storage (LDES) and promoting renewable energy. The discussion covers the challenges and opportunities for LDES, highlighting California's leadership and initiatives, such as the California Public Utilities Commission's goal of achieving one gigawatt of LDES by 2030. Tune in to learn about the future of energy storage, the diverse technologies involved, and the importance of continued advocacy and policy support in achieving decarbonization goals.

Insight and analysis from the second day of the Solar & Energy Storage Summit 2024. Day 2 of the 2024 Solar and Energy Storage Summit and the conversation was still in full swing. David Banmiller was there once again to capture all the debate and discussion on the future of the solar energy sector. Electrification is at the heart of the energy transition. There's been a sharp rise in grid connection capabilities in the last couple of years, and it's causing a headache for the industry. Permitting queues are long, and connection charges are high. What needs to change to ease these? Kelly Snyder is Senior Director, Origination, at EDP Renewables. She joins David to discuss it, as well as the latest trends in solar PPAs.What's the future of US electricity demand? Data centres, EV infrastructure and widespread electrification are causing a surge in demand, so how much is going to be met by green energy? Leuwam Tesfai is Deputy Executive Director for Energy and Climate Policy at the California Public Utilities Commission. She spoke to David about California's plans to secure solar and storage supply chains to ensure there's enough clean energy to meet demand. Plus, conversations with Oscar Araujo, General Manager for North America at Canadian Solar, and Shaun Laughlin of Solaris Energy, on mitigating climate risk and clean energy finance. Connection bottlenecks and possible solutions to the problem, PPAs, solar and storage technology and trends in funding and finance: it's all here on our recap of day 2 of the summit.Subscribe to the show so you don't miss any of the analysis from the Solar and Energy Storage Summit. Find us on X – we're @interchangeshow.For more information from our sponsor Convergent Energy and Power on their industry-leading battery storage and solar solutions, please go to convergentep.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

North State residents will have an additional area code starting in 2025. The California Public Utilities Commission will assign 837 as another area code in the region for some new numbers. Also, the Trinity County Animal Shelter is urgently asking for help finding new homes for its dogs, and Butte County supervisors discussed a more than 45 percent increase on dumping fees at the Neal Road Recycling and Waste Facility.

It's been a tumultuous time for Californians and their electric bills. Since the start of this year alone, PG&E customers have seen one rate hike after another. Now, a fixed fee is being brought into the mix, leaving many wondering: how did we get here and is there any way to make sure California's energy systems stay up and running, while also keeping the cost to the customer affordable? We're going to get one perspective on all this with Loretta Lynch, former president of the California Public Utilities Commission and attorney in San Francisco. KCBS did reach out to the CPUC and PG&E with an invitation to be a part of this conversation and both entities declined, though PG&E did send information on price increases, which you'll hear some of during the conversation and at the end of this program.

Today on AirTalk, the latest on the USC and UCLA student encampment protests. Also on the show, a look into the California Public Utilities Commission's vote this week on a new proposal that would create a fixed rate system for customers based on income; we dive into the history of the Chavez Ravine and the broken promise of affordable housing made to former residents; Los Angeles' city charter is turning 100; and more. The latest on the USC & UCLA student protests (00:17) Should electricity rates be based on income? (19:33) New book on three jazz titans (33:49) The history of Chavez Ravine (51:21) LA's City Charter turns 100 (1:12:10) What are the best steakhouses in LA? (1:26:19)

Beginning as early as next year you might see a new fixed monthly charge of up to $24 on your electric bill. That's if the California Public Utilities Commission approves a proposal to rework how we pay for power. The CPUC, which is taking a vote next week, says that the new charge would lower electricity costs for many Californians. But the reality is more complicated. We take a close look and hear what's driving high electricity prices in the state. Guests: Ben Christopher, reporter, CalMatters Loretta Lynch, former President, California Public Utilities Commission

Welcome back to Experts Only Podcast! There's been a lot of excitement about unleashing a community solar market in California, and the potential to make it one of the most equitable community solar programs in the country. However, a March 4th proposed decision by the California Public Utilities Commission has put a community-solar plan backed by lawmakers, pro-solar groups, environmental-justice advocates, unions and homebuilders in jeopardy. This episode, our guest host, Scott Elias, better known as "ScottySolar," welcomes Derek Chernow from the Coalition for Community Solar Access, Matthew Freedman from The Utility Reform Network, and Alexis Sutterman from the California Environmental Justice Alliance to unpack the effort to revamp California's community solar market amidst the CPUC's proposed decision. Thank you for listening! For more information: - Comments of the Coalition for Community Solar Access on Proposed Decision Modifying Green Access Program Tariffs and Adopting a Community Renewable Energy Program: https://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Efile/G000/M527/K884/527884666.PDF - Former FERC Chair and CCSA challenge Proposed Decision on California community solar in opening comments: https://communitysolaraccess.org/news/former-ferc-chair-and-ccsa-challenge-proposed-decision-on-california-community-solar-in-opening-comments - Our Sun. Our Power. California: https://oursunourpower.com/state/california/

California lawmakers are trying to strengthen protections against doxxing, which is publishing someone's personal information online with the intent to harm. We learn about a new bill that would let victims sue. In other news, lots of people still rely on landlines for phone service, especially in rural areas. But there's a motion before the California Public Utilities Commission that could mean the end of them. Plus, April is Autism Awareness Month, and there is a new show opening this weekend that recognizes the lives of people on the spectrum.

On the next Probably True Solar Stories, a psychic predicts a sunny future for a struggling solar installer and the entire California solar industry. But when the installer doesn't believe her, the psychic makes a bet that could cost him a free solar installation. Can the psychic really change the installer's future or the CPUC?True Solar TakeawaysRecent decisions by the California Public Utilities Commission have resulted in 17,000 solar job losses in California, and there could be more.https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/solar/rooftop/california-nem-3-0-layoffs-and-closures-set-in-six-months-after-controversial-ruling/Studies show that rooftop solar is a net cost benefit to all ratepayers.https://vibrantcleanenergy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/VCE-CCSA_CA_Report.pdfhttps://www.bu.edu/articles/2016/solar-energy-advantages/Under Net Energy Metering 3.0 (NEM 3.0), solar consumers receive a bill credit at the "avoided cost" or wholesale rate. To improve solar's ROI and payback, homeowners essentially have to buy a battery, increasing the upfront cost of solar and making solar less desirable in California.Retail electricity bills from California's three major utilities increased by at least 47%, with San Diego Gas & Electric experiencing a spike of 104%. https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2023/08/30/california-electricity-pricing-exploded-in-the-last-three-years-far-outpacing-inflation/California's Governor appointed the current CPUC commissioners and can influence them to review their recent misguided and devastating decisions for the rooftop and community solar industries. ----- Visit ProbablyTrueSolar.com to sign up for the newsletter to learn about new episodes and live solar storytelling events. Support the show by visiting the merch store and buying a tee shirt! Learn how sponsors can be a part of Probably True Solar Stories and tell their own creative stories. Follow @SolarFred and/or @ProbTrueSolar on Twitter to discuss episodes Don't forget to: Subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast streaming service Rate Review, and Share!

The California Public Utilities Commission has until July 1st to impose a new rate structure on residents: income-based electric bills.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The California Public Utilities Commission approved a fee increase for Pacific Gas and Electric Company customers. PG&E reports it requested adding the fee to help pay for infrastructure improvements. Also, Butte County officials say they still have hundreds of free Alert FM emergency warning devices to hand out to residents in unincorporated areas, and around 300 people have possibly been exposed to measles after a child with a confirmed case of the disease was seen at the UC Davis Emergency Department last week.

An exhibit at UC Davis argues the future isn't pre-determined when it comes to wildfires. Also, a new study by Harvard University shows the Chico area has the second highest share of rent-burned residents in the state, and the California Public Utilities Commission has fined PG&E $45 million for its involvement in the 2021 Dixie Fire as part of a settlement between the company and utility regulator.

An exhibit at UC Davis argues the future isn't pre-determined when it comes to wildfires. Also, a new study by Harvard University shows the Chico area has the second highest share of rent-burned residents in the state, and the California Public Utilities Commission has fined PG&E $45 million for its involvement in the 2021 Dixie Fire as part of a settlement between the company and utility regulator.

PG&E just raised its rates by a whopping 13 percent, but brace yourself for another big jump in your electric bill. The state is poised to add an extra charge to your bill starting this summer, based not on how much electricity you use, but on how much income you earn. This is the so-called fixed utility fee, also known as a fixed utility tax, and it's a radical change in how Californians pay for power, even though we already pay the highest rates in the country. Under this new system, every household will be levied a fixed-rate fee based on your income level, which is designed to pay for more electricity infrastructure as the state moves toward solar power and electric cars and away from fossil fuels. On top of that, you will also pay for how much energy you use, but advocates say this new framework will mean lower monthly bills for those who can't afford steady rate increases. On the flip side, people who make more money will start paying a lot more for their electricity, no matter which provider you use. Now, a wide-ranging coalition of groups is calling on the legislature and Governor Newsom to scrap this new plan and repeal the fee. In today's edition of the State of California, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern and KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke to Loretta Lynch, former longtime president of the California Public Utilities Commission. She is among those opposing the new fee.

Safe Space Winter Shelter says its intake center will be in the parking lot of Trinity United Methodist Church for the rest of the season following more than a week of negotiations with the city of Chico over a zoning issue at the nonprofit's prior location. Also, a controversial settlement agreement between the California Public Utilities Commission and PG&E over the energy company's role in the deadly 2021 Dixie Fire was delayed for a second time this week, and the Shasta County Election Commission has asked that the county's supervisors to hire legal counsel to find out if they have authority to review election materials.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis claimed that Jennifer Newsom, wife of California Governor Gavin Newsom, ended a debate between the two men prematurely to prevent further damage to her husband's reputation. Not even a month after Pacific Gas and Electric's rate case adding billions of dollars of revenue annually was approved by the California Public Utilities Commission, PG&E is seeking another $2 billion from customers. While the past few years have been marked by soaring homeless numbers and substantial financial investments, the coming year will be a crucial test of the state's resolve.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plus: General Motors' Cruise has been ordered to testify before the California Public Utilities Commission over an October incident in which a pedestrian was hit. And Spotify plans to lay off 17% of its staff. Alex Ossola hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CPUC approves PG&E rate increases. California's first and only Black-led conservation group acquires land in Placer County. Sutter Street Theatre's “Holiday in the Hills.” PG&E Rate Increase PG&E customers will be paying close to $400 more per year for their service due to new rate hikes approved earlier this month by the California Public Utilities Commission. While the rate hikes were not a surprise, they come at a time where customers are dealing with massive cost of living increases. Mark Toney, Executive Director of TURN (The Utility Reform Network), joins us to discuss the impact of the increases especially on lower income, vulnerable Californians. Note:  PG&E's press release regarding the rate increases can be found here. Black-led Conservation Group Acquires Placer County Land Accessing the outdoors can provide a variety of benefits, including improving one's physical and mental well-being. But many people in highly-urban areas, especially people of color, can face barriers when trying to access these opportunities. Recently, California's first - and only - Black-led conservation group acquired hundreds of acres of land in Placer County to provide more economic, environmental, and recreational equity.  Jade Stevens, President of the 40 Acre Conservation League talks about the organization's history, and its plans for the new parcel. Sutter Street Theatre's ‘Holiday in the Hills' “Holiday in the Hills” returns to Sutter Street Theatre in Folsom. Director Mike Jimena and Artistic Director Connie Mockenhaupt discuss the research that went into this year's family-friendly rendition. The play takes place in the late 1800's and everyone you see onstage was an actual resident or visitor to Folsom at that time of year. “Holiday in the Hills” runs Dec. 2 to  Dec. 23 and is rated G.

The State Department acknowledged its power to revoke visas for foreign nationals residing in the United States who have endorsed Hamas while living on U.S. soil as a wave of Republicans are pushing to deport people they say are supportive of the terrorist group.  One Democratic strategist is sounding the alarm over what he expects President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party to use as their main line of attack against former President Donald Trump in a likely 2024 matchup. Rep. George Santos (R-NY) will face a third effort to expel him from his New York House seat after Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest (R-MS) introduced a motion to remove him following his panel's report showing evidence the freshman engaged in unlawful conduct that is "beneath the dignity" of Congress.  The California Public Utilities Commission voted on Thursday to approve a plan that will allow the state's biggest utility provider, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, to raise rates for its customers next year in order to pay for projects that seek to lower the risk of the company's equipment from starting wildfires.  President Joe Biden joined pop singer Gwen Stefani on stage, where he said California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) “could have the job I'm looking for.” The “No Doubt” singer was seen giving Biden a hug before the president addressed an audience at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The California Public Utilities Commission approved at 13% rate hike for PG&E starting in 2024.  Rates have gone up 75% in the last decade and 36% in the past three years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Loretta Lynch is fired up.The former President of the California Public Utilities Commission is sounding the alarm on a proposed change to California's commercial electricity providers' rate structure that, she says, will dramatically increase rates for electricity customers. AB 205 easily passed the legislature and was signed by the Governor as a Budget Trailer Bill back in the summer of 2022. It received little attention at the time, although some observers did flag it as a stretch of the Trailer Bill application.AB 205 directs the utilities to set a tiered rate structure based on the customer's income, rather than a straight rate for electricity used. Proponents of the change say that the tiered structure will protect lower-income customers as electricity rates increase - they have already doubled in the past decade - and that the higher-income users will offset the lower rates paid by lower tier customers. Lynch argues that California's private electric companies are already charging higher rates than companies in other states and that there are no protections for lower income consumers actually in the bill. Now, Lynch and other critics of AB 205 including members of the legislature, are urging the CPUC to intervene before it's too late.:50 A big spike in electricity rates?2:39 AB2054:46 The rate tiers6:11 Urban vs. rural?8:27 privacy concerns12:14 Where is this push coming from?13:51 Do the raised rates have to fund a specific project?16:04 "The PUC is no longer a watch dog - it's a lap dog"16:47 A cash grab?19:08 Lawmaker pushback21:37 What can the PUC do?25:02 Convert PG&E to a publicly-owned utility?28:54 What role does the Governor have?32:10 Shameless plug for the Education Conference33:43 #WWCAWant to support the Capitol Weekly Podcast? Make your tax deductible donation here: capitolweekly.net/donations/Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang"#WorstWeekCA" Beat provided by freebeats.io

The California Public Utilities Commission has suspended Cruise's authority to carry and charge passengers for its robotaxi service.

This week, Cal Poly Humboldt Assistant Professor Jennifer Marlow and Graduate Research Assistant Alec Brown join Jen Kalt of Humboldt Waterkeeper to talk about the 44 Feet Project, which is focused on the future risk of climate and coastal hazards to Humboldt Bay's spent nuclear fuel site above the town of King Salmon. The first privately-owned nuclear plant in the U.S, the Humboldt Bay Power Plant produced electricity from 1963 to 1976, leaving 37 tons of spent nuclear fuel to be stored indefinitely 115 feet from the edge of an eroding bluff just 44 feet above current sea level.Two recent developments will be of particular interest to residents of King Salmon and other Humboldt Bay communities. In June, the Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury made recommendations for improving disaster planning and emergency preparedness in response to "any Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation-related emergencies." In September, the California Public Utilities Commission recently issued a Final Decision in which PG&E agreed to update the tsunami hazard assessment for the spent fuel storage site. For more info:The climate threat to California's stored nuclear waste - Yale Climate Connections, Oct. 2023Spent nuclear fuel sits on a crumbling California coastline. So what to do? - Boyce Upholt, California Sea Grant News, July 2023.Humboldt County Emergency Preparedness: Ready or Not? - Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury Report, June 202344 Feet Project websiteSupport the show

This month, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors is asking residents to complete an online survey. It asks for input on Nevada County, spanning a wide range of topics, from things like economic opportunity to cannabis to wildfire prevention. KVMR News Director Cláudio Mendonça speaks with Lisa Renner, the county's Interim Public Information Officer, to learn about how it works.Pacific Gas and Electric has pledged to bury 10,000 miles of power lines in California in order to reduce the potential risk of sparking wildfires – but the California Public Utilities Commission might soon limit that plan, prioritizing cheaper and faster alternatives. The California Report has the story.That's all before we get the rundown on upcoming space news in another installment of Al Stahler Explores.

In this episode of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Beth Vaughan, Executive Director at California Community Choice Association. Beth is CalCCA's first executive director, overseeing the association's advocacy, policy, and communications efforts, and coordinating a diverse and growing membership of community choice energy providers serving customers across California. She and Ted discuss her background, born and raised in Guelph, Ontario, which was a pilot town for different types of initiatives like recycling. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Queen's University in Canada, and later moved to New Zealand for her graduate studies, earning a Master of Science from Victoria University of Wellington. She stayed in New Zealand following her studies and served five years as senior advisor to environment and conservation cabinet ministers in the New Zealand parliament.Prior to joining CalCCA, Beth served as executive director of the California Cogeneration Council where she advocated for companies operating combined heat and power facilities. She has worked extensively in both the public and private energy sectors, consulting with government agencies, non-profits, and private sector interests on energy, climate, and environmental public policy issues. In her current role, she frequently presents CalCCA's positions on various policy issues at the California Legislature and California Public Utilities Commission and is a regular speaker at energy industry events. 

Paris Marx is joined by Dean Preston to discuss the havoc robotaxis are wreaking in San Francisco and the wider impacts the tech industry has had on the city. Dean Preston is the District 5 Supervisor in San Francisco and the first democratic socialist elected in the city in 40 years. He's also a tenant attorney and founder of Tenants Together. You can follow Dean on Twitter at @DeanPreston.Tech Won't Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, and support the show on Patreon.The podcast is produced by Eric Wickham and part of the Harbinger Media Network.Also mentioned in this episode:Paris interviewed one of the activists placing cones driverless cars to disable them and draw attention to the California Public Utilities Commission's pro-corporate regulatory decisions.In 2011, Twitter got a massive tax break to stay in San Francisco instead of moving its offices elsewhere in the Valley.Salesforce CEO Marx Benioff was a rare tech mogul to support San Francisco's ballot measure to create a new tax to fund help for homeless residents.A ballot measure to increase the transfer tax on properties over $10 million won in 2020, despite industry opposition.The campaign against progressive district attorney Chesa Boudin was bankrolled by tech and real estate money. Jacob Silverman put this into wider context in a piece about the rise in the political influence of David Sacks.Support the show

Show Notes: Seth Hilton graduated from Harvard and later went on to law school at UC Davis, started working as a litigation associate at a law firm before joining a large firm in the Bay Area. During the California energy crisis, he was tasked with monitoring regulatory developments and participating at regulatory agencies when needed. He eventually shifted his practice from energy litigation and energy-regulated regulatory work to almost exclusively regulatory work, although occasionally doing a little bit of litigation. Seth's interest in law stemmed from his father's law practice and his father's enjoyment of the law practice. He took a constitutional law course at Harvard, which inspired him to explore the field further.  Seth is currently a partner in the law firm of Stole Rives, focusing on California energy regulatory work. He works with companies in the energy sector in California, many of which are regulated by various state agencies or entities. He advises them on current regulations and assists them in adapting or changing those regulations to better suit their clients or their customers. Seth's clients range from electric to natural gas, oil and gas, and more recently, hydrogen. Seth talks about how the California Public Utilities Commission regulates utilities and other entities providing electric and natural gas service to retail customers. They dictate what resources and types of energy are procured to serve retail customers. The commission is concerned about the near term, the next five years, and the transition to more electrification. They have directed utilities and other load-serving entities to procure renewable resources, such as solar or wind, and sometimes specify energy storage that might assist with bringing in more renewable sources of energy.  Blending Hydrogen and Natural Gas Seth talks about exploring the potential of blending hydrogen with natural gas to reduce carbon intensity. This could involve blending hydrogen with natural gas or using hydrogen instead of natural gas. The California Public Utilities Commission is currently evaluating the role of hydrogen in its overall GHG reduction strategy. They are considering whether to use pure hydrogen or blend it with natural gas for retail customers, or if to use pure hydrogen and convert retail appliances to use blended hydrogen.  Seth explains what the two flavors of hydrogen are and the challenges in determining the appropriate regulations for hydrogen use, such as whether to require it to be solely produced by renewable energy or if to relax regulations to make hydrogen more cost-effective. He also mentions the debates around the methodology for calculating greenhouse gas emissions, including accounting for the entire lifecycle of energy sources. Seth talks about how he originally wanted to study engineering but decided it wasn't for him. He explains why enjoys working in the energy sector, particularly in response to climate change, which has had significant impacts on California, such as heat, wildfires, drought, and increased rainfall. He believes that a specific regulation or detail would be beneficial in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing the existing challenges faced by California. Nuclear Power in California Seth discusses the problems with the California grid, which is outdated and requires upgrading. The grid's old distribution system has caused wildfires and caused significant damage. The state is also trying to connect new generation resources, such as solar and offshore wind, to the grid, which requires planning and upgrading the transmission system. However, concerns about timing, cost, and retail customer satisfaction arise. Seth explains that the future of nuclear power in California is uncertain, despite the significant advantages to nuclear power, such as GHG emission-free generation and the ability to provide consistent power. However, there are also concerns about waste management and waste disposal. Currently, there is little hope for nuclear power in California, but there are potential technical developments that could change the situation, such as smaller generators. However, it would require significant technical breakthroughs to see nuclear power again in California. Stability of the Grid and Energy Storage Facilities Seth talks about the stability of a grid, and how, in California, a grid with a high percentage of solar and wind power can be unstable due to technical challenges. He explains that regulatory agencies are aware of these challenges and are creating regulations to address them, such as requiring procurement of additional energy storage. California has procured a vast amount of energy storage, primarily lithium ion batteries, which are large utility-scale batteries that store energy and discharge it when needed. Most of the storage resources in California consist of battery storage facilities, which can be either out in the field or in a large warehouse. Seth talks about storage facilities and how many homes can be served by one megawatt. The Development of Charging Stations for EV's Seth discusses the development of charging stations for electric and hydrogen vehicles, as well as the need for them in the transportation sector. The California Energy Commission is working towards creating additional hydrogen fueling stations across the state, which will provide the fueling stations for fuel cell hydrogen fuel cell cars. Hydrogen is also a good solution for larger vehicles like truck transport, as it provides the energy infrastructure to provide the energy for those vehicles. His contact information is available on his website, and he would be happy to hear from people interested in his work. Influential Courses at Harvard Seth took a Constitutional Law course which interested him as a potential profession and led him to law school.  Timestamps: 05:50 How you create a market for renewable energy 11:22 The difference between clean good hydrogen and dirty hydrogen 14:16 Why Seth likes working in the energy sector 18:17 Information about the grid in California 22:26 Nuclear Power in California 24:22 How energy storage works at utility scale 29:51 How many homes could be served by a megawatt battery 33:59 How Seth ended up in the world of energy regulatory policy Links: https://www.stoel.com/ CONTACT: Email: seth.hilton@stoel.com  

Consumer interest in Cruise and Waymo's competing robotaxi services surged following a vote last week by the California Public Utilities Commission that allowed the two companies to expand and charge for their driverless car operations in San Francisco.

We're warming up those weekend engines as we fly into Friday talking about a big opportunity for autonomy in California. We also talk about Ford's plans to profit from pro software as well as the big boom in women's spending over the Summer. Show Notes with links:The California Public Utilities Commission approved GM's Autonomous Vehicle company, Cruise and Waymo can now add cars and charge for rides at any time in San Francisco. This decision paves the way for broader autonomous vehicle operations throughout California and potentially other markets, despite ongoing concerns from residents and city officials about safety and readiness.Despite many advancements, safety concerns persist. San Francisco agencies reported nearly 600 unexpected stops for driverless vehicles and around 50 instances of interference with first responders.Activists in San Francisco have recently disrupted Waymo and Cruise vehicles by placing traffic cones on them to block sensors.Waymo announced plans to start charging for rider-only trips in San Francisco soon, while Cruise's response is still awaited. Both companies have apps with waiting lists for potential riders.According to a top executive, Ford plans to integrate enhanced software into its Ford Pro commercial vehicle business, aiming to increase revenues by $4,000-$5,000 per vehicle in the future.Navin Kumar, CFO of Ford Pro, highlighted that the company will boost revenue through software- and data-driven fleet services, safety/security services, partial vehicle autonomy, and insurance.At a recent J.P. Morgan investor conference, Kumar mentioned that Ford's capability to profit from these services will be amplified mid-decade with the launch of next-gen electric commercial vehicles featuring a new digital "intelligence" platform.By 2026, Ford Pro aims to double the percentage of connected vehicles to around 60% and triple the percentage of vehicles with paid software to approximately 36%.In a show of brutal-pink retail force, women this summer propelled major commercial successes, including the "Barbie" movie, Beyoncé's "Renaissance Tour," and Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour." Their collective spending, dubbed the "women's multiplier effect," showcased the significant economic influence of female consumers in the U.S. economy.The "women's multiplier effect" saw groups of women attending events multiple times, amplifying overall consumption and purchases.Over 80% of ticket buyers for Swift and Beyoncé purchased more than two tickets, and 27% of "Barbie" movie ticket orders were for three or more adult tickets.Despite the significant spending, the motivation for many women was not just entertainment but a sense of solidarity and empowerment.Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle MountsierGet the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/ Read our most recent email at: https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email ASOTU Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/automotivestateoftheunion

State regulators are set to decide on the change in restrictions for driverless cars. The new rules would extend hours these services can charge for rides. The California Public Utilities Commission has twice delayed this vote amid criticism that robo-taxis disrupt emergency services. For more, Margie Shafer and Eric Thomas spoke with KCBS Insider Phil Matier.

This month's run of triple-digit temperatures — seven so far, with at least a week's worth on the way — will have many Fresnans opening their utility bills this summer with trepidation. And, a proposed 32% rate hike for Pacific Gas and Electric that the California Public Utilities Commission is pondering would make those big bills even bigger in the future. Activists have filed a lawsuit against the city of Fresno over the renaming of 10 miles of streets to Cesar Chavez Boulevard. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Black Sea Grain Initiative would be suspended until demands to get Russian food and fertilizer to the world are met. An attack Monday on a bridge connecting the Crimean Peninsula to Russia was not a factor in the decision, he said. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This month's run of triple-digit temperatures — seven so far, with at least a week's worth on the way — will have many Fresnans opening their utility bills this summer with trepidation. And, a proposed 32% rate hike for Pacific Gas and Electric that the California Public Utilities Commission is pondering would make those big bills even bigger in the future. Activists have filed a lawsuit against the city of Fresno over the renaming of 10 miles of streets to Cesar Chavez Boulevard. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Black Sea Grain Initiative would be suspended until demands to get Russian food and fertilizer to the world are met. An attack Monday on a bridge connecting the Crimean Peninsula to Russia was not a factor in the decision, he said. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For major companies with large vehicle fleets, a core tenet of decarbonization efforts can be found in fleet electrification. A host of large corporations including Amazon, UPS, and Walmart have all made EV fleet commitments or signed agreements to purchase electric delivery vehicles. Patrick Sullivan, co-founder and CEO of EV Realty, a California-based company focused on accelerating the adoption of commercial EV fleets and building out their charging infrastructure, joined Energy Evolution to talk about fleet electrification and the challenges of constructing a charging network to support it. Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. In addition, Camellia Moors and Camilla Naschert, reporters who write about mining and power issues, are correspondents for Energy Evolution and regularly contribute to the show. Subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes! We want to hear about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our podcast survey here and share your thoughts: https://www.surveylegend.com/s/4xyz To read more about the California Public Utilities Commission report on distribution grid constraints and utility upgrade costs through 2035, click: https://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Efile/G000/M508/K423/508423247.PDF To read the California Energy Commission's assessment of EV charging infrastructure requirements in the state, click: https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/reports/electric-vehicle-charging-infrastructure-assessment-ab-2127

For major companies with large vehicle fleets, a core tenet of decarbonization efforts can be found in fleet electrification. A host of large corporations including Amazon, UPS, and Walmart have all made EV fleet commitments or signed agreements to purchase electric delivery vehicles. Patrick Sullivan, co-founder and CEO of EV Realty, a California-based company focused on accelerating the adoption of commercial EV fleets and building out their charging infrastructure, joined Energy Evolution to talk about fleet electrification and the challenges of constructing a charging network to support it. Energy Evolution co-hosts Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall are veteran journalists with broad expertise covering the energy and mining sectors. In addition, Camellia Moors and Camilla Naschert, reporters who write about mining and power issues, are correspondents for Energy Evolution and regularly contribute to the show. Subscribe to Energy Evolution on your favorite platform to catch our latest episodes! We want to hear about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our podcast survey here and share your thoughts: https://www.surveylegend.com/s/4xyz To read more about the California Public Utilities Commission report on distribution grid constraints and utility upgrade costs through 2035, click: https://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Efile/G000/M508/K423/508423247.PDF To read the California Energy Commission's assessment of EV charging infrastructure requirements in the state, click: https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/reports/electric-vehicle-charging-infrastructure-assessment-ab-2127

As the California Public Utilities Commission weighs whether to allow driverless cars unrestricted access to San Francisco roads, city leaders fear it may be too soon for such expansion. For more on this, KCBS Radio news anchor Margie Shafer spoke with KCBS insider Phil Matier.

On June 29, the California Public Utilities Commission will vote on a resolution to give driverless robotaxis full access to pick up paying passengers in San Francisco. To find out what that might be like, opinion columnist Emily Hoeven recently took a ride in a Waymo robotaxi. She tells host Demian Bulwa what it was like and why some San Francisco officials are sounding the alarm. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Got a tip, comment, question? Email us: fifth@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

San Diego Gas & Electric is making a case before the California Public Utilities Commission to increase rates starting next year. SDG&E says it needs money for critical projects, like wildfire safety and pursuing clean energy goals. But many San Diegans are frustrated with rising gas and electric bills. The average price for electricity in the San Diego metropolitan area is currently higher than anywhere else in the country. Given that tension, could asking for higher rates right now backfire? Union-Tribune money reporter Roxana Popescu, topic editor Dan Beucke, managing editor Lora Cicalo, and publisher and editor Jeff Light discuss some of the challenges of reporting on this story.

Here in California, we've grown pretty accustomed to power outages. Sometimes it gets knocked out by storms. Other times, it gets turned off on purpose by the utility companies to avoid wildfires. But what if you could live in a community where your lights always stayed on, no matter what happened to the grid? Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report  California utility regulators are digging into reasons for this winter's high natural gas prices. During a hearing on Tuesday, the California Public Utilities Commission pressed industry officials to explain the record setting price hikes for natural gas. Reporter: Erik Anderson, KPBS

California is eliminating a substantial subsidy for people who add solar panels to their homes and businesses. The new policy will reduce the amount of money that utilities are required to pay to homeowners who pump surplus electricity back into the grid. There's now concern that the decision will hurt the solar industry in California, and potentially other states that may follow California's lead. State regulators say the old policy is outdated, and the new one paves the way to the future.   Hi, I'm Kathy Fettke and this is Real Estate News for Investors. If you like our podcast, please subscribe and leave us a review.   The five-member California Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously in favor of the proposal. They say it will promote grid reliability and distribute the cost of maintaining the grid more equitably, while incentivizing the use of rooftop solar with battery storage. CPUC Commissioner Clifford Rechtschaffen says: “The decision strikes the right balance between many competing priorities and advances our overarching goals of ensuring California meets its climate and clean energy goals equitable.” (1)   New Policy Reduces Solar Incentives   There are currently 1.5 million homes, businesses, and other utility customers with rooftop solar. They will see no changes under the updated policy. CPUC officials call it the modernized version of the Net Metering Energy solar tariff or NEM. The original Net Metering rules were adopted way back in 1995. But starting next April, the new policy will go into effect and reduce the amount that utilities pay solar customers for excess electricity by as much as 75%.   Commissioners say the lower rates reflect the true value of solar electricity which is produced during the day when electricity is cheaper. Electricity becomes more expensive in the evening when the sun isn't shining and people come home and turn on their appliances. They say the cost of electricity in the evening can be 20 times what it is during the day, and puts tremendous strain on the grid.   Debate Over the Impact of the New Policy   The debate over the change to the solar cost structure has played out for a couple of years. Solar advocates say the new policy will discourage many people from installing solar because it will be that much more expensive. Woody Hastings at “The Climate Center” says: “California needs more solar power, not less.”    Executive Director of California Solar & Storage Association, Bernadette Del Chiaro, says: “For the solar industry, it will result in business closures and the loss of green jobs. For middle class and working class neighborhoods… it puts clean energy further out of reach.” (2)   Energy research firm Wood Mackenzie released a report earlier this year that says the changes will lead to a 50% reduction in California's solar market by 2024. They could also impact California's transition to 100% renewable energy by 2045. (3)   On the other hand, the group Affordable Clean Energy for All, which is funded by California utilities, says that the current system is outdated, and that millions of non-solar customers are paying an unfair amount for grid maintenance. Advocates for low-income families who can't afford solar also say it's time that solar customers pay their fair share for their use of the grid.    State officials at the public advocate's office put a positive spin on the new policy. They say it shows that California has succeeded in its goal to expand the use of solar power. Matt Baker says: “We have outgrown the subsidies for a solar-only system and now it's time to pivot to solar plus storage.”    CPUC Encourages Solar Plus Battery Storage   The new policy encourages the installation of a battery to store extra power so grid energy isn't needed when the sun goes down. That could help reduce the strain on the grid during peak hours, especially during hot summer afternoons and evenings when people turn up their air conditioners.   Battery storage will also allow solar customers with extra energy to pump solar power into the grid when rates are higher, increasing the value of the electricity they produce. The CPUC says there will be a big difference between peak and off-peak rates.    The policy also raises the maximum size allowed for a rooftop solar system to 150% of a customer's energy use. With an oversized system, there would be more potential for excess energy production in the near term. Over the long term, a larger system will accommodate the expanded use of solar for electric vehicles and other appliances.   Customers with battery storage can also earn energy credits. Low-income families and disadvantaged communities that install solar with a storage system would qualify for an even larger share of those credits.   New Policy Energy Savings   The CPUC says the average residential solar customer will save about $100 a month under the new rules, and about $136 a month with a battery storage system. They say the savings will make it possible to pay off a new system in just 9 years or less.   The new policy is also a better deal than one the CPUC had previously introduced. That policy offered a lower amount for excess energy rates, and also imposed new monthly fees for rooftop solar customers.    But the best deal is for existing customers. Like Proposition 13 did many years ago to lock in lower property tax rates for homeowners, those with solar systems in place right now, don't have anything to worry about. There will be no changes to the way they are compensated for surplus energy. That also applies to people in the process of getting their system installed by the April deadline. If that's you, check for details on submitting a net metering interconnection application to your power company, which is reportedly the way you lock in the old net metering policy.   For new customers, solar power will get a little more expensive, but according to the CPUC, will still save you money.   Check for links to stories about this decision in the show notes at newsforinvestors.com. You can also join RealWealth for free while you are there for access to all our real estate news and educational material on real estate investing. Please remember to subscribe to our podcast and leave a review!   Thanks for listening!   Links:   1 - https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/news-and-updates/all-news/cpuc-modernizes-solar-tariff-to-support-reliability-and-decarbonization   2 - https://calmatters.org/environment/2022/12/california-solar-rules-overhauled/   3 - https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/15/california-lowers-solar-energy-incentives-for-homeowners.html

The California Public Utilities Commission has released a proposal that would gradually reduce the price utilities pay for power from rooftop solar systems. The proposal has been met with widespread criticism.  Reporter: Dan Brekke, KQED This week, an episode from the new season of "Uncuffed," a podcast from KALW focused on intimate stories made by people incarcerated in California prisons. Edmond Richardson talks about marriage on the day before his wedding day inside San Quentin State prison. Reporter: Edmond Richardson, KALW