What happens in California doesn’t necessarily stay in California, especially when it comes to liberal policies.
The Golden State was the first to legalize medical marijuana in 1996, a motion that spread to a majority of the country.
California was also the first to ban gas-powered leaf blowers and lawn mowers, another move that’s being copied by communities across the U.S., including many in Massachusetts.
Now a proposal to charge consumers for electricity based on their income is on the table, and bears watching as it ticks off many progressive boxes.
As CBS News reported, PG&E, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric filed a joint proposal with the state Public Utilities Commission seeking to add a fixed monthly charge for services, based on household income levels.
Households earning less than $28,000 a year would pay a fixed charge of $15 a month on their electric bills in Edison and PG&E territories and $24 a month in SDG&E territory. Households with annual income from $28,000 to $69,000 would pay $20 a month in Edison territory, $34 a month in SDG&E territory and $30 a month in PG&E territory. Households earning from $69,000 to $180,000 would pay $51 a month in Edison and PG&E territories and $73 a month in SDG&E territory.
Those with incomes above $180,000 would pay $85 a month in Edison territory, $128 a month in SDG&E territory and $92 a month in PG&E territory.
According to the Pew Research Center’s income calculator, middle class earners are those whose income falls between $52,200 and $156,600. So if the idea was to get billionaires to pay their “fair share,” they’re actually catching many middle class households in the net. How “fair” is that?
This notion pays no heed to what consumers have to spend their income on other than electricity. Mortgages, tuition, auto expenses, and of course, taxes take a big chunk out of salaries. Inflation and high interest rates are wreaking havoc on family budgets. Inflating a fee for a middle class household is unconscionable.
Electric bills are already big in California. According to Energysage.com, the average monthly electric bill for residential customers is $212 a month. Imagine an extra $51 to $73 just for having a well-paying job.
This is a not-so-subtle way to get consumers to opt for solar energy options, but it could also lead to Californians packing up for less punitive states.
Low-income households need help, no question. A visit to the HUD California site lists many places where people can get help with their electricity bills, including the State of California Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
Paying for a commodity based not on how much of it you use, but on how much you make is just the latest scheme to pass the buck, and the bill, to people who dared to achieve a measure of success.
It’s an idea that doesn’t need to expand beyond California’s border. Given the expanse of progressive policies across the country, however, it likely will.
