State's climate program gives Californians credits on utility bills - Park Labrea News/Beverly Press

State’s climate program gives Californians credits on utility bills - Beverly Press & Park Labrea NewsBeverly Press & Park Labrea News

State’s climate program gives Californians credits on utility bills

Gov. Gavin Newsom

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced millions of Californians will receive an average of $146 in credits on their April gas and electric bills. The California Climate Credit – automatically applied to Californians’ bills every April and October – is a result of the state’s nation-leading cap-and-trade climate program that requires polluters to pay for climate action.

Since 2014, California households have already received an average of $971 in combined automatic April and October climate credits on their utility bills, totaling more than $14 billion statewide.

“Every year, California’s nation-leading climate laws deliver real climate action while giving you money back on your utility bills,” Newsom said. “This relief will support millions of California families.”

California will provide a total of $2.7 billion in credits – $1.6 billion for electric customers, $1 billion for natural gas customers and $160 million for small businesses.

The credits range from $32 to $175 for electricity bills, with most set to receive $55 to $86, and approximately $58 to $86 on natural gas bills for residential customers of Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas Company, PG&E, San Diego Gas & Electric, Bear Valley, Liberty, PacifiCorp and Southwest Gas.

Californians do not need to do anything to get the credit. The climate credit comes from the state’s cap-and-trade program managed by the California Air Resources Board. The credit on utility bills represents the consumer’s share of the payments from the state’s program.

To check how much the credit will be, visit cpuc.ca.gov/climatecredit.