350 Humboldt

Nearly 4 million households will see their bills go up immediately under the $24/month Utility Tax proposal. This includes solar users and people who live in apartments and small homes. In other words, anyone who doesn’t use much electricity.

The Utility Tax is totally uncapped, and utilities have said they intend to push it to increase to $70/month or more. The CPUC themselves have indicated $24 is only the beginning. The Utility Tax will steadily rise, along with rates. You will not be able to get out of the Utility Tax no matter what you do. More background

Specific bills to cap the Utility Tax at roughly $10/month, adjusted for inflation (AB 1999 and SB 1326) are now dead. But Legislators have many options to pass legislation when the political will is there. Now it’s time for lawmakers to come together, stand up to the utilities, and use the legislative process to stop the Big Utility Tax this legislative session. Even if the CPUC approves a high fixed charge on May 9, the legislature can still act to rein them in.

Legislators have four months in this legislative term to do the right thing for the people of California, and stop the big Utility Tax. Please call both your Assemblymember and Senator today and tell them they MUST find a way to stop the big Utility Tax this legislative session.

Look up their phone number here. Here’s a suggested message, feel free to modify:

“My name is _____. I live in ______. I am outraged that the AB 1999 was not even given a vote. You must find a way to stop the Big Utility Tax before August. Otherwise, bills will increase on four million households. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Please fight for ratepayers. Stop the Big Utility Tax! Thank you.”

As part of its new National U.S. Utilities Campaign, 350.org is launching an education series to explore how utilities are blocking the renewable transition across the country while raising rates on working families and how we can fight back. Starting May 7th, 350.org will have weekly sessions on Tuesdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET through July 16th (except for 6/25 and 7/2) to dive deep into utilities campaigning with some really great guest speakers and interactive breakout sessions. Check out the schedule and RSVP here! 350.org is encouraging members of local groups to attend in “crews” so we can learn together, catch each other up if someone misses a session, and work together to put our learning into action afterward! If you’re interested in joining a crew, let me know so we can get signed up.

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The book club meets the fourth Monday of each month at 7pm for one hour to discuss the book of the month. We meet on zoom and the link is always the same:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87104876080?pwd=Q1Z2Z0d3K3V0UE9EN2Z0TlFweTZndz09

Our June meeting will be devoted to choosing our next round of books. Each of us chooses two books to suggest to the group. Preferably, you’ll have read some reviews or even have read the book, so you have some idea of what you’re recommending. It would be great if you can forward reviews and publishing info to us ahead of time. The group agrees — usually by consensus, but occasionally by voting — to read and discuss one of the two books. Thus, everyone has one of their choices selected. We try to mix up fiction and non-fiction, varying topics (farming, the sea, heat, etc.) to keep our interest engaged.