This is reminiscent of how it started in Australia with the carbon tax.
Look for a Climate Credit from the State of California on Your October Utility Bill
This month your electricity bill will include a credit identified as the “California Climate Credit.” Twice a year, in April and October*, your household and millions of others throughout the state will receive this credit on your electricity bills.
The Climate Credit is a payment to Californians from a program designed to fight climate change by limiting the amount of greenhouse gas pollution that our largest industries put into the atmosphere.
This program is one of many developed as a result of landmark legislation called the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which puts California at the forefront of efforts to battle climate change. Other programs under this law increase clean, renewable forms of electricity, promote energy efficiency in homes and businesses, and require cleaner fuels, and more efficient cars and trucks.
Together, these programs will aid in reducing greenhouse gas emissions that trap heat in the atmosphere–helping to clean the air and protect our food, water, and public health, as well as the beauty of our state.
The Climate Credit is designed to help you join with California in its efforts to fight climate change and clean the air. You can use the savings on your electricity bills however you choose, but you can save even more money by investing the bill savings from your Climate Credit in energy-saving home upgrades, including more efficient lights and appliances. You can find more information and receive rebates for these and many other energy efficient choices for your home at www.EnergyUpgradeCA.org/credit.
California’s greenhouse gas reduction programs provide a range of powerful solutions to help slow climate change, one of the greatest challenges facing society. By gradually reducing emissions each year and moving to cleaner forms of energy, we are taking an important step to preserve the health and prosperity of our state for generations to come.
* Billing periods vary by utility and may not always coincide with a calendar month. If you don’t see a Climate Credit in the bill that arrives in October, it will appear in the bill you receive in November.
The CPUC regulates privately owned electric companies and serves the public interest by protecting consumers and ensuring the provision of safe, reliable utility service and infrastructure at reasonable rates, with a commitment to environmental enhancement and a healthy California economy. For more information about our work contact us at:
news@cpuc.ca.gov, 800-253-0500, or visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.
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From the FAQs page:
What is the California Climate Credit?
Under California’s climate law, power plants and industries must pay for permits when they put carbon pollution into the air. Some of that money is used by the state to fight climate change, and some goes to households and small businesses to protect them from the carbon pollution cost in electricity that comes from non-renewable resources, like coal and natural gas. The credit on your electricity bill is your share of that money. To learn more about this credit, visit www.energyupgradeca.org/climatecredit.
Who is eligible for the Climate Credit?
All California residential customers that receive electricity from an investor owned utility company, electric service provider or community choice aggregation provider. This includes customers of PG&E, SDG&E, SCE, PacifiCorp, and Liberty Utilities, and the community choice aggregators Marin Clean Energy and Sonoma Clean Power.
Why am I receiving a Climate Credit?
Households and small businesses are receiving the Climate Credit to protect them from electricity cost increases and to give people additional opportunities to take advantage of energy and money-saving upgrades that also help fight climate change. To learn more about actions that households and businesses can take, visit www.EnergyUpgradeCA.org.
Does the credit amount vary by electricity provider?
Yes. However, the California Climate Credit is distributed equally to each electricity provider’s residential customers in April and October of each year, regardless of energy consumption or bill amount.
When will I receive the Climate Credit?
Households will receive the credit twice per year in the April and October bills. Small businesses will receive it monthly.
Is the credit amount connected to my electricity use?
- Households: No, all residential customers of the same electricity provider will receive an equal amount for the California.
- Small Businesses: Yes. The credit is tied to the amount of carbon pollution costs in small business electricity rates, and the actual credit received each month depends on small business customers’ electricity rates and how much electricity they use.
What will customers see on the bill?
Every household and eligible small business will see messages on their bills announcing when they have a Climate Credit. This messaging will vary slightly by utility, but your bills will typically include the following:
- A line Item “CA Climate Credit” or “California Climate Credit” on your bill with the amount of the credit under your electricity delivery charges;
- New bill messages that explain the credit
- A new Bill Definition that explains that “CA Climate Credit” or “California Climate Credit” line item, however it may appear on your bill.
Does the Climate Credit apply to the gas portion of my bill?
No, it only applies to the electricity portion.
Will Net Energy Metering or NEM customers receive a Climate Credit?
Yes.
What if there is a credit remaining on my account balance after the California Climate Credit is applied to my bill?
Any carryover balance will be applied to your next month’s bill. If there is a balance, customers may ask for a refund check instead of having the balance applied to your next month’s bill.
How is the credit amount calculated?
The Climate Credit is calculated according to rules adopted by the CPUC. Some of the funds help support manufacturers and small businesses. Residential customers receive the remaining funds (approximately 90% of the total funds in 2014).
If the credit is from the State, why is it on my utility bill?
The most cost effective way to return this credit to electricity customers is as a bill credit through your energy provider. This approach maximizes the amount of savings each household and small business will receive.
For how many years will I receive a Climate Credit?
Right now the Climate Credit is expected to continue until at least 2020.
Will the size of my Climate Credit change over time?
Yes. The size of the Climate Credit depends on a large number of factors that can change from year to year, but the credit will always be calculated according to rules established by the CPUC. (Link to relevant decisions for more info.)
Where does the money for the Climate Credit come from?
Funds for the Climate Credit come from a state program to fight climate change by limiting the amount of greenhouse gases that large polluters can release into the atmosphere. Each year the state auctions a limited number of emission permits so that California can meet its goal of reducing its overall emissions down to 1990 levels by the year 2020. Some of the aution money is used by the state to fight climate change, and some is returned to many Californians as a Climate Credit. This program is one of many developed as a result of the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which put California at the forefront of efforts to battle climate change. To learn more about California’s effort to fight climate change: www.energyupgradeca.org/climatechange.
What is the Cap-and-Trade Program?
Check out our page dedicated to the Greenhouse Gas Cap-and-Trade Program.
Will my electricity rates increase as a result of Cap-and-Trade?
California has programs to encourage electricity providers to shift toward clean sources of energy, and one of those programs results in power plants facing a cost when they produce electricity from fuels that put greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These costs are reflected in all customers’ electricity generation rates – the portion of electricity bills that represents the costs to generate electricity.
However, the rate increases for residential, small business, and some manufacturing customers will either be fully or partially offset by Climate Credits. The goal is to protect customers from overall cost increases on their electricity bills and to give people additional opportunities to invest in energy and money-saving upgrades. To find out how to join California’s efforts to fight climate change visit the website EnergyUpgradeCA.org/climatecredit.
What is AB 32?
AB 32 is California’s law to reduce carbon pollution and fight climate change. The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, or AB 32, mandates that California reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and then maintains that reduction (about 15% from current levels). For more information on AB32: http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/cc.htm.
Which government agency is in charge of enforcing greenhouse gas reduction laws?
The lead agency is the California Air Resources Board (ARB). This is also the agency that sets state standards to clean the air and promote clean vehicles and clean fuels.
Where can I find more information about California’s efforts to fight climate change?
Here are a few useful links:
- General information: California Climate Change Portal
- Actions you can take: www.EnergyUpgradeCA.org
- Air Resources Board Climate Change Page: http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/cc.htm
- Air Resources Board AB 32 Scoping Plan: AB 32 Scoping Plan
- CPUC Programs: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/energy/Climate+Change/
Another case of, “look we are very nice people. here is some of your money back that we took from you. Now remember who to vote for next time and we will take more money from you and give it back again.”
cartoon says…We may disagree about exactly what will happen (heating Vs cooling), but for sure, something is going to happen.And if we don’t know exactly how bad this “something” is going to be…”
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Why will something bad happen? We do know that every crop on the planet now grows about 15 % more food on the same amount of land and water, then it would if we had not put that CO2 into the air. We know this. I repeat, we know this. All the harms you read about, accelerated and disastrous SL rise, more and stronger hurricanes and tornadoes, increased droughts and fires, etc add infinity, they simply have failed to materialize.
Even better, we can argue that “pumping all that CO2” calms the weather.. reduces hurricanes, calms tornadoes, subdues shark attacks and exposes Climate Charlatans.
On top of boosting the food supply of all creatures.
The magic Gas is a boon.
As George Carlin would say; “Maybe we were created to return the missing CO2 to the bio-cycle.”
Sorry Mick you are making a cartoon of yourself.
Ask a CAGWer if they could, would they right now reduce atmospheric CO2 to 280 PPM. Most will say, without a moments hesitation, ” yes”. Then ask them what they will do when millions around the world begin to starve due to food shortages due to reduced food growth due to reduced CO2. The will look at you like your head fell off. Some, not most, but some will however secretly smile at the thought of millions starving and of wars breaking out killing millions more, reducing the evil human population.
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Can you get them in paper certificate form, then you can hang them on the wall of your lavatory.
The certificates should come printed on soft paper…Preferably on a small roll.
Now that’d be useful.
To Californians I say: Don’t be a girlie voter.
California dreaming is a nightmare.
The sad part about his is that virtually every US state and every Canadian province has a similar program waiting in the wings, ready to go when the opportunity presents itself.
I predict that within 20 years every state and province will have a carbon controls program of some kind, founded on the California model.
In my lifetime I never thought I would see citizens actively campaigning for higher taxes, but this is what we have seen. Governments are only too happy to oblige.
Just remember this all you mid-term voters out there:
A vote for the left is a vote for a carbon tax, because the left believes a tax can change the weather.
Will a vote for the right get a carbon exchange instead of a tax?
I can only wonder on how many Californians complain about the tyranny and that they are outvoted.
But they can vote with their feet. Many are.
Is there some kind of Stockholm or battered partner syndrome going on?
Part of rural northern California has petitioned to partition themselves off into a new state to get away from the illness that has taken over Sacramento.
If they succeed, I predict they will look just like Oregon within 30 years.
It’s not called the “Left Coast” for nothing.
If California were honest they would drop all their grid interconnections with neighboring states. Then watch how quickly their energy policy changes.
#*%##^% !!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for reproducing this notice. It is definitive proof of the existence of a slush fund controlled by politicians used to distribute political spoils.
Thank god I’m not a Cali resident/taxpayer.
Do the bills come in Spanish too? Since Mexicans are the majority there lol meheko
My education as an accountant and professional experience in financial regulation says this needs to come with a bit of full disclosure: “We are giving you some money out of the pot of money we took from you at the state’s request. The government hopes that you feel better for the illusion of doing something and will continue to support similar undertakings.”
California maintains its position as the number one self-delusional state in our country.Must be the Hollywood influence. By calling carbon a pollution, they have designated every citizen as a polluter by living (and, presumably, breathing). I suggest we arrest Gov Brown as a polluter and prevent him from further carbon pollution.
Meanwhile, Texas is going all out to entice businesses to move from Cali to here. Altho most of us wish there was some sort of entrance exam……We love people and business but they need to leave their fruitcakes politics back there.
Same thing happened to New Hampshire, a basically libertarian state that has been transformed by “Massholes” escaping the high taxes and bureaucratic maze that has become Massachusetts and subsequently turning New Hampshire into the same “progressive” cesspool they left behind.
The stupid is very very strong in California.
Be on guard in other states and nations as the usual next step is to impose the scheme on others in order to diminish the negative effects on the originating locale. Waxman’s attempt at this failed but there will be more attempts. The daily press events orchestrated around climate change BS are testament to that ongoing need to spread the impact onto others.
It will be interesting to see what happens when the next recession hits and power providers are faced with fewer sales coupled with the higher business costs, which of course will be passed along to consumers, many of which will be laid off and won’t be able to afford the higher cost of power. Sounds like a recipe for disaster.
The behavioral signals from this policy plan are to a) stay at home (avoid commuting costs), b) continue with plan to get non-taxed state benefits loaded electronically on cash cards each month, and c) look for paid protester cash payment opportunities where possible and with bus delivery service provided.
This insanity will work in the end as business will be driven away from California to sensible states.
Let me try to sort this out. The state collects a tax/fee targeting utilities. The state then keeps some and gives the rest back to utilities to distribute said taxes to residents and miscellaneous businesses on their “bill”.
The ruling board that created this homage to bureaucracy could have simply regulated rates (by type, gas, coal, nuclear, etc) which are in their power to do. But then the government would not have been able to put on a show to the victims of climate change of how saving the environment is good for… well I am not sure what… good for getting money from the government?
Stupid is as stupid does, but this is crazy, so crazy I am going crazy and am ready to stop shaving, stop cutting my hair, put on the sandwich signs stating the end is near, and walk the streets of America in a daze.
The money collected passes through the grubby hands of our government for redistribution and payrolls, and what is left is a pittance.
California logic. Governor Moonbeam was frothing at the mouth and couldn’t wait to implement the carbon tax. Most of the tax will go to his high speed rail pet project that no one wants except the unions, builders, and few locales that will have stops. Meanwhile, businesses that remain are studying exit plans.
Forget the climate credit, just send me the check for how much my climate abatement activities, have earned over the years. How much is it worth to take a Navy shower most days. If I didn’t I’d probably have my camel in the back yard all ready.
See today’s on line news story about the leading Wind energy States, Texas, and Oklahoma; but not California, are rethinking all the public trough slushing they have been dishing out to the, the welfare deadbeats, who masquerade as energy entrepeneurs, but scream bloody murder if you want to charge them property taxes, on their land improvements, like other “investors” usually do.
Kansas has a lifetime exemption from property taxes, for as long as your wind turbine, manages to not blow itself up, while killing birds and bats.
Enterprise is supposed to fund the public trough, not wallow in it.
Well Silicon valley is crammed full of so called entrepeneurs, who soon discover the benefits of being a socialist. You would think that creative inventive types, would gravitate to conservatism; but they are in fact the monied lefties of Si valley. (with some notable exceptions.)