Received an e-mail from Solar Rights Alliance this morning. I am passing on this message for all to Act by calling Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, who will decide to pass AB 1999 that puts a Cap on the Annual Tax on Solar users to be connected to our electric grid.
Please call Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas @ 916-319-2029.
The following is the message from Solar Rights Alliance, I am Quoting:
“Please stop the big Utility Tax but instead, pass AB1999 this week with no strings attached. If you don’t, we will get charged a big Utility Tax leaving our bills to go up even more. This is in your hands. Please do right by the people of California.”
Background:
- The CPUC has proposed charging most ratepayers a $24 per month utility tax starting next year. The Utility Tax is totally uncapped, and utilities have said they intend to push it to increase to $70/month or more. That's in addition to rate increases.
- More than 4 million households will see their bills go up under this tax. This includes solar users like you and people who live in apartments and small homes. In other words, anyone who doesn't use much electricity.
- 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.
- AB 1999 would cap the Utility Tax at $10/month and prevent it from rising any more than inflation. To be clear, we'd rather there be no Utility Tax at all. But without AB 1999, the Utility Tax will be entirely out-of-control. More background
- The rules of the Legislature require AB 1999 to pass out of the Assembly Utilities & Energy Committee by April 30th or else the bill dies. But the bill is being prevented from being heard. The Speaker of the California Assembly has the power to ensure the bill is heard.
Thank you for everything you do!
-- Dave Rosenfeld, Executive Director & Cailey Underhill, Advocacy and Development Director
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